John Paul and Clifton Masdea knew from the start that Project Success would take their interest in science to a place it had never been before, and it has. Both students have been able to explore different fields of the biomedical sciences and become involved with projects that provide opportunities to actively participate in subjects that truly fascinate them.
The Project Success summer internship program offered by the Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership (DCP) at HMS aims to spark an early interest in biomedical science careers for Boston and Cambridge high school students. The program is geared toward students underrepresented in the sciences and gives them the opportunity to get involved with a mentored summer research internship at HMS and its affiliated institutions.
Students work in a paid hands-on research position for eight weeks, during which time they attend seminars with researchers and physicians, go on site visits to hospitals and biotechnology firms, develop writing and computer training skills, and have access to mentors and research advisors. The mentors and advisors provide students with information about the college application process, career counseling and continued support and resources that the students can use to develop both academic and career paths.
“Working under the mentorship of distinguished HMS scientists has created a cadre of young adults who are confident, resilient, goal-oriented, focused and disciplined, with a desire to use their skills and expertise to make a valuable contribution to society. We are extremely proud of our Project Success students," said Sheila Nutt, DCP’s director of educational outreach.
Paul, a John D. O’Bryant School for Math and Science student, is no stranger to DCP summer programs. In the past, Paul has participated in DCP’s Hinton Scholars AP biology program. This program provides students with laboratory exposure, increased instruction in AP biology concepts and academic field trips. The program also helps prepare students for the AP biology exam, on which Paul received the highest score possible. Paul is currently enrolled in the Project Success program and is completing a summer research internship summer before entering Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. as a freshman this fall.
Masdea, currently a student at Brandeis, is a veteran of the Project Success program. He has participated in the program twice, starting in the summer of 2011. During his summers with Project Success, he worked with mentors on different studies and projects in the biomedical field. Masdea’s first project focused on the relationship between air quality and asthma in Boston elementary schools. During his second summer, Masdea worked with Nina Anderson, HMS clinical instructor in developmental biology, at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where they used the program COMSOL to test the von Mises stress of iron and zinc in relation to dental implants.
“Both experiences not only taught me more about the biomedical field, but also research and critical thinking skills, which I have used both in laboratory classes at school and in my current research experiences for undergraduates program,” Masdea said about his experience with Project Success.
Masdea’s interest in science expands across all areas but his most recent focus now lies in the field of physics, more specifically astronomy and astrophysics. This summer he is participating in a computational astrophysics undergraduate program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He plans on attending graduate school in the future to further his studies in the field of astrophysics.
