RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – They may still be in high school, but for some 200 students in the Triangle, they will get the chance to learn from some of the leading scientists at Biogen and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
It’s all part of the new online Biogen-MIT Biotech in Action: Virtual Summer Lab, which combines lab simulations and mentoring experiences focused on biotechnology and neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
The program is free and targets students in grades 9-12 who are from low-income households and groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Computers and other technology resources are provided.
Around 200 students from Massachusetts will also be participating.
“The pandemic caused us to close the doors of our physical Community Lab for the foreseeable future,” said Amanda Marvelle, head of Biogen’s Community Lab in RTP.
“We felt it was very important to find a way to connect with our students virtually to continue delivering a top-notch STEM education to these future scientists and leaders.”
Amanda Marvelle, head of Biogen’s Community Lab in RTP.
Separately, Biogen is offering scientific content and engaging experiences to students through its online hub called the Virtual Community Lab.
Regardless of location, students, parents and teachers can access free online resources, including tutorial videos of science experiments that can be done at home, plus other educational materials.
Now running for 18 years, the Community Lab has physical locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts and RTP, and has served more than 55,000 students to date.
Cambridge-based Biogen has a large presence in the Triangle. It has its Global Business Center in RTP, as well as its Oligonucleotide Synthesis Manufacturing facility in NC.
