Saint Joseph’s Translational Research Institute (SJTRI) announces its first scholarship opportunities to be made available to Atlanta undergraduates beginning fall of 2010. Expanding its collaboration with the Georgia Institute of Technology, SJRTI is financing three Petit Undergraduate Research Scholarships through Georgia Tech’s Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience.

The $25,000.00 in SJTRI scholarships will be awarded to three students this fall. Once the recipients are named, they will be paired with graduate student mentors and work inside SJTRI’s labs over a one year span. The program serves to develop the next generation of leading bioengineering and bioscience researchers by providing a comprehensive experience.

"By engaging these students in medical, preclinical research early in the process we open their eyes to the possibilities." says Nicolas Chronos, MD, president of SJTRI. "We are financing these scholarships so our local students have the opportunity to recognize their potential in becoming pioneers who conceptualize, test, and implement future treatments through our unique 'bench to bedside' approach." Undergraduates accepted to the program conduct independent research in state-of-the-art laboratories and at the end of the term present their findings.

The Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience plays an important role in seeding the tremendous growth in bioengineering and life sciences research for Georgia Tech and is evolving to serve the broader community in emergent areas of bio-related research.

"The Petit Scholars Program is designed to encourage the best and brightest undergraduate students to pursue advanced degrees in science and technology by hooking them on the thrill of discovery in research," says Robert Guldberg, Director of the Petit Institute. "We deeply appreciate the scholarship funding provided by SJTRI to support this program."

The Petit Undergraduate Research Scholars program is open to all Atlanta area university students who are currently enrolled full time at: the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College or another metro Atlanta area college or university. For eligibility requirements and to apply go to: IBB Petit Scholars.

About Saint Joseph's Health System
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta is now a 410-bed, acute-care hospital recognized as one of the leading specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast. Saint Joseph's is one of the region's premier providers of cardiac, vascular oncology and orthopaedic services and home to the most comprehensive minimally invasive robotic surgery program in the world. Saint Joseph's is one of the 50 top hospitals and one of the few hospitals in the world to receive Magnet Recognition for Nursing Excellence. Saint Joseph's medical staff is comprised of over 750 physicians. Saint Joseph's Health System is based in Atlanta and has several subsidiaries including indigent care services, employed physician group, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Greensboro, GA, and research facilities. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, Saint Joseph's is a member of Catholic Health East. For more information, please visit www.saintjosephsatlanta.org.