The 36 selected students gear up for two-week sessions of infectious disease research training

SEATTLE, June  22, 2010 – High school juniors representing a record 68 schools applied for the 2010 BioQuest Academy, which kicks off the first of three, two-week sessions on June 28. More than 200 students from Washington, Idaho, Texas, and even Turkey, vied for the 36 coveted slots in the Academy, where they will practice graduate-level science curriculum relevant to today’s most pressing global health issues.

 “We strive to provide highly motivated and global health-minded high school juniors – from a mosaic of backgrounds – with access to hands-on, innovative science,” said Theresa Britschgi, BioQuest’s program director. “By way of the BioQuest Academy, we’re able to provide a ‘biotech boot camp’ for teens who may not have access to infectious disease research training in their own school curriculum, but who are eager to find a place for science and global health in their educational futures and career goals.”

World-Class Scientists Take Time to Mentor Teens

Structured within the footprint of Seattle Biomedical Research Institute’s (Seattle BioMed) infectious disease research facility, BioQuest, an educational program of Seattle BioMed, has unique access to world class  scientists, focusing on malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Many principal investigators and senior scientists happily volunteer their time to mentor and inspire teens in math, science and technology and to help them discover their own drive to improve global health.

“Seattle BioMed’s passionate scientists enjoy training our Academy students in scientific methods and critical thinking,” said Ana Gervassi, BioQuest’s science education fellow. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young people to spend a summer working like real scientists while growing their potential to become  leaders in what should be a hopeful battle against deadly infectious diseases.”

Each of the three BioQuest Academy sessions will consist of a week of highly rigorous training followed by a week of conceptualizing, building, and presenting a research projects. This model of education and self-motivation helps prepare high school students to be successful in their senior year projects, in college applications and in rising to challenging collegiate curricula.

BioQuest Academy Fills Workforce Pipeline with Next Generation Scientists

More than 50 percent of BioQuest Academy’s inaugural graduating class has stayed on the path of science and global health throughout their four-year college careers. In fact, this summer BioQuest watched its 2005 class gradate college with degrees ranging from chemistry to nursing to molecular and cellular biology. And, these students are now alumni of some of the most prestigious institutions, including Harvard, Pomona, Lewis & Clark and top Washington State schools University of Washington and Washington State University.  Many of these graduates have already been placed in rewarding careers in research, teaching, information sciences, and/or plan to pursue graduate degrees.

Special Academy Session for Do-It Program

Teryn Allen, a young woman involved with BioQuest Academy since the program’s inception in 2005, is temporarily returning to Seattle after a year of teaching biology in Nashville, Tenn., to host a special Academy session for Do-It. A program of the University of Washington, Do-It strives to increase the success of individuals with disabilities in challenging academic programs and careers. During this Academy, held at primarily at the University of Washington, Allen will assist students with disabilities. During a field trip to Seattle BioMed’s BioQuest learning lab, students will practice research techniques such as pipetting and Gram staining.

“Global health really is relevant to everybody,” said Allen. “BioQuest provides the perfect platform for all types of students to imagine themselves making a difference in the lives of so many around the world.”

ABOUT BIOQUEST ACADEMY

BioQuest is an educational program of Seattle BioMed. BioQuest Academy is a 60-hour, immersive science job shadow program for high school juniors that is generously supported by a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).For more information, visit www.seattlebioquest.org

ABOUT SEATTLE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Seattle BioMed is the largest independent, non-profit organization in the US focused solely on infectious disease research. Our research is the foundation for new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics that benefit those who need our help most: the 14 million who will otherwise die each year from infectious diseases, including malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. Founded in 1976, Seattle BioMed has nearly 350 staff members. By partnering with key collaborators around the globe, we ensure that our discoveries will save lives sooner. For more information, visit www.seattlebiomed.org.

For more information, contact:
Lee Schoentrup, Communications Director
206.256.7440   
lee.schoentrup@seattlebiomed.org

Jennifer Mortensen, Communications Specialist
206.256.7220     
jennifer.mortensen@seattlebiomed.org