National Institutes of Health Statewide Network Funds Idaho Undergraduate Researchers
Tuesday, June 14 2005
June 14, 2005 MOSCOW, Idaho – Undergraduate students from throughout Idaho are working on biomedical research projects this summer as paid research fellows through the statewide IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence. The 39 undergraduates chosen will conduct research projects at the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University, Albertson College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene University. The program is funded through the National Institutes of Health Institutional Development Award program, which is aligned with the National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Idaho’s public universities have won more than $112 million in research funding from the NSF EPSCoR and NIH IDeA programs. A statewide committee of business, government and scientific leaders advises the Idaho programs. The chosen students are enrolled at those institutions, the College of Southern Idaho or Brigham Young University-Idaho. Seven alternates also were chosen. Undergraduate research fellows spend 10 weeks working on biomedical research projects developed with the help of faculty mentors. The undergraduate fellows will receive awards of $5,000 for their work. In August, the students, mentors and other researchers affiliated with the program will meet in a statewide conference at NNU in Nampa. At UI, fellowship recipients include Julia Williams of Moscow, who is conducting her third summer of research through the NIH-funded program. A senior majoring in microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry, Williams won the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Capital Press Outstanding Junior Award this spring. Last August, she won the outstanding undergraduate poster award at the biomedical research network’s conference in Pocatello. She plans to pursue a doctoral degree after graduating from UI next spring. BSU senior Magdalena Zimmerman of Hayden is another undergraduate research fellow working on the UI campus this summer. A piano performance major, Zimmerman plans to attend medical school to become a pediatric surgeon or a genetics researcher. Luke Rosen, a UI senior majoring in microbiology from Vancouver, Wash., is also a research fellow on the Moscow campus. He plans to pursue a career focused on improving human health. The following students were chosen to do summer research at: University of Idaho BOISE John Sturgeon, a UI sophomore studying microbiology HAYDEN Magdalena Zimmerman, a BSU senior studying piano performance KOOTENAI Kathryn McGuckin, a UI sophomore majoring in microbiology and molecular biology and biochemistry MOSCOW Julia Williams, a UI senior studying microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry WEISER Erin Garrison, a UI senior studying microbiology WESTON Kelli Hodges, a UI senior studying molecular biology and biochemistry ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Tamara Baca, a UI senior studying microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry ORLANDO, Fla. James Baron, a BYU-Idaho senior studying biology GILFORD, N.H., Patrice McNulty, a BYU-Idaho junior studying biology education ABBORTSFORD, B.C., CANADA Melinda Ouwerkerk, a UI sophomore studying pre-med biology VANCOUVER, WASH. Luke Rosen, a UI senior studying microbiology EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, ALASKA Austin Viall, a UI junior studying microbiology Albertson College of Idaho BOISE Mikhail Zhukalin, a BSU junior studying biochemistry CALDWELL Elizabeth Morrison, an ACI freshman studying biology CALDWELL Tilak Silva, an ACI junior studying chemistry, mathematics EAGLE Shalimar Frost, an ACI freshman studying biology MERIDIAN Sarah Wells, an ACI sophomore studying biology MAMMOTH LAKES, CALIF. Laurelei Schnadt, an ACI senior studying biology physics Boise State University ASHTON Alonzo Rivas, a BSU senior studying pre-med biology BOISE Chelsea Isom, a BSU junior studying biochemistry CALDWELL Andrew Slupe, a BSU senior studying chemistry and biology CAZIN, BOSNIA AND HERZOGOVINA Alma Hodzic, a BSU senior studying biology EAGLE Christopher Liby, a BSU senior studying biology KANSAS CITY, MO., Zachary Heuman, a BSU senior studying material science and engineering RAYMOND, ALBERTA, CANADA Andrew Oler, a BSU senior studying biology SOUTH KOREA Kwang ho Ha of Ulsan, a BYU-Idaho junior studying biology with an emphasis in molecular and microbiology Idaho State University AMERICAN FALLS Jacqueline Brown, an ISU senior studying biochemistry BLACKFOOT Jacob Tibbitts, an ISU senior studying biology CHUBBUCK Erik Linn, a College of Southern Idaho sophomore studying biology FILER Bradley Wahlen, an ISU senior studying biochemistry MACKAY Allyson Coonts, an Albertson College of Idaho senior studying biology NAMPA Micah Waltz, an ISU sophomore studying microbiology and vocal performance POCATELLO Emily Baergen, an ISU sophomore studying biology; Jeremy Ebrahimpour, an ISU junior studying pre-pharmacy; and Jason Ebrahimpour, an ISU junior studying pre-pharmacy REXBURG Sandra Pearce, a BYU-Idaho senior studying biology ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA Tsedey Kassaye Betre, an ISU sophomore studying biochemistry Northwest Nazarene University BOISE Sheena Perry, a junior at BSU studying biology REXBURG Collin Merrill, a junior at BYU-Idaho studying biology Contacts: Michael Laskowski, Idaho INBRE director, (208) 885-6696; mlaskow@uidaho.edu; or Bill Loftus, UI science writer, (208) 885-7694, bloftus@uidaho.edu -30- BL–6/14/2005-INBRE
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The University of Idaho helps students to succeed and become leaders. Its land-grant mission furthers innovative scholarly and creative research to grow Idaho's economy and serve a statewide community. From its main campus in Moscow, Idaho, to 70 research and academic locations statewide, U-Idaho emphasizes real-world application as part of its student experience. U-Idaho combines the strength of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. It is home to the Vandals. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.