BioQuest STEM Mentoring Program
What is BioQuest?
BioQuest is a STEM mentoring program designed to give middle and high school students meaningful opportunities to explore diverse careers in science, biotechnology, and medicine. Over the past two years, we've engaged more than 200 students from the South Bronx through hands-on enrichment events, winter break experiences, and a new paid summer internship program. We are proud to have co-created this program with our incredible partners at Areté Education, BioBus, Hunts Point Alliance for Children, Futures Ignite, Mott Hall II, and Weill Cornell Medicine.
2024-2025 Academic Year
Year 2 of BioQuest is underway! Students and families connected with mentors, enjoyed breakfast, and explored hands on science experiments aboard the BioBus in the Bronx!
Stay tuned and follow us for updates throughout the academic year as we continue to inspire and empower the next generation of STEM leaders!
As a life science investment and innovation firm committed to empowering the next generation of scientists, RTW Investments welcomed BioQuest students to its offices to explore biotech investing and career opportunities in drug discovery. Students heard from our CEO, Rod Wong, and our team of researchers and analysts, gaining insights into biotech and life sciences. The day included hands-on activities like investing trivia, a chemistry simulation, and a guided tour of the investment firm offices, sparking excitement for the year ahead!
BioQuest teamed up with HPAC, Futures Ignite, and Arete Education for a day of hands-on scientific discovery at Hudson River Park. Students explored the park’s interactive microorganism room, learned the history and ecology of the Hudson River with environmental specialists, and used microscopes to uncover some of the estuary’s tiniest organisms.
BioQuest gathered at Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS and the New York Genome Center for an exciting end of year winter celebration and laboratory visit. Alongside mentors, students engaged in hands on activities including extracting DNA from strawberries, competing in a precision pipetting challenge, making fake snow with baking soda and shaving cream, and designing, engineering and building innovative gingerbread houses that showcased their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Students and mentors explored multicellular organisms with the BioBus team using microscopes and other features of their mobile lab. Through hands-on experiments participants discovered how organisms react to changes in their environment.
We kicked off our first BioQuest Explore Program for middle school students during February break! Students explored the similarities and differences between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems with the BioBus team.
Students explored immunology and public health challenges alongside the Tri-Institution Minority Society graduate students at Weill Cornell. Through collaboration and problem-solving, they developed innovative solutions to health disparities, presenting ideas such as apps, wearable devices, and artificial intelligence-driven tools.
Students, family members, and mentors spent the day exploring the Liberty Science Center, engaging with hands-on exhibits and celebrating a year of learning and growth. This was followed by a special BioQuest graduation lunch, where students were recognized for their curiosity, hard work, and achievements throughout the program.
Student Highlights: BioQuest Events
BioQuest events are a highlight for many students, offering a fun and engaging way to explore science and technology outside the classroom. From hands-on experiments to inspiring conversations with mentors in STEM fields, students share how much they enjoy learning in such an interactive and exciting environment.
Sean Robinson
We had students that were very shy initially, but ever since they’ve been part of BioQuest, they’ve become leaders in the classroom...Students are more willing to take on different risks, take on different challenges, engage more in activities.
Jordan Hilario
For me, BioQuest is important because I’ve always been interested in finance and medicine and being a doctor, and I never really knew that there is a career that I can necessarily combine the two things. Once I went in my first day of BioQuest, I absolutely fell in love.
Tingting Zhang-Kharas, PhD
Many of us did not come from a background with family members in healthcare, science, or the pharma industry, but I hope the experience today will inspire you to follow your dreams and explore a career in life sciences or anything that you are passionate about!
Angel
I liked learning about peoples' backgrounds and seeing what they did to get to where they are right now.
Jeandely
Everyone was super nice and energetic. They made asking questions so easy. I thought it was pretty perfect. I learned about the medtech career and career analysis. I want to learn more about the business part.
Interested in getting involved with BioQuest as a mentor?
Program Collaborators
