Six Montgomery County Community College Biotechnology students will attend the Wistar Institute’s Biomedical Technician Training Program (BTT) this summer.

MCCC students Brian Erkes, Christopher Jones, Lilly Merchant, Maaria Naeem, Joseph Toczydlowski, and Rabia Warraich will attend the paid, 12-week, experiential learning opportunity available to regional community college students.

The program includes a two-week orientation in the Wistar training labs working alongside researchers using cutting-edge technology, followed by five weeks in an academic research lab, and five weeks in an industry setting.

A global leader in biomedical research, Wistar offers specialized expertise in cancer, immunology, infectious disease, and vaccine development, according to its website. The BTT program is led by Dr. Kristy McGuire, the dean of biomedical studies at Wistar.

Dr. Margaret Bryans, MCCC Associate Professor of Biology and Coordinator of Biotechnology, said this is the fourth year that MCCC students have been invited to apply to the program.

“Students who have completed the program in the past have found it very impactful,” she said. “Many have pursued a bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology or transitioned directly into the workforce. The program gives students insights into future careers and allows them to apply their skills and knowledge in different environments. It helps them decide whether to follow a path to graduate school or to join a biotechnology company upon graduation with their associate’s or bachelor’s degree. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

Bryans noted that, of the group from MCCC headed to Wistar this summer, students Brian Erkes, Christopher Jones and Joseph Toczydlowski are also graduating this semester and transferring to Thomas Jefferson University to pursue bachelor’s degrees in Biotechnology this fall. Similarly, student Rabia Warraich is  graduating with a certificate in Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing.

Bryans is a co-principal investigator for the National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant that supports the BTT program, Wistar is the lead institute. The NSF ATE program supports partnerships between two-year institutions of higher education, other academic institutions, industry and other entities to improve the education of technicians in science and engineering, according to its website.

In addition to MCCC, five other community colleges have students apply for 20 open spots each year, including Bucks County Community College, Camden County Community College, Community College of Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College and Rowan College of South Jersey.

For more information about the Wistar Institute’s Biomedical Technician Training Program, MCCC students should contact  Dr. Margaret Bryans.