#  HMS Community Igniting STEM Career Interests of Boston Middle School Students 

 





July 08, 2026

 

 

   ![Frinny Polanco is gesturing to herself and a whiteboard with neurotransmitter terms on it.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11411/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/2026-07/Frinny%20Polanco%20%28credit_%20Avery%20Normandin%29.JPEG?itok=M2-5ajyV) 

 

Graduate students, postdocs, and faculty from across Harvard Medical School (HMS) worked with OCCE youth programs staff to share their STEM career insights with 431 middle school students from 10 Boston Public Schools in a two-day Middle School Career Extravaganza in late May. Organized by [Apprentice Learning](https://apprenticelearning.org/), a nonprofit dedicated to providing real-world work experiences for middle school learners, the event focused on broadening students’ understanding of future career possibilities and igniting their interest through interactive activities. Sessions led by HMS community members showcased a broad range of topics across STEM fields: postdoctoral fellow Bernie Owusu-Yaw engaged students in building DNA models with candy, using the activity to explore the structure of DNA and answer the question, “*how do you become you?*” [Ricky Silva](https://pinphd.hms.harvard.edu/people/ricardo-silva) and [Cristine Kalinski](https://pinphd.hms.harvard.edu/people/cristine-kalinski)–both PhD students from the HMS Program in Neuroscience–engaged students in learning about the brain through animal skull identification and morphology. Maribel Okiye, Dean's Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, guided students in developing a “personal elevator pitch” to highlight their unique interests and skills. Drawing upon her work as a pediatrician, Dr. Frinny Polanco led a fun and interactive workshop exploring the connections between cardiovascular physiology, neurotransmitters, and emotional self-regulation through hands-on demonstrations and discussion.

For those in the Harvard community who would like to share their skills with young people in future community service opportunities, please contact K-12 Program Manager, Avery Normandin [avery\_normandin@hms.harvard.edu](mailto:avery_normandin@hms.harvard.edu).



 

 

 

    ![Maribel Okiye is wearing a white blouse. She is gesturing with both hands.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11411/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-07/Maribel%20Okiye%20%28credit_%20Michelle%20Keenan%29.jpg?itok=baQkhpaC) 

 



 

  

 

    ![Ricky Silva and Christine Kalinski are standing in front of a projector and showing students pieces of candy.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11411/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-07/Ricky%20Silva%20and%20Cristine%20Kalinski%20%28credit_%20Michelle%20Keenan%29.jpg?itok=yJUK2F4H) 

 



 

  

 

    ![Bernie Owusu-Yaw is holding a sheet of paper with the word "DNA" on it.](/sites/g/files/omnuum11411/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-07/Bernie%20Owusu-Yaw%20%28credit_%20Michelle%20Keenan%29.jpg?itok=3roFlI8M) 

 



 

  

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

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