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The INBRE/BRIN program is overseen by James Turpen, Ph.D., professor in the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy and principal investigator of the $17 million National Institutes of Health grant that supports the program.
Established in 2001, the BRIN program was created to expose students to serious biomedical research and build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between undergraduate and graduate institutions.
The students, referred to as BRIN scholars, enter the program after completing their sophomore year of college upon recommendation by their college professors.
Each undergraduate school nominates approximately three students a year for the program. Once in the program, the students are given two-year scholarships worth $11,000. The scholarship provides students with $2,500 during each of their next two undergraduate years and $3,000 during each of their next two summers. During the school year, the students conduct research on their home campuses. During the summers, the students have the option of staying on their home campus or coming to UNMC, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln or Creighton University to conduct research.
The students’ last day in the lab is Aug. 1. On Aug. 11-13, they will give oral presentations at the INBRE/BRIN Annual Meeting in Grand Island. The presentations recap their 10-week summer work.
Beginning today, UNMC Today will highlight several of the BRIN scholars.