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 Lisa Poppe, a junior at Doane College majoring in biochemistry.
Tell us about yourself. Who are your heroes?
I run cross country and track at Doane, as well as being a member of the band. I don’t know if I have any heroes, but my friends and family are a huge part of my life. I look up to each of them in some way or another, and I wouldn’t be anywhere if it wasn’t for them.
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What are your career goals?
I would like to pursue a Ph. D., conduct medical research and possibly teach at the college or university level. I’m still not sure exactly where I would like to focus my research yet.
How did you become interested in science?
I have always loved science, especially chemistry and biology. I really became interested in research when I realized how many things in the medical field are still unknown. We have made great progress, but there’s so much more to learn. I don’t think doctors should have to tell patients “I don’t know,” whether that we don’t know what’s wrong or we don’t know how to fix it. Through personal experience, I know those are hard words to hear. I think that’s part of the reason I really feel called to do research; I’d rather be out working to discover something new and fill those gaps in knowledge.
What do you hope the INBRE program will do for you?
I hope to gain firsthand research experience and good connections that will help me down the road. I’m also hoping this will help me to get a better idea of what type of research I’d like to focus on and be more involved in for the future.
How do you see science evolving over the next 20 years?
I think science, like the rest of the world, will have changed a lot in 20 years. Just think about how much the world has changed in the last twenty years: Internet, cell phones, improved medical care and so much more. Today, with practically any information available anywhere with just a click or quick Google search, everything can happen so much quicker.