September 3, 1999

When Albertina Andrade came to the United States from Cape Verde in 1996, she knew very little English. Just three years later, she won the Boston Public Schools' Citywide Science Fair and graduated valedictorian of her class at the Jeremiah Burke High School in Dorchester.

Andrade credits much of her success to her involvement with the Science Education Program (SEP), an MGH initiative sponsored by the Multicultural Affairs Office (MAO), which pairs high school students and teachers with MGH researchers in a mentoring relationship to conduct hands-on laboratory research during the summer.

"SEP is for students from Boston public schools with untapped ability who can benefit from being in a rigorous academic environment such as the MGH," says Rosy Sarafoudi, program coordinator for the MAO.

Andrade worked with Mia MacCollin, MD, in the Neurogenetics lab last summer on an experiment involving the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis, a highly advanced level of work for a high school senior. She continued with her research after completing the program and developed her experiment into an award-winning science fair project for her school.

"I don't get bored doing this work," says Andrade, who spent many afternoons and weekends at the lab while a student. This fall, she will study biology at Regis College in Weston, Mass.

MGH researchers interested in mentoring a student through the SEP or other programs, can contact Rosy Sarafoudi at 4-3832, or by e-mail at rsarafoudi@partners.org.