Wooster hosts international Summer Science Program in biochemistry and bacterial genomics research

The College of Wooster was selected as a 2026 host site for Summer Science Program (SSP) International, one of the longest-running research-based pre-college summer programs in the nation. Wooster is SSP International’s first Ohio location and one of only 13 host schools throughout North America this summer.

Wooster is hosting five-week research programs in biochemistry and bacterial genomics for 70 students from around the world. SSP International selected the College because of its mission to prepare students to become leaders of character and influence in an interdependent global community, along with its strengths in research mentoring and excellent science facilities.

Mark Snider, Robert E. Wilson Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the College is serving as academic director of the biochemistry program. Snider and Dean Fraga, affiliated scholar and professor emeritus of biochemistry & molecular biology at Wooster, are also serving as biochemistry instructors. Non-Wooster faculty are leading the genomics program on-site.

“Wooster's national reputation for mentored undergraduate research and our state-of-the-art Ruth Whitmore Williams Hall of Life Science facility which promotes collaborative learning and discovery makes Wooster an excellent host site for SSP International,” said Snider. “We are excited to be part of the program this summer as it exposes very talented students from all over the world to the Wooster community.”

Founded in 1959, SSP increases access to high-quality STEM education for youth by lowering systemic barriers for communities underrepresented in the sciences. It expanded its reach internationally in 2023 thanks to a generous alumni donation. To provide students with immersive, transformational opportunities to learn, do, and belong in science, SSP places participants into teams of three to collaborate on a challenging and real biochemical research project.

Snider explained that the college-level project involves concepts and lab skills not typically available to high school students, adding that they spend most days engaging in science for 12 or more hours through active learning class work, lab work, computational modeling, and a variety of writing assignments. “Along the way they learn how to formulate questions and conclusions, develop protocols, and present their work while also learning to navigate challenges and collaborate effectively within a diverse team,” said Snider.

This year’s biochemistry project focuses on developing an inhibitor of a plant fungal pathogen enzyme known as Cdc14 phosphatase. The Cdc14 phosphatase is hypothesized to be critical to the fungi’s ability to infect and cause disease in crop plants. Since fungal species significantly reduce agricultural crop yields (the Irish potato blight is an infamous example) the development of novel anti-fungal agents would be beneficial to society.

“The participants are learning how to model the structure of the Cdc14 enzyme and conduct experiments to examine its catalytic mechanism, with the ultimate goal of designing an effective inhibitor that will shut down its activity,” said Snider.

Alongside the professors, graduates in STEM fields who are passionate about mentoring the high school participants join the program as teaching assistants and residential mentors. Faiyaz Hasan ’26, a biochemistry & molecular biology major, said he was able to jump into his teaching assistant role with SSP International confidently because he’s already done it in multiple classroom and laboratory courses while at Wooster.

“Supporting Drs. Snider and Fraga and helping participants figure out the challenges that haunted me not long ago has been extremely rewarding,” said Hasan, who will soon begin working in the Viralogue Lab at the University of Colorado Anschutz. “Every generation of researcher should have a similar ecosystem of support that teaches them rigorous research skills while enabling them to explore the world of science independently.”

The program also offers field trips to provide participants with some fun experiences away from the intense science, which Snider said gives a fresh perspective to continue to engage creatively and effectively on their projects. The Wooster cohort visited the Great Lakes Aquarium and Cleveland Museum of Art and also spent a day hiking in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

SSP said the 2026 season brought its largest class in the organization’s history, and the continued growth of the program reflects increasing demand for immersive STEM programs that challenge students academically while helping them build confidence, connection, and a lasting sense of belonging in science. It’s more than a head start to excel at any college. They call it “the educational experience of a lifetime.”