Seventeen students from the southeast Valley have graduated from Helios Scholars at TGen, the flagship internship program at the Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute.

The students, who graduated on July 27, took part in internships in all areas of translational bioscience such laboratory research, computational biology and bioinformatics, mathematics and statistics, and research administration.

The program is open to incoming and continuing undergraduate, graduate and medical school students who have studied at an Arizona high school, college or university. Interns work full-time on a research project under the mentorship of a TGen scientist to unravel the genetic components of diabetes, neurological disease and cancer.

The eight-week program supports students from all backgrounds in their efforts to develop foundational skills by placing them alongside faculty and staff where they actively participate on a breadth of research and administrative projects, a press release stated.

Interns from the Southeast Valley are:

• Alexander Gonzalez – Chandler, Columbia University
• Daniel Mendoza – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Surajinder Bharaj – Chandler, University of Arizona
• Eric Do – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Shree Modukuri – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Terra Aust – Chandler, Corona del Sol High School
• Teadora Zawilak – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Megumi Leung – Chandler, Hamilton High School
• Kate Leinenueber – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Luke Bass – Chandler, Lewis and Clark College
• Ethan Ngo – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Anjali Raju – Chandler, Arizona State University
• Danielle Connacher – Tempe, University of Arizona
• Hiwot Endeshaw – Gilbert, Pomona College
• Juliana Milburn – Gilbert, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Hersh Nanda – Gilbert, University of California, Los Angeles
• Bria Sunbury – Gilbert, Williams Field High School

Helios Scholars also participate in professional development programs in science communication, public speaking and business etiquette. A daylong scientific symposium capped off the summer, allowing students to celebrate their achievements and compete for awards.

Helios Scholars at TGen is a partnership between TGen and the Helios Education Foundation. TGen is part of City of Hope, an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Online applications for the next Helios Scholars program open on Dec. 12, for the summer 2024 program.  Information: tgen.org/interns.