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Back row, left to right: Jeremiah Lubke, Chibawayne Ene, Matt Stansbury, Sam Recob, Lisa Walters; Middle row: Melissa Fladseth, Julia Moeller, Corita Steinkruger, Mindy Teetor; Front row: Gina Morgan, Marko Jovic, Raymond Baillou, Hope West, Chris Schweitzer and Julie Lancaster. |
In 2001, a three-year, $6 million federal grant led five Nebraska undergraduate institutions and three Ph.D.-granting universities to create the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN). As a result, the first 15 BRIN scholars recently completed summer research internships under the guidance and mentorship of faculty at UNMC, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University. These scholars were selected from five Nebraska institutions — Chadron State College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Wayne State College and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
The BRIN project is designed to enhance the competitiveness of biomedical research in Nebraska by developing the state’s own human resources and providing opportunities for those students to pursue research at the cutting edge of current technologies. The goal is not only to train more undergraduates in research techniques and recruit them into the state’s graduate programs, but also to encourage these students to stay in Nebraska and help build up the scientifically trained workforce needed to sustain biomedical research as an economic driver for the state.
“The students were very eager and excited to be a part of the Nebraska BRIN program,” said James Turpen, Ph.D., professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy at UNMC and principal investigator of the BRIN grant. “They were happy to get in the labs and get their hands wet. They were eager for information and experience.
“The scholars were very committed to doing a good job for their mentors and to enhance the program. They were candid and earnest in their evaluations of the summer program and we anticipate great things from them. They all were pleased with their experiences at UNMC, UNL and Creighton University, enjoying each experience and indicating that they learned a great deal.
We hope to do more with the scholars, especially in terms of group activities. The problem for us is that so many of the scholars live in different cities. Everyone is spread out and interaction is more difficult. But, we are confident we can find ways in the future for more group activities.”
The BRIN scholars and UNMC/UNL/Creighton mentors/research activities included:
Chadron State College
- Hope West studied fetal biology with Claudia Kappen, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC’s department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy;
- Chris Schweitzer studied environmental toxology with Eleanor Rogan, Ph.D., professor, UNMC’s Eppley Research Institute molecular biology etiology program;
- Julie Lancaster studied veterinary sciences with Clinton Jones, DVM, UNL’s department of veterinary and biomedical sciences;
Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Gina Morgan studied virology with Charles Wood, Ph.D., director of the Nebraska Center for Virology at UNL;
- Corita Steinkruger studied biological sciences with Jack Morris, Ph.D., director and professor of UNL’s department of biological sciences;
- Mindy Teetor studied virology with Robert Weldon, Ph.D., assistant professor in UNL’s department of biological sciences;
University of Nebraska at Kearney
- Raymond Baillou, Jr., studied cardiovascular neuroscience with Greg Bennett, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC’s department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy;
- Lisa Walters studied cancer biology with William Chaney, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC’s department of biochemistry and molecular biology;
- Melissa Fladseth studied genetics with Shelley Smith, Ph.D., professor, Hattie B. Munroe Center for Human/Molecular Genetics;
University of Nebraska at Omaha
- Julia Moeller studied cardiovascular development with Janee van Waes, DVM, Ph.D., assistant professor, UNMC’s department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy;
- Matt Stansbury studied genetics with Maurice Godfrey, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute Center for Human Molecular Genetics;
- Sam Recob studied developmental neurobiology with Bernd Fritzsch, Ph.D., at Creighton University;
Wayne State College
- Jeremiah Lubke and Chibawayne Ene studied with Dr. Sandor Lovas in the proteomics lab at Creighton University;
- Marko Jovic studied bioinformatics with Simon Sherman, Ph.D., associate professor and program director, the UNMC Eppley Research Institute Molecular Cell Structure Biology program.
“The BRIN program helped me establish a network with my peers and superiors,” said Baillou, a senior majoring in biology with molecular emphasis and medical technology. “I wanted to absorb all the information I could and experience the actually setting in a laboratory. I wanted to be exposed to the latest developments and procedures in the modern lab so I can incorporate this knowledge into my future studies.”
Fladseth studied Tietz Syndrome — a form of hereditary deafness.
“My career goal during the last few years has been to enter the field of genetic counseling,” Fladseth said. “BRIN has given me more insight into the opportunities available in the medical genetics research. I also feel that the clinical experiences I observed will help me get a better idea of what genetic counseling is all about and I will make a more informed decision about my future goals.”