Kalani Simpson
Reflections and updates for the spring semester
We hope you’re enjoying a successful and productive spring semester. Though we are still firmly in winter as I write this message, spring, a season of growth and possibility, is just around the corner. The Office of Graduate Studies has entered a new chapter, as director Terri Vadovski has moved on to another opportunity after […]
Feb 10, 2026
Hoagstrom to blend research, educator roles
Meet Kristine Hoagstrom, a PhD candidate in IGPBS cancer research. What do you love about your research and field of study? The thing I love most about my research project is how it spans several fields of study, including cancer biology and structural biology, allowing me to bridge disciplines and create a unique project that […]
Feb 3, 2026
December grads hooded, feted at convocation
When Jed Hansen, PhD, received the invitation to serve as keynote speaker for UNMC Graduate Studies December Honors Convocation Ceremony, he had an overwhelming feeling. “There must be another Jed Hansen out there,” he said. But no. Dr. Hansen, a UNMC Graduate Studies alumnus, nurse practitioner and rural health advocate, was exactly the right person […]
Jan 19, 2026
Grad students experience the power of the elevator pitch
Amaka Modebelu, a PhD candidate in pharmaceutical sciences, needed to come up with an elevator pitch not just for professional reasons but also for something much more important: Her mom needs to be able to explain to her friends what her daughter is working on in America. An elevator pitch is a summation of your […]
Jan 19, 2026
UNMC, GSA help Morton middle school students dream big
When Mr. Rodney – that’s Rodney Conyers Jr., youth development director of the Panther Pack, Morton Magnet Middle Boys & Girls Club — visited the Omaha Children’s Museum last summer, he noticed the idea of dress up was hugely impactful for kids. Putting on a uniform allowed them to dream even more deeply and immerse […]
Jan 19, 2026
Interim dean: The excitement of a new academic year
Welcome to the UNMC fall 2025 semester. We’re excited to begin a new academic year and move forward together. The start of a new season brings opportunities and challenges, both within our campus and across the broader landscape of health sciences education. We’ve welcomed some new faces to the UNMC Office of Graduate Studies. Jered […]
Oct 10, 2025
Graduate Studies welcomes new cohort at matriculation
UNMC Graduate Studies welcomed more than160 new students at its annual matriculation ceremony Aug. 19. Please see a photo album of the event here. “You have come here from six continents,” said David Crouse, PhD, professor emeritus, who helped welcome the new students. “And there are only seven.” Dr. Crouse was among a handful of […]
Oct 10, 2025
Relax, recharge, connect at Graduate Studies Wellness Hub
The UNMC Graduate Studies Wellness Hub, located in Durham Research Center I, is a welcoming space for graduate students to relax, recharge and connect. The space offers a kitchen area with coffee maker, microwave and ice machine. It also serves as a delivery site for the Maverick Food Pantry and offers an array of nonperishable […]
Oct 10, 2025
How did you get that fellowship? One success story
Abigail Hall is a PhD student studying Staphylococcus aureus in the lab of Vinai Thomas, PhD, associate professor of pathology, microbiology and immunology. She recently earned a one-year predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association. Let’s talk to her about how she earned this award and what receiving such a fellowship means to her career. […]
Oct 10, 2025
UNMC-Streck partnership win-win grad studies alum says
When a top biotechnology company is located within a few miles of a leading academic medical center with a robust research portfolio – chock full of rising, ambitious graduate students – it only makes sense to strike up a series of win-win partnerships. So says Chris Connelly, PhD, director of business segment, molecular, at Streck, […]
Oct 10, 2025
