Roche Diagnostics North America and Ivy Tech Community College have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at managing the medical laboratory staffing shortages in Indiana, according to an announcement.

The initiative will be carried out in two phases. Phase 1 will focus on raising awareness for this career path. Specifically, Roche will offer $50,000 in scholarships ($1,000 for 50 winners split into $500 for two semesters). The scholarships, funding student tuition, fees, and any other applicable educational expenses, will start being awarded this 2026-2027 school year.  Ivy Tech will select the winners using its current scholarship award process.

During Phase 1, Roche will also initiate and fund an awareness campaign. This will last through 2026 and aims to “increase understanding of medical laboratory careers among prospective students and position these high-demand careers.”

Phase 2 of the initiative includes the launch of the Roche MedTech Fellows Program, offering Ivy Tech’s Medical Laboratory Technology students relevant paid work while they are in school. Roche is calling for employers to participate in the program, providing the experience needed to build a career in laboratory medicine.