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 Jen Brady at jen.brady@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 Lucinda Kustka, Research Nurse Coordinator: lucinda.kustka@unmc.edu, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
- 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: Rolling
During summer rotation, students will complete:
- AAD Basic Dermatology Curriculum Modules found at: https://www.aad.org/education/basic-derm-curriculum#undefined
- Coursera: Understanding Clinical Research-Behind the Statistics:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/clinical-research
- 23 hours to complete
- Coursera: Introduction to Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:
- https://www.coursera.org/learn/systematic-review?
- 17 hours to complete
- Attend monthly UNMC Department of Dermatology Journal Club on the first Friday of every month at 7 am in the Dermatology Library
- Attend Grand Rounds on the first Tuesday of every month
- Attend weekly research meetings
- Have regular one-on-one meetings with your mentor to discuss the status of projects and troubleshoot any issues that may have arisen
2022 Summer Research Medical Student Research Fellows:
 Molly Antonson |
 Treyvon Bokoskie |
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 Sophie Gart |
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2021 Summer Research Medical Student Research Fellows:
 Monica Angeletti SCC in HIV patients with Dr. Jennifer Adams |
 Bo Kitrell NMSC Chronic Disease Registry with Dr. Adam Sutton |
 Andrea Vetter Pathologic Risk Factors in High-Risk SCC with Dr. Ashley Wysong |
 Kim Nguyen Hair Loss in Lupus with Dr. Megan Arthur |
 Camilla Reimer Readmission Rates for Dermatologic Patients with Dr. Corey Georgesen |
 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 and are both funded and unfunded in the areas of high-risk squamous cell carcinoma, skin cancer, rheum-derm/autoimmune skin diseases, and more. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Medical students interested in a year-long research fellowship should reach out to Lucinda Kustka, Research Nurse Coordinator: lucinda.kustka@unmc.edu
The application must include a current Curriculum Vitae, USMLE Step 1, Personal Statement, one letter of recommendation, and current medical school transcript.
Application deadline: Rolling
Meet Our 2022-23 Medical Student Research Fellow
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, and patient education, skin cancers, and transgender medicine. She also enjoys running and trying new restaurants.
Past Medical Student Research Fellow
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. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, exploring the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with family.
PGY-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
We have a year-long, funded PGY-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position that is 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 Lucinda Kustka, Research Nurse Coordinator: lucinda.kustka@unmc.edu
- Curriculum Vitae
- USMLE Step 1/2/3
- Personal Statement
- Three Letters of Recommendation
Application Deadline: April 1
Meet Our 2021-22 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow
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
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Dr. Dillon Clarey
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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, where he earned a Regent scholarship and was 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.
