Carly MurphyHigh school students recently conducted pharmaceutical lab tests, made medical gels and discussed the workload and community impact of future pharmacists in the dynamic and unique Pharmacy Summer Research Program at Chapman University’s School of Pharmacy.
Nearly 50 young scientists, more than double the number since its first year, participated in the two-week program.
Witnessing the increasing enthusiasm for pharmacy education among high school students, Chapman faculty members designed the program to shed light on the multifaceted role of pharmacists and delve into the realm of pharmaceutical sciences, says Associate Professor Hamid Montazeri, director of the program.
Through hands-on experiences and expert mentorship, young minds harness the power of scientific literature to craft and showcase their own research projects. “It has exceeded our wildest dreams,” Montazeri says.
Chapman’s program immerses the young science-minded students into its lab environments with the latest technologies and techniques used in pharmaceutical sciences, he said. The high school students did lab tests to observe processes like blood clotting, made a pharmaceutical gel in the compounding lab, and asked current students questions about everything from study habits to juggling extracurricular activities, and got advice from the School of Pharmacy’s career specialist.
The students were paired with a Chapman University faculty member to study their specialties. Erica Kim, an incoming senior at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton shared, “Learning about Montazeri’s research into delivery systems targeting cancer cells was interesting because a lot of things he’s talking about I’m learning, especially in bio or chem, but he goes into more depth.”
The high school summer research program supports Chapman’s strategic plan goal to strengthen and expand graduate health science programs, advancing health care to meet community needs.
About Chapman University
Founded in 1861, Chapman University is a nationally ranked private university located in Southern California. Chapman is categorized by the Carnegie Classification as an R2 “high research activity” institution and offers personalized education to more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The campus has produced a Rhodes Scholar, been named a top producer of Fulbright Scholars, and hosts a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. Based in the city of Orange, Chapman also includes the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. In 2019, the university opened its 11th college, Fowler School of Engineering, in its newest facility, Keck Center for Science and Engineering. Learn more about Chapman University: www.chapman.edu.
Media Contacts:
Cerise Valenzuela Metzger, Director of Public Relations | cmetzger@chapman.edu | 714-289-3143
Carly Murphy, Public Relations Coordinator | carmurphy@chapman.edu | Desk: 714-289-3196 | Mobile: 714-497-9683
