On May 29, the Nebraska Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program welcomed 28 undergraduate students from across Nebraska as they embark on their summer research experience at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and UNMC.
The breakdown of this year’s 28 INBRE Scholars include:
- Representatives of nine colleges and universities;
- 18 women; and
- 10 men.
Below Lauren Lesiak, a chemistry and biochemistry major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, talks about her INBRE experience.
Tell me about yourself. Who are your heroes?
I am a chemistry and biochemistry major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I have been involved in research regarding small-molecule fluorophores at UNL for the last three years. My heroes are the scientists who contributed to the collective knowledge before me, making it easier for scientists today to continue to make progress toward a better world.
What are your career goals?
After I graduate from UNL, I intend to pursue a graduate education and eventually a career in academia as a chemistry professor at an undergraduate research institution.
How did you become interested in science?
I did not become interested in science until I was an upperclassman in high school, when I had an outstanding chemistry teacher who sparked my interest in the subject. I was then able to spend the summer before my senior year working in a research lab, and I still work there today.
What do you hope the INBRE program will do for you?
I hope that the INBRE program will give me the opportunity to form a strong basis in biomedical research, while helping me to build connections and prepare me for graduate school.
How do you see science evolving over the next 20 years?
Over the next 20 years, I see technology continuing to play a larger role in science as it advances. I also see the world becoming more accepting of science as the basis for societal change, especially in regard to the environment.