Research Fellowships

Medical Student Research Fellowships

M1/M2 Summer Research Fellowship

This program, designed for UNMC M1 and M2 medical students, provides students within the College of Medicine the opportunity to perform research in the field of dermatology and to enhance their ability to seek out information and to analyze and apply it to the solution of a defined problem. The student will spend 8-10 weeks in their research endeavor and is expected to spend a significant number of hours (40/week) working on research. A mentor will be identified in the UNMC Department of Dermatology.  To receive funding through the UNMC MSSRP (Medical Student Summer Research Program), contact Kari Nelson at kari.nelson@unmc.edu

The Karle Cordova Olnes UNMC Dermatology URiM Summer Medical Student Research Fellowship is an award available to Underrepresented Minority Students in Medicine (URiMs) interested in dermatology to perform basic, translational, clinical, or outcomes research during the summer between M1 and M2 years in medical school.  This award is open to UNMC and outside medical students; however, preference will be given to UNMC medical students. This research fellowship is typically performed in June, July, and August each year.  Applications should be sent to the UNMC Dermatology Research Team:  dermresearch@unmc.edu.

  • Preference will be given to students considered underrepresented in medicine: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian
  • Application materials include: CV, medical school transcript, one LOR, personal statement (<1 page)
  • Application deadline: April 1st

During summer rotation, students will complete the following:

2022 Summer Research Medical Student Research Fellows:

Molly Antonson
Molly Antonson
Treyvon Bokoskie
Treyvon Bokoskie

Rebecca Brenner
Rebecca Brenner

Sophie Gart Headshot
Sophie Gart

Alisha Huynh
Alisha Huynh

2021 Summer Research Medical Student Research Fellows:

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Monica Angeletti
SCC in HIV patients with Dr. Jennifer Adams

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Bo Kitrell
NMSC Chronic Disease Registry with Dr. Adam Sutton
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Andrea Vetter
Pathologic Risk Factors in High-Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong
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Kim Nguyen
Hair Loss in Lupus with Dr. Megan Arthur
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Camilla Reimer
Readmission Rates for Dermatologic Patients with Dr. Corey Georgesen
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Stacie Schlange
IHC in High-Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong

Prior Summer Research Medical Student Research Fellows:

  • 2020 - Aubree Ford, UV dosimetry in Transplant Patients with Dr. Adam Sutton
  • 2020 - Heng Jiang, Statins in High-Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong
  • 2020 - Jacob Middleton, Analysis of an Inpatient Dermatology with Dr. Ashley Wysong 
  • 2019 - Taylor Uhlir, Educational E-Modules with Dr. Adam Sutton
  • 2019 - Jacob Kingsley, Cutaneous Fungal Infections with Dr. Ryan Trowbridge
  • 2019 - Joshua Abels, High-Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong
  • 2019 - Blake Haas, Genetic Sequencing of BCC in Patients with Skin of Color with Dr. Ashley Wysong

Year-Long Research Fellowship

Year-long medical student research fellowships are offered through the UNMC Department of Dermatology. They are both funded and unfunded in the areas of high-risk squamous cell carcinoma, skin cancer, rheum-derm/autoimmune skin diseases, and more. 

Medical students interested in a year-long research fellowship should reach out to the UNMC Dermatology Research Team: dermresearch@unmc.edu

The application must include a current Curriculum Vitae, USMLE Step 1, a Personal Statement, one letter of recommendation, and a current medical school transcript.

Application deadline: March 1st

Meet Our 2022-23 Medical Student Research Fellow

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Priscilla Rosa-Nieves
2022-2023 UNMC Dermatology Year-Long Medical Student Research Fellow​

Medical Education: Ponce Health Sciences University, Puerto Rico
College Education: Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus

Clinical/Research Interests: My interests in dermatology are very broad, but I recently developed a particular liking for dermatologic signs of systemic diseases after writing a paper on Aquagenic Wrinkling of the Palms and Cystic Fibrosis.

Hobbies: Content creation and event planning. I like anything artistic like painting, playing the ukulele, dancing, and even singing my heart out at karaoke.

Katie Plampton

Katie Plampton
2022-2023 UNMC Dermatology Year-Long Medical Student Research Fellow​

Katie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. She is currently a medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School - Twin Cities.

Katie's Clinical and Research Interests include Transplant dermatology, health literacy, patient education, skin cancers, and transgender medicine. She also enjoys running and trying new restaurants.

Past Medical Student Research Fellow

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Elizabeth Mata
2021-2022 UNMC Dermatology Year-Long Medical Student Research Fellow​

Elizabeth graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences and also went on to complete a Master’s of Nursing. She is currently a medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson (UACOMT). Through UACOMT, she regularly travels to Nogales, Arizona, where she serves as a Spanish translator at free clinics for patients with limited access to healthcare. Her research at UACOMT has been on hidradenitis suppurativa and atopic dermatitis. She is slated to graduate from medical school with Distinction in Commitment to Underserved Communities, Distinction in Medical Spanish, and Distinction in Research. She has a strong desire to work with skin of color as well as people in underserved areas.

In addition, she is a talented athlete who played volleyball at the collegiate level. She enjoys hiking, exploring the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family in her free time.

 

PGY-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

We have a year-long, funded PGY-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position available beginning in July of each academic year. This is a unique postdoctoral position with responsibilities in clinical care, translational and outcomes research, and student mentorship opportunities. This position is intended for applicants who have completed a PGY-1 internship and who have demonstrated a strong commitment to further training and research in the field of dermatology. 

Applications are reviewed annually between February and March each year.  To apply, please email the UNMC Dermatology Team: dermresearch@unmc.edu

  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. USMLE Step 1/2/3
  3. Personal Statement
  4. Three Letters of Recommendation

Application Deadline: April 1

Meet Our 2021-22 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

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Dr. Elliot Blue
2021-2022 UNMC Dermatology Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Dr. Elliot Blue is our 2021-2022 PGY-2 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UNMC Department of Dermatology. Dr. Blue’s medical journey began after graduating summa cum laude from Augustana University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology. He attended medical school at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. As a medical student, Dr. Blue was a Scholarship Pathways Scholar and received a Certificate in Bioethics as well as the Excellence in Neurosciences (Bioethics) Award. Dr. Blue completed a preliminary medicine internship in internal medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Throughout his medical training, Dr. Blue has prioritized service and research. He has published scholarly work in the areas of medical dermatology, dermatopathology, and stem cells and regenerative medicine. Additionally, he has facilitated numerous poster and oral presentations, many focused on dermatologic topics. Born and raised in South Dakota, Dr. Blue is especially interested in dermatologic access to care as well as cutaneous oncology. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two cats, exploring the great outdoors, and experiencing new places and cultures.

Past Fellows

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Dr. Erica Lee
2020-2021

Dillon Clarey, MD

Dr. Dillon Clarey
2019-2020

Dr. Shauna Higgins

Dr. Shauna Higgins
2018-2019

 

Dr. Erica Lee was our 2020-2021 PGY-2 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UNMC Department of Dermatology. Dr. Lee graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a degree in neuroscience and health promotion and disease prevention. Dr. Lee was a USC Presidential Scholar. She attended medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, where she was a scholarship recipient and was heavily involved in service, leadership and research. While a medical student, Dr. Lee completed an advanced research experience with Dr. Jashin Wu at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles, Department of Dermatology. She completed her intern year of residency in internal medicine as a prelim at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Dr. Lee has published extensively in the medical literature including over 42 research manuscripts and 2 book chapters.

 

Dr. Dillon Clarey was our 2019-2020 PGY-2 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at UNMC Department of Dermatology. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Business Administration. He attended medical school at UNMC, earning a Regent scholarship and being elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his intern year of residency at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. While there, he was very active in medical student mentorship and teaching.

His research interests include increasing dermatologic access to care in underserved areas, teledermatology and complex medical dermatology. He is currently completing his residency in dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center residency program July 2020-June 2023.

 

Prior to coming to UNMC, Dr. Higgins served as the Post-Doctoral Skin Cancer Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Southern California. While at USC, she authored 32 publications, 3 book chapters and presented over 30 abstracts via poster or oral presentation. Dr. Higgins went to Brown University for her undergraduate education where she studied Human Biology and Business Economics while simultaneously studying Photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. She was an exceptional medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her internship at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Program. She has a special interest in complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology as well as in studying dermatologic conditions in skin of color. She is currently completing her residency in dermatology at the University of Southern California + LA County Hospitals residency program July 2019-June 2022.