A dedication to education and training has always been central to The Wistar Institute’s mission.
The Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center brings all Wistar education and training programs under a single umbrella to make lasting global impact in biomedical research. Its mission is to advance a well-trained, sustainable life science workforce—comprised of a diverse and inclusive talent pipeline—for the benefit of our region and beyond. The Center will continue to broaden and expand long-standing programs that teach sought-after scientific skills needed for careers in the life science sector.
The Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center aims to provide opportunities throughout a student’s STEM career. Under the guidance of top Wistar faculty-mentors in collaboration with industry experts, trainees flourish in distinct programs designed for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as pre-apprentices, apprentices, and postdoctoral fellows.
In an average year, more than 100 students and fellows are training at The Wistar Institute. Undergraduate students come from regional community colleges, including Community College of Philadelphia and Montgomery County Community College, as well as Cheyney University, La Salle University, and other colleges and universities across the country. Graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and the University of Bologna can choose to complete their thesis research with Wistar faculty. Postdoctoral trainees come from every part of the world for advanced training inside and outside of Wistar labs. Wistar-trained scientists are among leaders throughout the biomedical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Trainees are supported by Wistar laboratories, individual fellowships, and/or training grants on which their mentors serve as participating faculty.
Kristy Shuda McGuire, M.S., Ph.D., is dean of Biomedical Studies and a professor at The Wistar Institute where she leads the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center, overseeing education and workforce training programs for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows. The Center’s signature program is the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) Program, which started as a partnership in 2000 between The Wistar Institute and the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). Dr. Shuda McGuire spent 11 years at CCP as a faculty member in the Biology Department and served as the academic coordinator for the BTT Program. Dr. Shuda McGuire joined The Wistar Institute as Associate Dean in September 2019. She received her B.S. in Biology from Loyola University Maryland, her M.S. in the Science of Instruction from Drexel University, and her Ph.D. in Genetics from Thomas Jefferson University, where she continues to serve as a member of the adjunct faculty in the Jefferson College of Life Sciences.
About the Team
David Zuzga, Ph.D., is the Associate Dean of Biomedical Studies in the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center. Dr. Zuzga joined Wistar in 2021 from La Salle University where he was associate professor and chair of the Biology and Integrated Science, Business & Technology Departments. Since joining Wistar, Dr. Zuzga has been instrumental in helping to expand the education and training programs for high school, undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. He received his B.A. in Biopsychology from Vassar College and his Ph.D. in Genetics from Thomas Jefferson University.
Ian Tietjen, Ph.D., is the Education Director of Global Studies & Partnerships and an Assistant Professor at the Wistar Institute. His aim is to foster worldwide collaboration and access to Wistar’s research, education, and mentoring expertise, particularly for researchers, students, and communities in low and middle-income countries. He is also responsible for teaching several of Wistar’s courses including Biomedical Research Methods with Cheyney University. He joined the Wistar Institute in 2020 as a Research Assistant Professor with Dr. Luis Montaner and was appointed Education Director in 2024. He was previously an Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University and Senior Scientist at Cardiome Pharma Corp. and Xenon Pharmaceuticals in Vancouver, Canada. He received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University.
Jason Diaz, Ph.D., is Director of Education and Inclusive Excellence in the Hubert J.P. Schoemaker Education and Training Center, and Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center. He directs Wistar’s outreach and engagement activities with Philadelphia high school students, including the High School Program in Biomedical Research. Dr. Diaz supports all training initiatives at Wistar to ensure they recruit and support diverse scientists from historically underrepresented and disadvantaged groups. He joined Wistar in 2022 after teaching biotechnology courses as an Assistant Professor in La Salle University’s Integrated Science, Business, and Technology program. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Ithaca College and his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was also a PennPORT IRACDA postdoctoral fellow.
