W&J Science @ a Glance

Regional Impact of Science Programs: W&J's strong science programs address the national and regional need for increasing the number of college graduates entering science-related careers and an urgent statewide need to increase the number of practicing physicians.  Our graduation of future physicians is particularly beneficial to Southwestern Pennsylvania.  The 40% of W&J alums who reside in the region includes 228 physicians. 

Science majors at W&J

Since 1980, 37% of W&J students have earned degrees in mathematics or science (biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, biochemistry and biological physics).

Faculty.  All 32 professors of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and psychology hold terminal degrees. 

Our science faculty make it their top priority to provide innovative and interdisciplinary undergraduate learning experiences. 11 members of W&J's science faculty are active participants in Project Kaleidoscope ("PKAL”), a national coalition of higher education faculty and institutions dedicated to building strong environments for undergraduate students in math and science.  In addition, 3 W&J faculty have been named as PKAL Faculty for the 21st Century based on their leadership within their local community and national leadership potential.  PKAL's Leadership Initiative also recently featured as a model W&J's innovative and interdisciplinary vision for seamless integration of science and math into a liberal arts curriculum.

Student outcomes. W&J students become leaders and innovators in their fields.  For example, Dr. Dennis Slamon (’70) (developer of Herceptin), Dr. Lyn Dyster (‘80) (founder of Kinex Pharmaceuticals), and Dr. Glenn C. Rice (‘78) (CEO of Bridge Pharmaceuticals and founder of Convergence Pharmaceuticals) have helped to pave the way in the fight against cancer by developing the next generation of anti-cancer drugs.

Medical School and Health Graduate Programs.  (25-35 students accepted per year; approximately 90% acceptance rate) – Admissions include: Mayo Clinic, University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, George Washington University, MCP Hahnemann University, Baylor University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Virginia, and Duke University.

Other Graduate Study.  (5-10 students accepted per year) – Admissions include: Princeton University, Carnegie Mellon University, American University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin, University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, Penn State University, and University of California.

Internships and Summer Research.  Internship placements include: Los Alamos Laboratories, Harvard Medical School, UCLA Medical School, Bayer’s research and development facility in Leverkusen, Germany, as well as prestigious programs in Thailand, Spain and Panama, among others. Through generous funding from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, between 1996-2005, 80 students conducted research at the following institutions: University of Arizona, Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, Florida International University, Harvard University, The Ohio State University, Thomas Jefferson University, UCLA, Windber Research Institute, University of Buffalo, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University, the National Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, West Virginia University Cancer Center, Baylor University, University of Madrid, Hampton University, and Duke University.  78% of these students have entered medical school, doctorate or M.D./Ph.D. programs. 

Scholarships and Fellowships.  Awards include: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Fellowships, Jack Kent Cooke Medical School Scholarship, National Heart Association fellowship, Goldwater Scholarships.

Publication Highlights.  Our science students do not simply present their research in undergraduate forums; instead they routinely compete to have their papers published in peer-reviewed journals with faculty at other elite institutions and professional industry researchers.  In 2006, 11 W&J students (and a local high school student who participated in a W&J outreach program) and a Chemistry Professor recently published a paper in the journal Tetrahedron Letters, the most cited chemistry letters journal in the world.1  Another article was also recently published by 7 students and the same Chemistry Professor in the journal Arkivoc (Archive of Organic Chemistry). 2  In addition, three publications co-authored by students were presented at the 2007 National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Community Outreach & Other Programs

W&J recently secured $3,500,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense for a Combat Stress Intervention Program to address post-combat stress affecting rural National Guard members in collaboration with two area hospitals, Conemaugh Health System (Johnstown, PA), Highlands Hospital (Connellsville, PA), and the Pennsylvania National Guard. 

Other programs include:

• Science Matters – Since 1997, W&J has partnered with Intermediate Unit 1, to provide science-related assistance to 800 classrooms and 265 teachers in school districts throughout Washington, Greene, and Fayette County.
• Saturday Science - Local ninth and tenth grade students come to W&J for a full day of lectures, discussions, and hands-on lab activities led by chemistry faculty and undergraduate students. 
• Course-based Outreach – W&J faculty and students annually work with school children on special course-based service learning projects. 
• Project SEED - W&J introduces local at-risk high school students to the world of scientific research through an annual four-week summer course.

Nutrition Outreach Course – A recent course for education majors focused on developing laboratory activities to teach public school children about the science connected with nutrition.