Graduate Studies students took part in an April 28 Nebraska Science Festival (NeSciFest)-affiliated event hosted by the UNMC Office of Recruitment and Student Engagement.
The office conducted its first undergraduate and graduate research poster presentation, held at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
A panel discussion with four graduate students — Brady Sillman (Pharmacology & Experimental Neuroscience), Ope Oyewole (IGPBS Immunology, Pathology & Infectious Disease), Tyler Kambis (IGPBS Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology) and Krysten Vance (Cancer Research) — gave the undergraduates insight into the life of a graduate student at UNMC.
Another panel discussion, hosted by Bio Nebraska and its executive director, Phil Kozera, included Karin Gilgallon of Zoetis, Niraj Patel of Neogen and UNMC graduate Chris Connelly, Ph.D., of Streck. The panelists fielded questions from undergraduates and graduates about their careers and opportunities within their respective companies. The panelists also discussed the array of differences between working in industry and working in academia.
The afternoon featured a poster presentation. Forty graduate students from across the spectrum of graduate studies presented posters and discussed their research with undergraduates.
“It was wonderful to witness these students’ enthusiasm for science,” said Pamela Carmines, Ph.D., executive associate dean of graduate studies. “The research presented was impressive and the students were well spoken and knowledgeable in their areas of study.
“I think the event was enlightening for some of the undergraduates who became more aware of the scope of opportunities available to them because they completed a research project — regardless of the nature of the project,” Dr. Carmines said. “Experience with the process of research, such as applying the scientific method and developing creative and critical thinking skills, is the key takeaway from undergraduate research.”
Prizes were awarded to graduate students in the categories of clinically relevant and non-clinically relevant research. The top prize in each category was $500 and a $1,500 travel award, donated by Bio Nebraska.
The graduate winners in the non-clinically relevant category:
- First: Constance Mietus, M.D./Ph.D. program
- Second: Daniel Mitteer, Applied Behavior Analysis
- Third: Jaime Larson, UNMC College of Public Health
The graduate winners in the clinically relevant category:
- First: Alex Wiesman, neuroscience
- Second: Shashank Shrishrimal, biochemistry and molecular biology
- Third: Justin Grassmeyer, M.D./Ph.D. and pharmacology and experimental neuroscience