Resume in hand, Jamie Haferbier saw first-hand the broad spectrum of research activities being performed at UNMC.
“I’m exploring opportunities for summer work,” said the University of Nebraska at Omaha biology major, as she wandered through 44 research displays Tuesday at the second annual Student Research Fair in the Durham Outpatient Center West Atrium.
Haferbier was joined by approximately 120 other students from universities including UNMC, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Concordia University, Nebraska Wesleyan, the College of St. Mary and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Students learned about research projects in a variety of UNMC departments including biochemistry and molecular biology, cell biology and anatomy, family medicine, internal medicine, pharmacology, pathology and microbiology, surgery, pediatrics/nephrology, pulmonary and critical care. They also learned about research projects in the Center for Neurovirology and Neurodegenerative Disorders, the College of Nursing, the Eppley Institute for Cancer Research, the Munroe-Meyer Institute and the VA Medical Center.
“We want to raise the students’ awareness level because we do so many exciting things,” said Danita Cyronek of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. “It’s all related to human life.”
The fair generates applicants for the summer undergraduate research program, which allows students to do research work in a basic science or clinical department. The program, which begins in June, lasts approximately 10 weeks.
“At a medical school that excels nationally in primary care it’s important to achieve a balance and promote our research endeavors,” said Todd Wyatt, Ph.D., assistant professor of internal medicine-pulmonary. “We want students to know there also are more research opportunities in science and medicine.”
Dr. Wyatt is trying to better understand how alcohol affects airway epithelial cells. “We hypothesize that you can’t do justice to researching the effects of cigarette smoking on the lungs if you don’t also look at the effects of alcohol,” he said, noting the high percentage of alcoholics who smoke.
Laura Ortman, a second-year UNMC medical student from Omaha, knows the value of the student research fair. Ortman’s interest in geriatrics research was sparked at last year’s fair.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to see who is doing what and what type of research interests you most,” she said.
Photo cutlines (in descending order): An overview of the Student Research Fair. Colleen Buescher of otolaryngology-head & neck surgery with the department’s research poster. Todd Wyatt, Ph.D., discusses his research in internal medicine-pulmonary with several students. Students wander through 44 research displays.