NUGoKidney Welcomes 2021 SciHigh Scholars for Summer of Science
After fully remote session in 2020, SciHigh is excited to take a hybrid approach this summer, combining mentorship with in-person, hands-on experiences and virtual interactive sessions on topics in science and medicine led by experts in nephrology and other fields such as pediatrics, genetics, nanoscience, and artificial intelligence to name a few.
Scholars will also work with mentors in kidney research while gaining valuable leadership, technical, and analytical skills to achieve success in science and medicine. All of the projects in this year’s SciHigh Summer Program center around working with large datasets to better understand the secret powers of SGLT2 inhibitors, COVID-19 and the kidney, and the effect of food insecurity on chronic kidney disease.
We are excited to collaborate with nephrology colleagues at Loyola University, Northwestern Simulation Labs, Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center, and data analysts from Northwestern Medicine Enterprise Data Warehouse (NMEDW) to bring mentorship and immersive sessions to our scholars both virtually and in-person.
NUGoKidney has hosted the Summer Youth Program since 2019 starting with a group of 5 students from the west side of Chicago and growing each year. SciHigh was founded to help students unleash their untapped potential through educational, interactive learning opportunities and mentorship. The program is supported by a gift from Northwestern University trustees and supporters Louis A. Simpson ’58 and Kimberly K. Querrey.
Gabriel Sheikh, a 2019 SciHigh scholar and now rising sophomore at Notre Dame, noted, “By immersing myself in this program, I’ve learned that science is much more approachable than I thought. I was initially intimidated, but my once uncertain STEM path is now invigorated with passion and assurance.” SciHigh hopes to continue fostering students' growth, self-discovery, and wonder in science and medicine.
This year's program will run for 7 weeks from June 28th until August 13th. Students and mentors kicked things off on June 23rd with a welcome event where students met with their peers and mentors, learned more about activities planned for the summer, played games, and toured the campus.
Meet the 2021 SciHigh Summer Scholars
Welcome to the following members of the 2021 SciHigh Summer Program!
- Victoria Tverdokhlib is a rising sophomore at Lane Tech College Prep High School with an interest in cardiology and is considering becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.
- Yahaira Valladares is a rising junior at Holy Trinity High School, she joined the program to gain experience and supplement her knowledge in family medicine.
- Tamara Ward is a rising junior at John Hancock Prepatory High School with a strong interest in neonatal medicine and plans to become a neonatal nurse.
- Bradley Jordan is a rising junior at Holy Trinity High School with an interest in robotics and dreams of becoming an engineer.
- Mia Mendoza is a rising junior at Walter Payton College Preparatory School. She has dreams of becoming either an ophthalmologist or orthopedic surgeon.
- Mercedes Rodrigues is a rising junior at Walter Payton College Preparatory School with an interest in forensic science and psychology.
- Marciano Teruel (Marco) is a rising senior at Holy Trinity High School with an interest in neurology. This is Marco’s second year in SciHigh, and he hopes to expand on the research conducted last year.
- Jorge Trejo is a rising senior at Holy Trinity High School who is fond of numbers and genomic mapping. This is his second year with the program and is passionate about investing and learning cryptocurrency.
- Fernanda Castillo is a rising Junior at Jones College Preparatory High School. She is passionate about genetics in medicine and eager to learn more about STEM career opportunities.
- Amber Constante is a rising Junior at Nazareth Academy and hopes to be a forensic anthropologist.
- Gianna Guinto is a rising junior at Lane Tech High School with a passion for neuroscience and wants to learn about a new field of science.
- Niyah Williams is a rising senior at Holy Trinity High School with an interest in radiology, she is interested in attending medical school in the future.
- Maya Williams is a rising senior at Holy Trinity High School with a passion for pediatrics. This is her second year with the program, and she is hoping to solidify her interest in science and medicine.
We are incredibly excited to offer this opportunity to this incredible group of budding scientists, and we can’t wait to see their final research projects!
Stayed tuned on Instagram and Twitter for the latest on the SciHigh Summer Program and its scholars.