Twenty-two undergraduate students are spending the summer at UNMC doing research.
They are called INBRE scholars and are part of the largest grant in UNMC history.
Meet Garrett Schwindt, a junior majoring in biopsychology at Nebraska Wesleyan University.
What should we know about you?
I have tried my hardest to broaden my education and to gain a diverse understanding of not only Nebraska but the world around it. That to me is the most important thing in life; taking yourself out of your bubble to realize that people 300 miles away, or 3,000 miles away, can be vastly different from yourself. This will beat any education that money can buy.
What influenced your interest in science?
A culmination of events that have happened in my family’s past have led me to pursue science in a way where I can make the biggest impact to those who need it most. I have been consistently inspired by Nebraska physicians and their propensity to show amazing care to patients while maintaining an unparalleled amount of scientific knowledge. This is what makes me want to become the best doctor I can be.
|
What about science excites you?
Science, unlike what is represented in text books, is a very fluid art form compared to the static image it sometimes receives. This amount of fluidity and room for exploration in science is exactly why research in science is so interesting. I enjoy how in one case I can reference a college textbook for a class and find very solid supported evidence of information, then go directly to the lab to work on experiments that could very well end up in their own textbooks one day.
Will you pursue a career in science?
After I complete my undergraduate education I want to attend medical school to earn my M.D. in hope of becoming a surgeon as well as conduct research that correlates with my clinical duties as a physician. With the INBRE program I have been blessed to work in breast cancer research and the fight to find a cure for cancer.
Why is it important to have programs like INBRE?
I will echo to you what the INBRE directors have told us: young adults are chosen to become INBRE Scholars to inspire both our generation and younger ones to conduct biomedical research in anticipation for careers in science and medicine.