MEDIA, PA — Four students from Delaware County Community College have been selected for a competitive biomedical technician training program at the Wistar Institute, providing direct access to laboratory research experience in a sector facing continued demand for skilled life sciences workers.
The students — Nidier McCurdy of Secane, Maria Andrea Rivas Ordonez of Ridley Park, Aiyana Southerland of Sharon Hill, and Busra Busra of Philadelphia — will participate in the Wistar Institute’s Biomedical Technician Training Program this summer, the college said.
The 12-week paid program combines classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory experience and is designed to prepare students for careers as laboratory technicians and research assistants in the biomedical field.
Participants were selected through a competitive process that included academic record reviews, faculty recommendations, personal statements, and interviews.
The program begins with a two-week intensive laboratory training course at the Philadelphia-based research institution, followed by two five-week internships in academic or industry biomedical laboratories. Students also earn academic credit through Delaware County Community College’s internship program.
The initiative serves as a workforce development pipeline for Pennsylvania’s growing life sciences industry. The Biomedical Technician Training Program is a registered pre-apprenticeship that can lead to the Wistar Institute’s Fox Biomedical Research Technician Apprenticeship, a program recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry.
The Wistar Institute conducts research in cancer, immunology, infectious diseases, and vaccine development and has increasingly partnered with regional educational institutions to address demand for trained laboratory personnel.
The program is led by Kristy Shuda McGuire and coordinated with Delaware County Community College’s Student Employment and Co-op Center. Faculty support is provided by biology professors Bela Dadhich and Robert Suran.
“Our DCCC students are learning cutting-edge technology with leaders in the field,” Dadhich said. “It is a phenomenal opportunity.”
The selection marks the third consecutive year that Delaware County Community College students have been chosen for the program.
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