On May 28, the Nebraska Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program welcomed 29 undergraduate students from across Nebraska as they embark on their summer research experience at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The INBRE program is overseen by Paul Sorgen, Ph.D., a professor in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at UNMC and principal investigator of the $16.2 million National Institutes of Health grant that supports the program.
Established in 2001, the INBRE program was created to expose students to serious biomedical research, build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions and to strengthen undergraduate institution's infrastructure and increase its capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical and behavioral research.
The students, referred to as INBRE scholars, enter the program after completing their sophomore year of college upon recommendation by their college professors. The students receive a two-year scholarship and spend 10 weeks each summer conducting research on either their home campus or at UNMC, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or Creighton University.
At the end of the summer, the students attend the INBRE annual meeting where they give an oral presentation on their research project.
Below Kai Johnson, a biochemistry and anthropology major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, talks about his INBRE experience.
Who is Kai Johnson?
“I am a first year INBRE scholar who carries a nonchalant personality and enthusiasm for new experiences. I like to frequently engage in contemplation and introspection, yet still spend most of my energy striving to live in the moment. However, I do have future aspirations of pursuing medical research in regards to ethnopharmacology and neuropsychopharmacology.”
Has science always been a part of your life?
“Yes. Even as a child, I was always intrigued by the different fields within science. I have always turned towards science for stimulation and to understand the phenomena of the world around us.”
How is it important to you?
“Science has allowed me to interpret and understand the observable aspects of life through problem solving. I have always been a curious person and science allows me to propose a problem and derive a conclusion from objective evaluation.”
Why did you choose to participate in the INBRE program?
“I chose to participate in the INBRE program because I wanted the opportunity to further establish my research foundation. The valuable resources, support, and connections the program offered made the choice to apply obvious.”
What do you hope to gain from the program?
“I hope to gain a better understanding of the aspects encompassing a career in scientific research and gain experiences that will make me a competitive applicant when I apply to graduate school.”
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