Jan. 9, 2009 – Seventh grade students attending territorial public, private or parochial schools and their parents are advised that applications are currently being accepted for the Temple University Physicians Scientist Training Program that will be held during the summer of 2009. Students who show a penchant for the sciences, possess an A average and outstanding standardized test scores are eligible to apply. The deadline to submit all applications is Friday, Jan. 30.
Established in 1985, the Physician Scientist Training Program was implemented as a science pipeline to increase the number of minority students who seek biomedical and medical research careers. Now approaching its in 24th year, the program has evolved into the largest and most diverse biomedical research training for students from the seventh grade through medical/graduate school, providing this opportunity through 6-12 summer internships.
Charlene Matthew, a subject area coordinator for the V.I. Department of Education, who serves as a resident advisor with the Temple program says, "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."
For more information about the program and to download an application, interested students may logon to www.temple.edu/pstp or contact Ms. Matthew at 773-1095, ext. 7046 or via e-mail at cmatthew@stx.k12.vi. A team of interviewers from the Distance Learning Center, which is housed at Temple, will conduct interviews with the students toward the final selection of participants. The Physician Scientist Training Program and Minority Research Forum are components of the Distance Learning Center.
