Twenty-eight students from nine different undergraduate and community college programs have joined the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program this summer.
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Ben Wicks |
- Expose students to serious biomedical research;
- Build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions; and
- Strengthen each undergraduate institution’s infrastructure and increase its capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical and behavioral research.
Below, we get to know more about INBRE scholar Ben Wicks.
- Name: Ben Wicks
- Hometown: Omaha
- School: University of Nebraska at Omaha
I became interested in science early on. Many of my interests throughout life have hinted that I probably inherited an engineer’s brain from my dad. I remember really enjoying Bill Nye the Science Guy on TV as a kid. I was fortunate in school that math and science concepts just came very naturally to me. I think the idea of science as a possible career is still something I’m exploring. I have an interest in becoming a doctor — possibly a pediatrician — but I think my experiences with INBRE can help me decide between a career in medicine or research.
In the next 20 years, I see personalized medicine becoming much more commonplace. Also, I think scientists have more concern for people in our world who are hurting and suffering and should focus on answering questions about overpopulation and malnutrition.