SCHOOL OF MOLECULAR AND THEORETICAL BIOLOGY INC
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Mission Statement
Every student at the School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology (SMTB) has an opportunity to have an authentic research experience under the guidance of real scientists. Our fulfilment of this mission is made possible through several guiding principles, on which we base our work and the interaction between all participating members. Students receive personalized support, including the support of an academic adviser, who is at least a graduate student, and from their team leaders. We believe that a supportive and accepting environment contributes to a general feeling of well-being of all participants and enhances the student’s capacity to learn and work. At the SMBT, students have an enormous degree of freedom when choosing courses and laboratories, limited only by available space. We believe that such intellectual freedom increases the level of motivation and emotional fulfilment from the work in the lab. Our research faculty are active scientists, that focus on working with the students for the duration of the school. We believe that working side-by-side with a variety of scientists students have a better chance of finding a role model that is right for them and to obtain a better understanding of the life and career path of a scientists. Many students in biology fear or loathe mathematics and we strive towards eliminating such strong feelings in our students through the demonstration of the essentiality of many aspects of mathematics in modern biology and through tutorials in school-level mathematics for interested students. The School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology does not, in the operation of its activities, including the admission process, discriminate against students, applicants, faculty, or any other person on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, age, sexual orientation, disability or any other potentially discriminatory factors.
About This Cause
The School of Molecular and Theoretical Biology (SMTB) is a short and intense summer programme that is run by active research scientists for the younger generation of aspiring researchers in the broadly defined field of Biomedical and Life Sciences. The School, a 501c3 charitable organization registered in the USA, is based on the fusion of scientific and social goals and principles. The school is based on real research projects presented by a dozen different laboratories led by invited researchers. By complete immersion into the research environment of the laboratory, the students get early exposure to the realities of a scientific career and work ethic while the biology behind the project. Talented students, especially from disadvantageous backgrounds, rarely get appropriate education that fulfils their intellectual needs. Opportunities for advanced level studies and research, therefore, often turn into transformative experiences for appropriately selected students. We are motivated by the opportunity to help talented students find opportunities to do the things they love, whom in time will turn into the next generation of leading scientists. In many cases, our program provides an opportunity for many students to improve their social and economic situation. On a global scale, the difficulty in attracting talent to science-oriented careers (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) is motivating governments and private foundations to focus efforts on finding innovative ways to attract a younger generation of researchers to science. The problem may be specifically acute in western countries, and the need to find ways to make STEM careers attractive to a younger generation is among the national priorities of EU, USA, Canada and others. Life Sciences have recently emerged as a new economic player with advancement in molecular and theoretical biology transforming industries, creating novel medical treatments and changing our understanding of the natural world. Therefore, the focus of our school on molecular biology and related disciplines reflects the cutting edge of the field. Each year, the School presents an opportunity for 80 high school students (15-18 years old) to engage in real scientific research under the guidance of active research scientists. We invite leading researchers in the life sciences and provide them the necessary tools and resources to integrate our students into a research project of their choice. Our teaching scientists come from the top research institutions around the world, such as the Rockefeller University (New York), Harvard University and Harvard Medical School (Boston), CRG (Barcelona), Moscow State University. The principle of authenticity of the science and the faculty presents an unparalleled opportunity for students to get a glimpse of what scientists do and what they are like. We believe that the experience of doing real work and interacting with professional role models provides the best opportunity for young students considering a career in scientific research to calibrate their aspirations with real life. Our programme is specifically aimed at high school students so that the students can use the experience at SMTB to guide their choices in the course of higher education. An equally fundamental principle of our operation revolves around our attention to the needs of our students. Recognising the social importance of inspiring the young generation to a STEM-oriented career, our attentiveness to the needs of students starts in the course of admission to SMTB. We operate a need-blind admission policy and a need-based travel grants. Overall, we promise the applicants that their ability to participate will never be based on their financial circumstances. Our support for the students extends to the operation of the laboratories, with the students receiving the necessary counselling and support, and to our engagement of the alumni of our programme in SMTB and other research activities.