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Howard Hughes Medical Institute Student Scientist Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center Gives High School Students a Real Taste of Medicine

PHILADELPHIA (December 8, 2005) -- Snow Feng, a senior at Central High School, was a participant in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)- funded Student Scientist Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center. This HHMI program places high school students in Fox Chase Cancer Center laboratories to work on current research projects.

Feng worked in the laboratory of Irma Russo, PhD and presented research on the link between estrogen and breast cancer. Feng gave a presentation on the research she had done, much like experienced researchers would do, to peers and medical staff at Fox Chase Cancer Center.

"I wanted to learn about sciences outside of the classroom and get into specific details, not just scratch the surface like what we do in the classroom," states Feng, who is interested in majoring in medicine when she goes to college.

The Student Scientist Program gives students the chance to work one-on-one with a Fox Chase researcher after school and full time in the summer. The students learn science information and inquiry skills by conducting experiments, analyzing data and drawing conclusions over the course of a school year, culminating with student presentations to their school or community. This enhances the students' scientific skills while allowing them to experience the life of a scientist.