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For Immediate Release
April 25, 2007

 

 

CBIA AND PFIZER PREPARING STUDENTS FOR HIGH-SKILL, HIGH-DEMAND JOBS
IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
Twenty-four area college students awarded research fellowships

 

The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) and Pfizer Global Research & Development in southeast Connecticut today announced the names of 24 area college students selected to participate in an undergraduate research fellowship program. The fellowship program, in its third and final year, provides research support scholarships to students at eight area colleges and universities. The program helps the students develop the research skills necessary for successful careers in the high-skill, high-demand pharmaceutical research industry.

CBIA and Pfizer are again working with the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Fairfield University in Fairfield, Trinity College in Hartford, the University of New Haven in West Haven, Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.

The fellowships were awarded to the 24 most qualified students from the participating colleges and universities. The students were selected for their academic achievement, enthusiasm for laboratory science and interest in pursuing a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Krista Shoemaker of Williamsville, N.Y., a senior chemistry major at UConn
  • Vicky Liu of West Hartford, Conn., a junior chemistry and molecular and cell biology major at UConn
  • Arpan Parikh of East Hartford, Conn., a junior chemistry major at UConn
  • Olbelina Ulloa of Norwich, Conn., a sophomore chemistry major at UConn
  • Laert Rusha of Worcester, Mass., a sophomore biochemistry major at Trinity College
  • Julianne Boccuzzi of Trumbull, Conn., a junior chemistry and political science major at Trinity College
  • Neena Chakrabarti of Bethesda, Md., a sophomore chemistry major at Trinity College
  • Douglas Mooney Jr., of Winsted, Conn., a junior chemistry major at Central Connecticut State University
  • Kevin Becroft of Wallingford, Conn., a sophomore chemistry major at Central Connecticut State University
  • Chris Pace of Lynn, Mass., a junior chemistry major at Fairfield University
  • Andrea Della Pelle of Melrose, Mass., a junior chemistry major at Fairfield University
  • Melissa Guildford of Lunenburg, Mass., a junior chemistry major at Fairfield University
  • Christopher Koenigsmann of Mahopac, N.Y., a junior chemistry major at Fairfield University
  • Dan Osipovitch of Bergen, N.Y., a sophomore chemistry and forensic science major at the University of New Haven
  • Shana Santos of Ludlow, Mass., a junior chemistry and forensic science major at the University of New Haven
  • Suzanne Letourneau of Reading, Mass., a junior chemistry and forensic science major at the University of New Haven
  • Eric Yoon of Yonkers, N.Y., a junior chemistry major at Holy Cross
  • Stacey Powell of Weymouth, Mass., a sophomore chemistry major at Holy Cross
  • Ann Kotze of Franklin, Wis., a sophomore chemistry major at Holy Cross
  • Shira Rockowitz of Springfield, Mass., a sophomore biochemistry and chemical engineering major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Brian Costa of Fitchburg, Mass., a sophomore chemistry major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • James Letourneux of Spencer, Mass., a sophomore biochemistry major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Annie Vikart of Richmond, Calif., a sophomore chemistry major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Kevin Jillson of Sandwich, Mass., a sophomore biochemistry major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The students will conduct a 10-week independent research project on campus, guided by a university professor and a Pfizer mentor assigned to the college.

"As high-demand jobs in the pharmaceutical industry continue to grow in Connecticut, so does the need for highly skilled workers,” said Judith Resnick, CBIA director of workforce development and training, and the deputy director of the association’s Education Foundation. “That’s why it’s critical that the business community continues to work with educational institutions to help students develop the skills needed to pursue successful careers that will help them find jobs and keep Connecticut growing in the global marketplace.”

The fellowship program is made possible through a U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) H-1B grant being administered by CBIA. The purpose of the grant is to increase the number of highly skilled U.S. workers in the bioscience and pharmaceutical industries and reduce employers’ dependence on foreign workers. Funding for the grant is made possible through H-1B visa fees paid to the USDOL by businesses that have found it necessary to hire foreign labor to fill high-skill, high-demand jobs.

CBIA will be working with CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence), the state’s bioscience industry cluster, to develop future programs and secure funding to continue offering research programs that will help prepare students for careers in the bioscience industry.

CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members.

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For more information contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.

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Phone: (860) 244-1900 · Fax: (860) 278-8562

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