Research fair opens career doors

Lawton Verner, left, and Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D.

One year ago, Lawton Verner of Fremont visited the UNMC Research Fair in search of an opportunity.

He found it with Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., assistant professor of surgery and director of education and training for the Minimally Invasive and Computer Assisted Surgery Initiative.

Today, Verner, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln senior biological systems engineering student, spends about 15 hours each week working with Dr. Oleynikov on medical engineering research.

Verner shared his research experience Dec. 13 during the third annual Research Fair in the Durham Outpatient Center West Atrium. About 41 posters were on hand detailing faculty research projects involving cancer cells, Alzheimer’s disease, physicians views on nursing homes and barriers to appointment attendance.

Jodi Alt, left, and UNMC graduate student Jill Pecha.

Not only did a number of UNMC medical students attend, but undergraduate students from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and Omaha campuses also came to scope out research opportunities available to them. There also was a strong showing of students from other area colleges and universities including Doane College, Creighton University and the College of St. Mary.

“The research fair is meant to showcase to undergraduate and graduate students the research opportunities at UNMC,” Dr. Oleynikov said. “We hope to get students excited about research and let them know about the different research we do on campus.”

Ira J. Fox, M.D., associate dean for the Office of Research and Development, agreed. “The fair is a great opportunity for our medical students to see first-hand the broad spectrum of research activities being performed at UNMC,” he said.

Tom Bargar, a specialist in UNMC’s Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy department, right, discusses an experiment with Eric Benner, an M.D., Ph.D., student at UNMC.

The College of Medicine offers medical students a chance to get involved with research by giving them the opportunity to participate in a summer research program, Dr. Fox said. The research fair provides medical students a chance to talk with investigators and discuss project ideas.

Meanwhile, Verner, who serves as president of UNL’s Biomedical Engineering Society, encouraged fellow students to attend the UNMC Research Fair.

“Since joining the lab, I’ve learned that I’m on the right track to what I want to do in the future,” said Verner, who plans to attend graduate school in biomedical engineering. “It’s been a wonderful opportunity and more than just a research experience.”

A number of departments participated in the research fair including pharmaceutical sciences; radiology; physiology and biophysics; pediatrics; pathology and microbiology, ophthalmology; internal medicine; biochemistry and molecular biology; the Eppley Institute; family medicine; and genetics, cell biology and anatomy.