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- Posted Thursday July 27, 2023
HELIOS SCHOLARS AT TGEN CELEBRATE 17th ANNUAL SUMMER OF SCIENCE
Interns Showcase Work at Day-Long Scientific Symposium
PHOENIX, AZ — July 27, 2023 —The 17th class of Helios Scholars at TGen, the flagship internship program at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, today celebrate their summer of scientific achievement with a day-long scientific symposium.
The symposium serves as the culminating event for the eight-week program, offering students from diverse backgrounds a unique opportunity to cultivate essential skills by working alongside TGen faculty and staff. The celebration unites TGen faculty, staff, families, and community members to acknowledge the achievements of the 45 program graduates. Geared towards undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students, Helios Scholars at TGen provides a unique biomedical research experience under the mentorship of faculty and skilled laboratory professionals.
Kristen Kaus, Manager of Education and Outreach at TGen, emphasized the significance of mentorship in the scientific journey, particularly during the early stages of a career or when students are exploring and confirming their career choices.
“The symposium acknowledges their individual accomplishments and marks a pivotal moment in their educational and career pursuits,” said Kaus.
Established in January 2008 through a $6.5 million endowment from the Helios Education Foundation, the program has graduated nearly 700 students, many of whom have pursued careers in Arizona’s biomedical research, healthcare, and life science sectors.
“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with TGen,” said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation. “Having a strong talent pipeline in the biosciences is critical for the future of Arizona’s economy and the health of its residents.”
For Helios Scholar Marina Negrete, her summer experience honed her skills and reaffirmed her desire to pursue her career choice.
“The acceptance and willingness to teach that I experienced from TGen’s leaders was the highlight of my internship. I felt like I was part of the team from day one, and I was given the opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment. I am confident that the skills and knowledge I gained at TGen will be extremely useful in my future career,” said Negrete.
The program’s alumni boast remarkable achievements, including admissions to esteemed graduate and medical schools, unique career advancements, national awards and scholarships, and contributions to numerous scientific publications.
For more information, please contact Kristen Kaus, Manager of TGen Education and Outreach, at 602-343-8719 or [email protected].
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About TGen, part of City of Hope
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix, Arizona-based nonprofit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking research with life-changing results. TGen is part of City of Hope, a world-renowned independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. This precision medicine affiliation enables both institutes to complement each other in research and patient care, with City of Hope providing a significant clinical setting to advance scientific discoveries made by TGen. TGen is focused on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, diabetes and infectious diseases through cutting-edge translational research (the process of rapidly moving research toward patient benefit). TGen physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of both common and complex rare diseases in adults and children. Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical communities worldwide, TGen makes a substantial contribution to help patients through efficiency and effectiveness of the translational process.
About Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation invests resources all along the education continuum to ensure more students in Arizona and Florida have the opportunity to complete a postsecondary degree. Helios Education Foundation exists to support postsecondary attainment for Latino students, African American students, and students from low-income backgrounds in Arizona and Florida. Driven by our fundamental beliefs of community, equity, investment, and partnership, Helios has invested more than $324 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving third grade reading, college-going and postsecondary attainment in the two states we serve since 2006.
Helios Media Contact
Griselda Zetino
480-734-8083
[email protected]
