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 Nicole Haen, a biology major at Creighton University, talks about her INBRE experience.
What should we know about you?
“I started collecting vinyl records this year, and think it's the best way to listen to music.”
What or who influenced your interest in science?
“One thing that influenced my interest in science was the flu outbreak during my freshman year of college. I loved reading about how the H3N2 strain of Influenza A was different from the predicted strain that year. This event really cultivated my fascination with infectious diseases.”
What is it about science that excites you?
“Science excites me because every day when you enter lab there is the possibility to find something amazing. Science teaches you to learn from your mistakes, fix them, and move forward.”
Will you pursue a career in science? If so, what do you hope to accomplish?
“I hope to pursue a career in science studying infectious disease. I hope to learn something new about a disease that helps the treatment of people infected.”
Why is it important to have programs like INBRE?
“It's important to have programs like INBRE because it allows undergraduates to gain valuable experience and skill that will be beneficial in their future education and career.”
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