TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy inspires the next generation of scientists

Bioscience program teaches Arizona high school students what it takes to be leaders in the research world

 

Cassara Leija has taken several science classes in high school, but none have provided her with the type of real-world experience she got through the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy.

“It definitely solidified that I want to major in molecular biology once I’m in college,” the incoming Cactus High School senior said.

Leija, who plans to attend Northern Arizona University, was among the 20 high school students who attended the two-week program at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in Phoenix this summer.

(All photos courtesy of TGen)

The intensive education and leadership program is supported by Helios Education Foundation. It focuses on elevating students’ understanding of the biosciences and precision medicine. Students from various high schools across Arizona spend two weeks learning from TGen scientists and staff about the research they’re working on.

They’re also exposed to clinical trials, scientific reading and writing, leadership in the sciences, bioinformatics, and so much more. Plus, the program helps students develop their leadership skills and provides them public speaking and networking opportunities.

Students earn a $1,000 scholarship when they complete the program, which builds on the success of Helios Scholars at TGen, an eight-week paid summer internship program for 45 undergraduate and graduate college students.

Helios’ support for the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy

“We believe that education changes lives and makes communities better – that’s really the reason why we want to engage in partnerships like this,” said Paul J. Luna, president and CEO of Helios Education Foundation.

“These students who’ve gone through the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy are well on their way to be successful in postsecondary education, and they’re on their way to achieve that goal in very meaningful and impactful ways that is going to make our community ultimately better,” Luna added.

Leija said she highly recommends the program to students, especially those from low-income backgrounds, like her, who have less access to high level science courses in high school.

“I didn’t know how many opportunities there really were until I participated in the program,” she said.

How the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy empowers students

Kian Sadat also found the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy to be very beneficial. He drove from Tucson to take part in it.

While speaking at a closing reception at the Helios Education Campus on June 23, he shared it was “incredibly empowering” to learn from TGen scientists and staff. The University High School senior said the experience helped him and his peers “unlock a multitude of captivating opportunities.”

“Whether it was the excitement of walking into a lab for the first time or the challenge of analyzing intensely technical scientific papers, or merely absorbing as much information as we possibly could from our mentors and TGen field experts, these experiences have truly broadened our horizons and fueled our passion for scientific inquiry,” he added.

 

Learn more about the TGen Bioscience Leadership Academy