In the Virtual STEMM Academy, we offer a platform to bring our vast data resources to the classroom, teaching students about research design and data analysis through engaging and insightful data stories.
Program goals
- Provide data science resources for students
- Provide learning activities for high school students entering the HSRI program
- Raise visibility of research careers and research enterprise at St. Jude
- Facilitate relationships between teachers and researchers
- Provide community and mentoring to those seeking science training
In line with the St. Jude Strategic Plan, the Virtual STEMM Academy forms part of our broader efforts to bridge the gap between education and scientific research. Specifically, the program resonates with Strategic Initiative 3 under Goal 10 to strengthen talent sourcing, hiring, career development, promotion and retention, and community outreach. Meanwhile, it supports Strategic Initiative 4 with the same goal to enrich the talent pipeline by developing educational efforts targeted at potential future St. Jude employees. Additionally, the program will be used to recruit and prepare a national cohort for the growing St. Jude High School Research Immersion Program and other in-person training events.
What is a data story?
Every research finding has a story behind it. The Virtual STEMM Academy helps you find yours. Through real-world data sets and hands-on analytical tools, VSA teaches you to think like a scientist, not just by learning methods, but by engaging with the kind of data-driven questions that drive discovery at St. Jude. Each module is built around narrative as much as numbers, connecting the science you're learning to the people and purpose behind it.
Multimodal learning
VSA is built for the way people actually learn. Animations, narrative texts, interactive reviews, and guided thinking exercises work together to deepen understanding and keep you engaged. Current modules focus on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Medulloblastoma, Sickle Cell Disease, and Computer Science in Biomedical Research, with each topic grounded in the real science happening at St. Jude.
Available Modules
Introduction to Python
This module introduces students to computer programming and data analysis through authentic biomedical research applications relevant to pediatric catastrophic diseases. Students learn foundational Python programming skills while exploring how researchers use computational tools to analyze data, answer scientific questions, and advance biomedical discovery.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Case Study
Through the study of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, students investigate the biology of blood, cancer, and human health. The module connects core science concepts to current biomedical research and helps students understand how scientific discoveries contribute to improved treatments and patient outcomes.
Sickle Cell Disease Case Study
Students explore genetics, blood disorders, and human health through the study of sickle cell disease. Through inquiry-based learning experiences, students examine how inherited conditions affect the body and how researchers and healthcare professionals work to improve outcomes for individuals living with the disease.
Scientific Communication and Literacy Education (SCALE) Module
This module introduces students to the ways scientists communicate ideas, share evidence, and contribute to the scientific community. Through the analysis of scientific texts, visualizations, data representations, and research findings, students develop skills in reading, interpreting, and communicating scientific information. Students learn how scientific knowledge is constructed, evaluated, and shared while strengthening their abilities as critical consumers and communicators of science.
For more information on the Virtual STEMM Academy, and to request access to modules, contact kyle.bichsel@stjude.org.