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Waubonsee Community College has established a transformative launchpad for local students interested in STEM by becoming the first and only community college partner in the Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) regional cohort.
The mission of C2ST is to raise scientific literacy, promote understanding of STEM issues, and highlight Chicagoland as a major center for innovation and technology. C2ST provides Waubonsee students with paid regional internships so students can learn interdisciplinary skills on how to think and speak scientifically. This training leads to Waubonsee students securing research positions at leading four-year research institutions, including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and Loyola University. Because the C2ST internships are paid, students do not have to choose between earning a living and pursuing experiential learning.
"Having students get started with undergraduate research experiences at a community college is a gold standard in learning how to do science and persist in STEM," said Dr. Sheela Vemu, Associate Professor of Biology at Waubonsee.
The partnership between Waubonsee and C2ST gained momentum when Waubonsee students Daniella Rodriguez and Ella Coley successfully applied for the competitive application process with the guidance of Dr. Vemu. Both students were accepted into C2ST, with Rodriguez and Coley being offered an opportunity to work as a science communication intern for C2ST while attending Waubonsee. In 2024, Rodriguez authored, “The Dynamics of DNA: How Scientists are Translating Genes into Symphonies.” The following year, Coley published, "AI in Medicine: Breakthrough Model Transforms Diagnosis.” Both Rodriguez and Coley’s achievement demonstrate how community college students can produce cutting-edge scientific literature that advances regional research.
In the spring of 2026, Waubonsee Assistant Professor of Communications Dr. Reshmi Sen recognized a unique ability in her student Alexian Heynez to communicate authentic science. Dr. Sen referred Heynez —an Aurora native and graduate of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy—to Dr. Vemu as a candidate for the C2ST cohort.
"I came to Waubonsee to not fall behind in my academic career and to continue completing credit requirements for my major," Heynez shared. At Waubonsee, Heynez found a strong sense of belonging and personalized academic support. He joined the Science Club led by Professor of Biology Dani Fisher, and Dr. Vemu connected him with C2ST, where he honed key science communication skills, was accepted into the C2ST cohort and authored the article titled "Your Own Personal Cancer Vaccine.”
"Oncology is a field that really interests me. As someone who has had a close relative battle cancer, I know how heartbreaking and taxing a disease it can be. Prospective therapies offer a glimmer of hope in a grim situation, and I wanted to write about these clinical trials to give people that perspective."
As part of the C2ST program, interns are required to interview leading regional experts. Heynez used this requirement to build a relationship with research faculty, which directly resulted in an invitation to join Dr. Neha Kamat’s Laboratory for Biomembrane Engineering at Northwestern University for a wet-lab research internship. In the Kamat Lab, Heynez is now contributing to cutting-edge biomedical research and gaining a deeper understanding of the impact cell membranes have on other cellular functions.
"One opportunity leads directly to the next," added Dr. Vemu. "When our students see that their voice and analytical skills stand shoulder-to-shoulder with students from top research universities, their vision for their own future expands exponentially."
Waubonsee's partnership with the C2ST program helps students build science identity and self-efficacy through blogs and podcasts, serving as one of the many opportunities within Waubonsee’s STEM pathways. This initiative directly aligns with Waubonsee’s RISE 2030 strategic plan to invest in academic innovation both in and outside of the classroom.
"I can’t say that there are many internship opportunities out there as genuinely committed to professional development as C2ST," Heynez reflected. "At Waubonsee many faculty members in biology and communications have shaped who I am today,” said Heynez. “They were deeply committed to my success every step of the way."
Over the past four years, 100% of Waubonsee students who have completed the C2ST research pipeline have successfully transferred to four-year institutions, with many securing merit scholarships and entering professional healthcare or advanced scientific graduate programs. Learn more about Waubonsee’s STEM programs by visiting waubonsee.edu/STEM.
