INBRE scholars on campus – meet Emily Harrison

Twenty-six students from 10 different undergraduate and community college programs have joined the Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)/ Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) program.

Emily Harrison

Established in 2001, the BRIN program was created to expose students to serious biomedical research, build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions and to strengthen each undergraduate institution’s infrastructure and increase its capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical and behavioral research.

Today we meet Emily Harrison.

What should we know about you?

I am an aspiring scientist who is interested in everything from fungi to neurology. I love Omaha and hope to remain here and become a member of the scientific community.

What or who influenced your interest in science?

My freshman year of college I was employed in a psychobiology lab at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The graduate students and others who worked there had such a passion for what they were doing and a real joy for the work they did. Being exposed to that environment strongly influenced me to pursue research.

What is it about science that excites you?

Science is so dynamic; it is always changing and expanding. I find the more science I learn, the more I realize how little I know and how much is left to uncover. This sense of mystery and discovery is what excites me about science.

Will you pursue a career in science? If so, what do you hope to accomplish?

I hope to study neurodegenerative disease, possibly Alzheimer’s, which is such a common and devastating disease that not only puts a huge burden on those who have it, but the family members who must support them and the health care system at large. My hope is to make progress towards developing more effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease.

Why is it important to have programs like BRIN?

Until I came to college, I had never realized that scientific research was a career option. It seemed that being a doctor, a pharmacist or a teacher was the only choice for someone interested in science. I think BRIN is a way for students interested in science to get involved and interested in research as a career field, one they may not have considered before. BRIN helps those interested in pursuing research to gain valuable experience to prepare them for future education.