Twenty-five students from eight different undergraduate and community college programs have joined the Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE)/ Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) program.
Established in 2001, the BRIN program was created to expose students to serious biomedical research, build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions and to strengthen undergraduate institution’s infrastructure and increase its capacity to conduct cutting-edge biomedical and behavioral research.
Today, we meet Jake Johnson, one of the new BRIN scholars on campus.
What is the name of your hometown?
Holdrege
What’s your major and where do you go to college?
I major in biochemistry at UNL.
What should we know about Jake Johnson?
I am twenty year old college student, and I’m not much different than anyone else who attends UNL. I enjoy hanging out with my friends, playing Xbox 360 or reading a good book. I don’t watch much TV, but I enjoy seeing movies at the theater. One thing that I really enjoy is to have an interesting conversation with other people, whether it is about politics or science, intelligent people always keep me interested in conversation. Most of all I enjoy hanging out with my girlfriend and having long conversations with her.
Has science always been a part of my life?
In a way, yes. I taught myself computer programming at the age of eleven and I dove straight into algebra and computer science like there was nothing else that mattered. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I became interested in the biological sciences, but by that time I was already accustomed to abstract ideas and the wonders of technology. From there, I just kept learning about things that interested me, and eventually I ended up deciding to become a biochemist.
How is science is important to you?
I am inquisitive by nature, I was the kid who would ask a million questions to the frustration of my parents. Science is the tool that allows me to quench my thirst for knowledge. It is the best means for acquiring an answer if truth is the ultimate objective. In short, it gives me power. It is endlessly entertaining as well, since it provides new and exciting discoveries to captivate my attention every day.
Why did you chose to participate in the BRIN program?
I am seriously considering grad school after I complete my undergraduate degree, and I felt that the BRIN program would allow me to make a better decision regarding my future. It allows me to gain first hand experience in a lab, and I can decide if I like it enough to pursue an advanced degree in something that would require me to work in a lab.
What do you hope to gain from the program?
I hope to gain a better understanding of what it is like to participate in a research team. This includes my interactions wtih other members of the lab, as well as my skills operating the various pieces of equipment found throughout the lab. I hope that my abilities as a scientist will also be improved by my experience and constant education afforded to me throughout the summer.