Twenty-two undergraduate students are spending the summer at UNMC doing research.
They are called INBRE scholars and are part of the largest grant in UNMC history.
Today we feature Jeff Alexander, a junior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln majoring in biological sciences.
Tell us about yourself. Who are your heroes?
I am 30 years old. I have a wife and seven kids, ranging from 1 to 12 years old. I have been in the Army for 11 years and have done two tours of duty in Iraq. My heroes are everyone that has sacrificed their life for the betterment of others.
What are your career goals?
I hope to pursue a professional degree after receiving my bachelor’s degree, and after that I would like to continue working in research, hopefully in virology.
How did you become interested in science?
I’ve been a medic in the Army for 11 years, so I have a rich history in science. I felt the move towards research was a good fit for me because I want to help fix the problem before it becomes a problem.
What do you hope the INBRE program will do for you?
I hope that INBRE teaches me some valuable skills in research that I will be able to take with me in future endeavors. Learning firsthand from some of the subject matter experts will be extremely useful.
How do you see science evolving over the next 20 years?
This is a really hard question. At the rate our understanding of the human genome is increasing and the advances of nanotechnology, I would say that no scientific advances will surprise me.