Richard Holland Future Scientist Award winners announced

Six undergraduate students from four Nebraska colleges and universities recently received the 2013 Richard Holland Future Scientist Award from the Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures.

The students received cash prizes totaling $2,700 on Aug. 6 at the annual INBRE (Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence Program) conference in Grand Island.

The awards are named in honor of Richard Holland, an Omaha philanthropist and longtime supporter of research.

The students were judged in two categories, representing oral and poster presentations of the research work they conducted this summer as part of the INBRE program.

The INBRE program is overseen by James Turpen, Ph.D., professor of genetics, cell biology and anatomy at UNMC. Dr. Turpen is the principal investigator of the $17.2 million National Institutes of Health grant that funds the program.

Established in 2001, the INBRE Scholars program was created to expose students to serious biomedical research and build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions.

The students, called INBRE scholars, enter the program after completing their sophomore year of college upon recommendation of their college professors. Each undergraduate school nominates approximately three students a year for the program.

The award winners and their hometowns are listed below.

Oral

  • First: Karl Krieser, Omaha
  • Second: Shanice Harris, Dickens
  • Third: Lisa Poppe, Fremont

Poster

  • First: Lana Zhouldeva, Omaha
  • Second: Gloria Larson, Omaha
  • Third: Taylor Mighell, Geneseo, Ill.