Nov. 13, 2006 – All Virgin Island 7th grade students who love science, possess an A average and perform well on standardized tests are eligible to apply to participate in the Temple University Physicians Scientist Training Program during the summer of 2007.
The program takes place every summer at Temple University in Philadelphia and was created in 1985 as a science pipeline to increase the number of minority students who are seeking biomedical and medical research careers. The program, which will celebrate its 22nd year in 2007, has evolved into the largest and most diverse biomedical research training for students from the 7th grade through medical or graduate school.
Education Language Arts Coordinator Charlene Matthew, who serves as a resident advisor with the Temple program, said, "The primary purpose of this long-term training program is to prepare minority students for brilliant biomedical research careers in academia and/or the pharmaceutical industry, with the goal of producing minority physicians with M.D./Ph.D. combined degrees. The training occurs through summer internships beginning with students in the seventh grade and follows each student through the high school and into their college careers."
The deadline to submit a completed application is Friday, Dec. 15, 2006. For more information about the program interested students may logon to www.temple.edu/pstp or contact Charlene Matthew at 773-1095 or 513-4883 or via e-mail at cmatthew@stx.k12.vi. A team of interviewers from the Distance Learning Center, which is housed at Temple University, will conduct interviews with the students in February 2007 toward the final selection of participants. The Physician Scientist Training Program and Minority Research Forum are components of the Distance Learning Center.
