Co-Lin students receive competitive award to conduct biomedical research
This summer, Co-Lin students Cristina Craig and Sydney Jackson were selected as part of a group of only 33 students in Mississippi to participate in a biomedical research internship through Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Research Scholars program.
Students in the Mississippi INBRE Research Scholars program worked with researchers throughout the state to conduct biomedical research. This practical experience provides students with a skill set and knowledge base which will help them as they further their educational career and individual research.
“The Mississippi INBRE Research Scholars program provides our students with real-world, hands-on research experiences. Our students engage in cutting-edge research in some aspect of biomedicine and, thereby, become a part of the world-wide enterprise to discover and disseminate new knowledge,” said Dr. Glen Shearer, Mississippi INBRE Program Coordinator.
Craig and Jackson spent the first week of their internship at The University of Southern Mississippi learning laboratory basics and safety techniques. During this time, they were also able to hear from professionals about graduate programs, resume and interviewing tips, and presenting at professional conferences.
After completing this training week, Craig and Jackson began working with mentors at The University of Southern Mississippi to complete the remaining 10 weeks of their internship. Craig spent her summer in the lab of Dr. Fengwei Bai and Jackson worked in Dr. Hao Xu’s lab.
“Along with their research activities, our students begin to build their professional ‘people network’ –some of whom will be life-long colleagues and mentors,” said Dr. Shearer.
Mississippi INBRE, directed by Dr. Mohamed Elasri, a professor at The University of Southern Mississippi, is a statewide program that is supported by an award from the National Institutes of General Medical Sciences. Their mission is to enhance the biomedical foundation in Mississippi and to reach out to Mississippians in order to improve health throughout the state.
Mississippi INBRE seeks to engage talented researchers and students in biomedical research projects that will increase the state’s research competitiveness as well as impact the health of citizens of Mississippi.
For more information about Mississippi INBRE, check out their website, msinbre.org.
CUTLINE: Co-Lin sophomore Cristina Craig of Brookhaven participates in biomedical research as part of an internship through Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Research Scholars program.
Photo courtesy of Jamie Lott, INBRE