High School Seniors Explore Research Through NJABR Summer Fellowship Program

From automated imaging for cell-based screening to X-ray data collection, eleven outstanding seniors experienced research up close at several of the Garden State's prestigious institutions during NJABR's second annual High School Summer Biomedical Research Fellowship Program.

Top row (left to right): Sandeep Tummala, Andrew Young Kim, Patricia Jo, Dr. Satwant Narula (host scientist); Jake Lee, Angel Long, Louides Ferdinand Bottom row (left to right): Wilfredo Contreras, Maryana Traspova, Sara Zaidi, Robert Hung, Kogulan Nadesakumaran Sitting in front: Jayne Mackta

Selected through a vigorous application process open to high school juniors interested in medicine and the Life Sciences, these curious and committed students met over 100 people engaged in different aspects of the discovery process, who shared career information along with insight into their piece of the research process. Supported by grants from NJABR member institutions, the Fellowship Program exposes the Fellows to the essence — and essential components — of biomedical research.

From July 10 through July 21, students visited a different New Jersey research facility each day. They learned about the laws and regulations in place to protect both human and animal subjects and addressed ethical issues arising from the rapid advance of science and technology. They spent one day with an ethicist, whose approach to societal decision-making and problem-solving infused all subsequent discussions.

Host institutions for The 2006 Fellowship Program included Rutgers University, New Brunswick; Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway; Center for Advanced Biotechnology & Medicine, (CABM), Piscataway; Wyeth Research, Princeton; William Paterson University, Wayne; sanofi-aventis, Bridgewater; and the Technology Centre of New Jersey, North Brunswick. In addition to the laboratory experiences, the Fellows participated in a discussion on public health and health policy at Eagleton Institute.

Wil and Rob playing the "Infection" game

NJABR's Summer Fellowship Program is a highly regarded community outreach effort appreciated by students, science educators, scientists and even entrepreneurs eager to share their business experience. "We established the NJABR Fellowship Program not only for the extraordinary learning experience it offers these students, but also for New Jersey and the global research facilities located here," noted Jayne Mackta, President of NJABR. "We value the generous support of the various institutions from academia and industry that organized such stimulating programs as well as the time so many people took to share information and inspiration with our Fellows. It is our goal to encourage the best and brightest science students to pursue their education and, ultimately, their careers in New Jersey, a state rich with opportunities for biomedical research."