Roche Diagnostics Corporation, the global leader in in-vitro diagnostics, has partnered with ARCS Foundation on a new pilot program to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare: the severe staffing shortages currently experienced in clinical laboratories. These talent shortages, especially in top clinical roles that require special skills, present significant obstacles to the delivery of timely and accurate diagnostics, impacting patient care and overall healthcare outcomes.

Roche is committed to leading the industry by supporting educational initiatives that inspire future generations to pursue careers in clinical labs. Roche’s existing programs offer experiential learning opportunities for high school students, and funding for equipment and supplies for undergraduate STEM students. The partnership with ARCS Foundation extends the Roche strategy to encompass the entire educational continuum, targeting graduate students at three top-ranked STEM universities: Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Georgia.

The need for qualified PhD-level professionals in clinical labs is growing, driven by an increased demand for advanced diagnostic testing. Positions requiring PhDs are among the most difficult to fill, often due to the specialized nature of the training required, including molecular diagnostics and research-based roles. Addressing this gap is essential to maintaining the efficiency and innovation of laboratory operations, making Roche’s leadership critical and timely.

The Roche pilot with ARCS Atlanta Chapter will provide funding to support three graduate scholars conducting research that prepares them for clinical laboratory careers. Scholars selected for this program were chosen from a pool of top doctoral students studying in fields such as Microbiology, Immunology, and healthcare-focused Chemistry, aligning with Roche’s goal to develop a workforce ready to tackle the most advanced diagnostic challenges.

Atlanta was selected for the new pilot due to its thriving life science market and the impressive track record of the ARCS chapter in the region. Home to more than 4,000 life science companies and 78,000 jobs, Georgia bioscience companies generate $50 billion in annual economic impact, solidifying the region’s role as a leading player in the industry.

The ARCS Atlanta Chapter, with its well-established presence in Georgia, has contributed over $7 million to support top STEM doctoral scholars studying at some of the nation’s most prestigious academic institutions. Its ongoing investment in academic excellence aligns with the state's rapidly growing life science employment, which is expanding at twice the rate of the private sector. As a result, Georgia is an ideal location for Roche to enhance its community engagement efforts and create a scalable model for nationwide impact.

“Addressing future labor challenges equates to an overall improvement in healthcare,” said Brad Moore, President and CEO of Roche Diagnostics North America. “With this in mind, we at Roche are excited to be collaborating with ARCS Foundation to offer financial scholar awards to graduate students, thus promoting the value of careers in STEM, particularly within clinical laboratories.”

Beth Wainwright, National President of ARCS Foundation, looks forward to this combined effort proving successful.  "As the demand for advanced diagnostic testing grows, this partnership with Roche Diagnostics underscores the importance of investing in the next generation of laboratory leaders. By supporting graduate scholars in critical fields, we are ensuring the continued innovation and quality of healthcare in America," Wainwright says.

2024-25 Roche ARCS Scholars

Elise Bezold
Emory University
Elise Bezold is pursuing her PhD in chemistry.
Her research focuses on bacterial virulence processes.

Meet Elise here.

Marrissa Izykowicz
Georgia Institute of Technology
Marrisa Izykowicz is working on PhD in chemical biology.
Her research focuses on designing and synthesizing nanohydrogels for targeted drug delivery in metastatic cancers.

Meet Marrissa here.

Myddelton Parker
University of Georgia
Myddelton Parker is working towards her PhD in biomedical engineering.
Her research interest is to develop a new approach and treatment that overcomes antibiotic resistance.

Meet Myddleton here.