Life sciences firms seen having trouble filling jobs

Governor Deval Patrick is scheduled to speak at 12:30 p.m. today during a life sciences summit with industry leaders at the University of Massachusetts Boston. In addition, researchers from the UMass Donahue Institute plan to present preliminary findings from a $200,000 study of "current and future talent needs of the life sciences industry" in Massachusetts. According to a draft of the report, UMass researchers found local employers have found it difficult to fill some highly skilled positions. For instance, the vacancy rate is 12 percent for medical scientists and 10 percent for biochemists. Also, the report says about 38 percent of medical scientists and 22 percent of computer engineers are foreign citizens, compared to 7 percent for all occupations. The final version of the UMass report is due in June and some of the numbers could be revised for today's presentation. (Todd Wallack)

Mayor Thomas M. Menino named Kairos Shen, director of planning at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, as the city's new chief planner. He will work with BRA director John F. Palmieri to create a comprehensive long-term vision to guide economic and physical changes in the city, Menino said. His annual salary will be $156,000. The position had been vacant since Rebecca Barnes left in May 2005. "We must be more proactive in envisioning and creating economic growth - and I know Kairos is the right person to lead this effort," Menino said. Shen will continue to head the BRA's planning division, with expanded duties. (Thomas C. Palmer Jr.)

Greater Media Inc. of Braintree completed the acquisition of a cluster of three radio stations in Charlotte, N.C., for an undisclosed amount. The new stations will be called Greater Media Charlotte. They include 1110 WBT-AM, 99.3 WBT-FM, and 107.9 WLNK-FM, and add to Greater Media's portfolio of AM and FM stations in Boston, Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. (Carolyn Y. Johnson)

JetBlue Airways Corp., the New York discount carrier, will reveal details today of its partnership with Ireland's Aer Lingus Group PLC to link the airlines' websites. The agreement will provide "an innovative way to connect customers," JetBlue chief executive Dave Barger said at a New York conference for analysts and investors. Spokesman Sebastian White declined to give details. JetBlue had said on Feb. 6 that it would connect its website with that of Dublin-based Aer Lingus, allowing travelers to book flights on both airlines through the Irish carrier's site. (Bloomberg)

Struggling cellphone maker Motorola Inc. said it is considering separating the handset unit from its other businesses in an effort to snap a deep slump that has followed its meteoric success with the Razr. Under pressure from unhappy investors for the past year, Motorola signaled a willingness to break itself up after more than a year of dismal results and declining market share. (AP)

Whirlpool Corp. is closing plants in Tennessee, and Mexico, affecting 1,250 workers, the appliance maker said. The Benton Harbor, Mich., appliance maker said about 500 jobs will be eliminated at its plant in La Vergne, Tenn., and about 750 jobs will be affected in Reynosa, Mexico. Production of built-in refrigerators made in Tennessee will move to the Fort Smith, Ark., plant, which plans to add about 275 jobs. Production of side-by-side refrigerators made at Reynosa will shift to Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, which plans to add about 600 employees. (AP)

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Fidelity International Ltd. will need to reduce holdings in India's commodity exchanges after the government dropped plans to allow overseas investors to own larger stakes. Foreign ownership will be capped at 5 percent for a single investor, with a 49 percent overall limit, the government said. (Bloomberg)