Preparing Students for Careers in Biotechnology
The Virginia Tech S-STEM Program is an innovative project that will train a cohort of undergraduates in the classroom, laboratory, and corporation to be competitive for careers in biotechnology. S-STEM scholars will take common classes and participate in a weekly seminar dedicated to academic and career preparation, research skills, ethics and diversity. These efforts will prepare students to be scientific leaders in biotechnology and will facilitate greater tolerance, collaboration and diversity in the field of biotechnology.
Financial Aid
Virginia Tech has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation’s S-STEM program (Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). VT S-STEM will provide four-year scholarships to students with significant financial need planning careers in biotechnology. Awards will be based on financial need in the range of $5,000 - $10,000 per year per student. A total of 10 – 20 awards will be made.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- be admitted to Virginia Tech.
- be interested in a career in biotechnology. Pre-professional school students (medical, dental, veterinary) will not be considered.
- a major in a biology or life sciences related field.
Once students are admitted into the program, continued academic eligibility for the program will be assessed at the end of each year. Students are expected to maintain a 2.75 overall GPA after their sophomore year and a minimum GPA of 3.0 by the end of their junior year. Students falling below the required GPA will be given one semester to return to good standing. During that semester, students will work with their advisor, Dr. Walker, to develop a study plan that includes tutoring, academic support with the Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence (CAEE) and biweekly meetings with the advisor.
Selection Criteria
S-STEM scholars will be selected from the pool of applicants based on the following criteria:
- high school grades, science courses taken and SAT or ACT scores
- financial need
- essay documenting motivation for the program and discussion of diversity
Unique Opportunities
The cohort of S-STEM scholars will be trained in the classroom, laboratory, and corporation to be competitive for careers in biotechnology. S-STEM scholars will take common classes and participate in a weekly seminar dedicated to academic and career preparation, research skills, ethics and diversity. These efforts will prepare students to be scientific leaders in biotechnology and will facilitate greater tolerance, collaboration and diversity in the field of biotechnology.
Academic and Career Support
The Biological Sciences curriculum has been tailored for the S-STEM scholars to best prepare them for careers in Biotechnology. The scholars will take common sections of courses with select faculty. These courses include Principles of Biology, General Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Biotechnology in a Global Society, Biochemistry for Biotechnology, and Bioinformatics. Students completing the S-STEM curriculum will graduate with the Biotechnology Option.
The specially developed Biotechnology Seminar will serve as the vehicle for much of the mentoring, networking and team-building unique to the S-STEM program. Students will enroll in the seminar each semester from the fall of their freshman year through the fall of their junior year. Topics will change each semester to cover the students progressing needs including academic excellence, career options in biotechnology, embracing diversity, ethics in science and business, and applying for jobs and graduate school.
Click here to see a Common Course Schedule for S-STEM Biotechnology Scholars and a Schedule of Topics for the Biotechnology Seminar.
Undergraduate Research and Industry Internships
S-STEM scholars will be given the opportunity to “put their knowledge to work” early and often. Beginning in their sophomore year, students will be encouraged to participate in undergraduate research in one of the dozens of laboratories engaged in biotechnology – related research on the Virginia Tech campus. Undergraduate research experiences can be enhanced with funds available through the BioSPIRES, MAOP and Fralin Center for the Life Sciences undergraduate research fellowship programs.
Students will then have the opportunity to apply for student research internships in one of several hundred private biotechnology companies located in Blacksburg and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. VT S-STEM is partnered with VA-BIO, the non-profit biotechnology association for Virginia, to facilitate pairing S-STEM scholars with biotechnology companies that offer student internships. Combining these real-world experiences with the academic advantages of the Virginia Tech S-STEM program, graduating S-STEM scholars should be highly competitive for employment in the biotechnology industry.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2009 S-STEM program can be downloaded and filled out online here.
The printed, completed application and all required materials should be mailed to the address below:
Dr Jill C. Sible
Associate Dean for Curriculum, Instruction and Advising
College of Science Administrative Building M/C 0405
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0405
The completed application and required materials may also be e-mailed to Dr. Sible at siblej@vt.edu.
Applications and supporting materials should be recieved in the S-STEM office by the application deadline.
The S-STEM program application and supporting materials are due by March 1, 2009.
Students interested in the S-STEM program must submit complete admissions application materials to Virginia Tech (http://www.vt.edu/apply) and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov, indicating that the results should be sent to Virginia Tech (FAFSA Code 003754), before their application to S-STEM can be evaluated.
Virginia Tech is an equal opportunity / affirmative action institution.
VT S-STEM is supported by grant # 0806884 from the National Science Foundation, Division of Education, to Virginia Tech.