On May 29, the Nebraska Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program welcomed 28 undergraduate students from across Nebraska as they embark on their summer research experience at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNMC.
The breakdown of this year’s 28 INBRE Scholars include:
- Representatives of nine colleges and universities;
- 18 women; and
- 10 men.
Below, Josephine Peitz, a biology major at Wayne State College, talks about her INBRE experience.
What should we know about you?
I am part of the cross country and track team at Wayne State.
What or who influenced your interest in science?
My high school teachers were great, and my dad (who teaches in the chemistry department at Wayne State) was also a huge influence on me by always teaching me and my brothers something about science when he had the chance.
What is it about science that excites you?
Something is always being discovered in science and it can really help people to be healthier, live longer, and understand everything around us more. It’s just amazing how much science has expanded within the last 10 years, and we really don’t know what we will learn in the next 10 years, and that is exciting.
Will you pursue a career in science? If so, what do you hope to accomplish?
Yes I will. I am hoping to either go into research or become a psychiatrist in the future.
Why is it important to have programs like INBRE?
I come from a small town where we don’t have many big research institutions in the area, and I didn’t even know research could be a career path for me. INBRE, and other programs like it, can really help students from smaller towns/colleges see what it is like to do research at these large facilities and possibly realize their passion for research.