Seven Delaware County Community College (DCCC) students are taking part in advanced biomedical research this summer after being selected to participate in the highly competitive Wistar Institute Biomedical Technician Training Program (BTT).

The Wistar Institute is a Philadelphia-based global leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer, immunology, infectious disease, and vaccine development.

BTT is a paid, credit-earning 12-week pre-apprenticeship program designed to respond to the growing demand for well-trained laboratory technicians and research assistants in life sciences. The summer program consists of a two-week intensive laboratory course at the Wistar Institute followed by two five-week internship placements in academic or industry biomedical laboratories. The students receive academic credits through the DCCC Student Employment Services’ internship program.

BTT is a registered pre-apprenticeship that can also lead into Wistar’s Fox Biomedical Research Technician Apprenticeship, the first-ever registered, nontraditional apprenticeship program for biomedical research ratified by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

The DCCC students are Sara Alkurdi of Bryn Mawr, Marie Aude Bley of Upper Darby, Tatiana Bowman-Vailes of Collingdale, Kenechukwu Ilodigwe of Aldan, Karina Juarez of Collingdale, Adrian Mykhnych of West Chester and 2024 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team Honoree Jay Rhoades of Ridley Park.

In addition to DCCC, the BTT program accepts students from the Community College of Philadelphia, Montgomery County Community College, Bucks County Community College, and Camden County College. For the Summer 2024 session, DCCC had the largest number of admitted students of any of the participating colleges.

The BTT program is run by Kristy Shuda McGuire, PhD, the Dean of Biomedical Studies at the Wistar Institute, facilitated by DCCC’s Student Employment and Co-Op Center, and the DCCC Faculty Liaisons are Biology Professors Bela Dadhich, PhD, and Robert Suran, PhD.

“The program is impressive, as the students are learning cutting-edge technology with leaders in the field,” Dadhich said. “It is a phenomenal opportunity.”

Learn more at Delaware County Community College. Delaware County Community College focuses on student success by delivering quality, affordable, and responsive educational opportunities in a technologically rich and supportive learning environment.