In late May, the Nebraska Institutional Development Award Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NE-INBRE) program welcomed a new cohort of undergraduate students from across Nebraska as they embark on their summer research experience.
Following orientation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the NE-INBRE Scholars spend 10 weeks conducting research with a faculty mentor. Most remain at UNMC, while others conduct research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University before returning to their home campuses this fall to continue their laboratory work.
The NE-INBRE program is overseen by Paul Sorgen, PhD, a professor in the UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and principal investigator of the annual $2.75 million National Institutes of Health grant that supports the program.
“We’re excited to welcome a new cohort of NE-INBRE scholars this year to UNMC and the INBRE program,” Dr. Sorgen said. “You never know where or when the next breakthrough will come from to help human health, and INBRE opens doors for students across 11 different undergraduate institutions to engage in research and science that makes a difference.”
This year’s INBRE scholars and their undergraduate institutions are:
Bryan College of Health Sciences
- Merlin Arevalo-Soriano of Lincoln, Nebraska
- Ava Runnebaum of Lincoln, Nebraska
Chadron State College:
- Danara Abshire of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
- Sonya Behrends of Alliance, Nebraska
- Piper Ryschon of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
College of Saint Mary:
- Exaucee Katalu of Elkhorn, Nebraska
Creighton University:
- Nirvan Bhalala of Timnath, Colorado
- Daniel Cline of Columbus, Nebraska
- Sarah Fowler of Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Abby Hullinger of Highlands Ranch, Colorado
- Noah Matsuda of Pearl City, Hawaii
- Steven Nguyen of Chino Hills, California
- Madeleine Shearer of Flower Mound, Texas
- Lee Vermeulen of Waterloo, Illinois
- Maddie Witchger of Chicago, Illinois
Doane University:
- Logan Brooks of Juniata, Nebraska
- Isabella Caranna of Centennial, Colorado
- Katelyn Iwata of Highlands Ranch, Colorado
- Ian Susa of Bogotá, Colombia
- Kaydence Throm of Marysville, Kansas
- Orion Ulmer of Highlands Ranch, Colorado
- Lilith Umberger of Randolph, Nebraska
Nebraska Indian Community College
- Casey Grippando of Mounds, Oklahoma
Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Kaiden Aaronson of Lincoln, Nebraska
- Samar Khudidah of Lincoln, Nebraska
- Syndey Leslie of Portland, Oregon
- Bayan Sheruza of Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Nebraska at Kearney:
- Samantha Bursaw of Ravenna, Nebraska
- Carly Chandler of Pleasanton, Nebraska
- Carter Moss of Plattsmouth, Nebraska
- Anamel Olegario of Kearney, Nebraska
- Joseph Roeder of North Platte, Nebraska
- Nikolus Schrock of Kearney, Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
- Jenna Box of Nebraska City, Nebraska
- Nyayoung Gatluak of Lincoln, Nebraska
- Caroline Slama of Rising City, Nebraska
- Ashley Texel of Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Nebraska at Omaha:
- Rafael Azpeitia Jr. of Papillion, Nebraska
- Abigail Keating of Papillion, Nebraska
- Mollie Nielsen of West Point, Nebraska
- Uyen Phan of Bellevue, Nebraska
- Roy Prebble of Omaha, Nebraska
- Kaleigh Williamson of Centennial, Colorado
Wayne State College:
- Ethan Frangenberg of Ashton, Iowa
- Carlos Ponce Lopez of Aguascalientes, Mexico