Approximately 30 San Antonio high school students are spending their summer at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, extracting DNA from soil samples and researching infectious diseases as part of the Valero Young Scientist Program.

Hands-On Lab Experience

The program, which has grown to 60 students this year, provides a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on lab experience and work alongside scientists at Texas Biomed. The majority of students are from underserved areas of San Antonio, and nearly 75% are female, helping to address the underrepresentation of women and minorities in STEM fields.

Students spend four weeks at the institute, conducting lab experiments and working in groups to research a pathogen. They also give presentations on their findings to their classmates and to scientists who research that pathogen professionally at Texas Biomed.

Building a Local STEM Workforce

Texas Biomed and Valero are working on a plan to extend the program through 2029, with the goal of building a local STEM workforce and keeping students in the community. The program is part of Texas Biomed’s efforts to provide a ‘Cradle to Career’ pipeline for students, from K-12 to undergraduate and graduate studies.

Research has shown that participants in summer STEM programs are more likely to graduate on time from selective colleges, stick with STEM majors, and raise their predicted earnings. The Valero Young Scientist Program aims to provide students with a supportive environment to pursue their interests in STEM and develop the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in these fields.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.