2026 BioMed STEM Workshop
Niagara University Biomedical Research Institute
August 2–8, 2026
Check-in August 2 • Programming begins August 3
Ignite Your Future in STEM
Through immersive, hands-on labs, field experiences, and expert-led sessions, students explore cutting-edge scientific concepts and see firsthand how biomedical research impacts the world around us. Participants gain experience using modern, real-world equipment while working alongside university faculty, researchers, and industry professionals.
As an overnight program on Niagara University’s campus, the workshop offers more than academic enrichment. Students experience life on a college campus—building independence, confidence, and responsibility—while forming meaningful connections with peers who share similar interests.
Join us for a week of discovery, learning, and exploration inside real science.
Inside the BioMed STEM Experience
Real Science. Real Experts. Real-World Impact.
Throughout the week, students take part in immersive labs, interactive workshops, and off-campus field trips designed to show how STEM disciplines intersect in real careers.
Students Will:
Explore forensic science, artificial intelligence, and data analysis during a hands-on mini-camp led by Niagara University faculty. Students use Python programming and AI tools to analyze real-world digital evidence—including images, video, and text—while learning how data-driven technologies are applied in modern forensic investigations.
Investigate human anatomy and neuroanatomy through a comparative brain lab led by Sandra M. Ocampos, Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Coordinator at Niagara University. Students compare sheep and human brains to better understand structure, function, evolution, and neurological adaptation
Discover how energy engineering and electricity power our region during a field trip to the New York Power Authority Niagara Power Vista, guided by Teresa Martinez, Manager of Community Affairs – Niagara. Interactive exhibits provide a hands-on look at hydroelectric power and sustainable energy systems.
Step inside real-world medical device innovation at the Jacobs Institute in Buffalo, guided by Pamela Marcucci, Vice President of Programs. Students design and test their own clot-clearing devices while exploring how engineering and medicine intersect to treat heart attack and stroke.
Learn how computer programming and computational analysis support scientific research during an on-campus workshop led by Hannah Attard, Assistant Professor of Physics at Daemen University. This session highlights how coding skills transfer across STEM disciplines.
Explore astronomy and space science during an immersive planetarium experience at SUNY Buffalo State University, led by Kevin K. Williams, PhD, Director of the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium. The visit includes a full-dome film, live night-sky tour, and interactive Q&A.
Examine bacteriophages—the viruses that infect and kill bacteria—**during a lab-based lecture led by Mark A. Gallo, Ph.D., Biology Professor at Niagara University. Students explore how bacteriophages are being studied as potential tools against antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” and analyze key properties through hands-on laboratory investigation.
Engage with Niagara University faculty, researchers, and visiting experts, gaining insight into college-level coursework, research pathways, and STEM careers—while collaborating with peers and experiencing life on a college campus.
Registration & Program Details
To register please visit STEM Camp 2026 or feel free to contact our Administrative Liaison Rob Tober at tober@niagara.edu for additional questions and/or information.
Cost: $1,200
Includes:
- Registration fee
- All meals
- Lodging (apartment-style housing)
- Field trips
- Supplies (lab coat, goggles, and lab notebook)
Capacity: 35 students
Registration deadline: May 1, 2026
If a registration is canceled before April 30, a refund will be issued minus a $150 cancellation fee. Due to advance commitments for staffing, housing, and materials, no refunds will be issued on or after April 30.
Meet Dr. Mary P. McCourt
NU’s STEM Summer Camp is organized by Dr. Mary P. McCourt, a faculty member and senior scientist with extensive experience in computational chemistry and molecular modeling, cancer- targeted drug design and structural biology with emphasis on lipids. In July 2024, she received a $261,500 grant from the New York State Biodefense Commercialization Fund to formulate a general anti-viral therapeutic using CholestosomeTM technology, a molecule delivery system she developed at Niagara University.