Thermo Fisher to lay off 115 Austin employees

AUSTIN – Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a Massachusetts-based life sciences company with two Austin facilities, has informed employees it will eliminate about 115 positions at its Central Austin location on Woodward St., off Ben White Blvd. near I-35.

The reductions will begin in late July 2014 and are focused in manufacturing and distribution operations. All staff changes are expected to be complete by May 2015.

About 160 employees in research development, product management and other functions will remain in the Central Austin facility.

All operations related to the company’s RNA products will be transferred to facilities in California and Lithuania.

Thermo Fisher is focused in the areas of accelerated research, patient diagnostics and increased lab productivity. The company claims to have 50,000 employees in 50 countries and reported $17 billion in revenue in 2013.