| CSUF Program Sends Student Researchers Overseas Program was created as a way to encourage minority students to pursue careers in biomedical research, as well as way to foster understanding of international health issues.
  
                    
                   June 28, 2006 :: No. 291  Ten university students are spending the summer  overseas, conducting research as part of Cal State Fullerton’s Minority Health  and Health Disparities International Research Training Program. The  National Institutes of Health recently awarded $115,324 to CSUF in support of  the program, which is directed by Marcelo Tolmasky, professor of biological  science. Formerly the Minority  International Research Training Program, MHIRT was created as a way to  encourage minority students to pursue careers in biomedical research, as well  as way to foster understanding of international health issues. The program  offers students the opportunity to spend 10 weeks during the summer working  alongside researchers at universities around the world.  “The  MHIRT program is a major asset to the College of Natural Sciences and  Mathematics,” explained Robert Koch, chair and professor of biological science.  Koch noted that Tolmasky has expanded the program by increasing the number of  participating universities and researchers in England, Argentina and Thailand.  “These  locations provide our students incredible enrichment opportunities as they  experience other cultures while working in high-quality research laboratories,”  said Koch.    Since  the program’s inception, more than 120 biomedical, science and health science  students have spent summers studying with top scientists overseas.  The  students in this year’s program are training at the universities  of Oxford, Cambridge, London and York in Great Britain; Instituto Fundacion  Leloir in Argentina; and Chiang Mai University in Thailand.  Participating in the program from Cal State Fullerton  are graduate student Michelle Don of  Montebello, postbaccalaureate student Angelina  Arbisi of Brea, and undergraduate students Jennifer Salcido of Whittier and Susan Sanchez of Irvine. Also  taking part are: San Diego Community College student Araceli Montes of San Dimas;  Guilford College graduate student Roslyn  Phillips of Greensboro, N.C.; Cal State Los Angeles students Emmanuel Dotsey of Hollywood and Nohemy Sorto of Los Angeles; Cal State  Northridge postbaccalaureate student Jose  Carcarmo of Northridge; and Cal State Long Beach student Dominic Siler of Long Beach. 
 
                     
                      | Media Contacts: | Marcelo Tolmasky, professor of biological science,  mtolmasky@fullerton.eduPamela  McLaren, Public Affairs, 657-278-4852 or pmclaren@fullerton.edu
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