Summer at Wistar: A Season of Scientific Discovery

For many, summer is a time to relax—students close their textbooks, and families head off on long-awaited vacations. But at The Wistar Institute, summer marks the start of something much more hands-on and engaging.

If you’re part of Wistar’s Education and Training Team—or a lucky student participating in one of Wistar’s immersive training programs—summer is when the real work begins. For some, it’s their first time stepping into a real research lab. For others, it’s a chance to build on skills they’ve already started developing as they pursue careers in the life sciences.

Either way, it’s a season of focus, learning, and growth.

That dedication was celebrated on July 31, when 61 students were honored with Certificates of Completion during Wistar’s annual Completion Ceremony.

“This is always a very inspiring day,” said Dr. Dario Altieri, President and CEO of The Wistar Institute. “You can feel the energy and passion in the room. Science is fun—but it can also be frustrating. There will come a moment in your scientific journey when everything clicks, when the puzzle pieces fit together. That moment makes it all worthwhile.”

Kristy Shuda McGuire, Dean of Biomedical Studies, shared heartfelt reflections about a mentor and colleague who lost her battle with breast cancer. “This is why we do what we do: to pursue future treatments and cures,” she said. “But to truly learn science, students need to do science.”

And that’s exactly what Wistar’s programs offer. Students dive into real research projects—whether it’s exploring how mutations in the p53 gene, known as the “guardian of the genome,” contribute to cancer, studying the role of the PADI4 enzyme, or testing natural products for their effects on HIV or other viral diseases.

For many students, the experience can be transformative.

Lillian Yost, a student from Delaware County Community College in the Biomedical Technician Training Program, initially doubted herself when she began the program. “I thought this program might be out of my reach,” she said. “But what I learned is that I am capable. And that’s true for everyone—sometimes, all it takes is action.”

Leila Nair, another BTT student, echoed that sentiment. “I struggled with confidence at first,” she said. “But this program challenged me again and again, and it helped me grow stronger.”

Keynote Speaker Andreas Weidmer, Wistar’s Training Lab Coordinator and a graduate of the second BTT cohort in 2002, talked about his journey from Switzerland to Wistar. His advice to students? “Challenge yourself. Step into unfamiliar territory. Believe that you can do it. Sometimes you need a push, sometimes you need guidance—but it’s there. You can do it.”