Seventeen doctoral students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center recently took part in a three-day orientation to help students select their area of interest for Ph.D. research. The students are participating in three different programs — the 2010-2011 Biomedical Research Training Program (BRTP), the M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program and the UNMC/China Joint M.D./Ph.D. program.
Presentations made by the participating departments help students select research rotations from the more than 130 UNMC research laboratories.
The BRTP, now entering its 11th year, is a common entry program for Ph.D. study in the UNMC College of Medicine and the UNMC Cancer Research Graduate Program. The purpose of the program is to recruit highly talented graduate students from around the nation to enhance UNMC’s research mission and to provide students wider opportunities in Ph.D. training.
Formalized in 1994, the M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program is designed to prepare a select group of outstanding students for careers in academic medicine and research. Also attending the orientation were two M.D./Ph.D scholars who are performing their M.D. studies in China and their Ph.D. studies at UNMC as part of a formal joint program between UNMC and two Chinese institutions, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tongji University.
“Critical to UNMC’s research success is having high-caliber students in our research laboratories,” said Daniel Monaghan, Ph.D., BRTP director at UNMC. “The incoming classes for the BRTP and M.D./Ph.D. Scholars programs continue the tradition of having solid academic credentials. Collectively, these groups of students will make a significant impact on research at UNMC over the next few years.”
Students are listed below by program, hometown and undergraduate college.
Biomedical Research Training Program
Bellevue — Karlene Cork, Carleton College
Hooper — Hollie Siebler, Dana College
Lincoln — Eric Cruz, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Michelle Eggen, Boston University, Cassandra Steiner, Doane College
Norfolk — Erin Wuebben, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
North Platte – Kristi Anderson, Midlands College
Omaha — Dana Tabor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Huron, S.D. — Darci Borkowski Fink, South Dakota State University
Wheatland, Wyo. — Cortney Halsey, Northern State University
M.D./Ph.D. Scholars Program
Seattle, Wash. — Shinn-Yi Chou, University of Washington
Willow Lake, S.D. — Luke Cypher, University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, S.D. — Matthew Dale, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Maple Grove, Minn. — Peter Pellegrino, University of Iowa
Long Grove, Ill. — David Taylor, Truman State University
UNMC/China Joint M.D./Ph.D. program
Changsha, China — Jing Fan, Tongji University
Shanghai, China — Xiaolin Zhou, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.
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