INBRE Program Provides Invaluable Research Experience for Four UNO Students

Omaha – Four UNO students took part in the Nebraska Institutional Development Award Program (IDeA) Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program in 2019.

The INBRE program brings together undergraduate students from across the state to conduct biomedical research, build a statewide biomedical research infrastructure between institutions, and conduct biomedical and behavioral research. Students spend time completing research at Creighton University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).

Four UNO students took part in the program. Here is what they had to say about their experiences in the INBRE program.

Evie Ehrhorn

Evie Ehrhorn is a molecular and biomedical biology major. She said that being part of the INBRE program has taught her about the value of patience, independence, and self-motivation. “Not everything will turn out perfect the first try, let alone the hundredth time sometimes,” she said. “What you put into research is exactly what you will get out of it. I’ve found this to be applicable to any aspect of life.”

Upon entering the INBRE program, Ehrhorn said that she hoped to one day complete her Ph.D. before pursuing a career battling infectious diseases. She feels as though her experiences in the program have prepared her to do just that while also building her professional network. “I have also gained great friends in my fellow scholars as well as colleagues,” she said. “[INBRE] has allowed me to make some great connections over a short period of time.

Learn more about Evie Ehrhorn, her career goals, and how she became interested in science here.

LeeAnna Lui

LeeAnna Lui has a lot on her plate. Aside from her major in bioinformatics, minors in chemistry and computer science, and membership in several student and community organizations, Lui commonly spends her time in a molecular parasitology lab. Entering the INBRE program was a natural fit and, in her words, trained her to be a better scientist.

“[INBRE] offered me the opportunity to work in a bacteriology lab where I was able to learn different techniques and critical thinking skills,” she said. “This program has ultimately shaped the way I approach the field of science in regard to my methodology and protocols, sharing and presenting my research, and networking with others.”

Gabriella Moore

Gabriella Moore has taken part in various programs at the UNMC for the past four years, including the last two years as a research technician and lab assistant. This lab experience was just the beginning for this molecular and biomedical biology major. “Because of INBRE, I have a confirmation of my interest and passion for clinical research,” she said. “I was pushed to develop and deconstruct different ideas in science and really understand why I was doing certain things and steps in an experiment.”

Moore’s future plans include graduate school and a career working in pharmacology-based research. “It’s so fascinating to me that I got to work directly on gene modification and cloning to potentially alter the efficacy of a drug,” she said.

“[INBRE] was a fantastic learning experience and it has really shaped me to have an appreciation for the full process behind research.”

Learn more about Gabriella Moore, her career goals, and how she became interested in science here.

Elias Smith

Upon entering the INBRE program, Elias Smith, a biology major at UNO, was hoping the program would challenge him and demand that he learn at record pace. “I want to be surrounded by people smarter than me and given tasks I mess up, but can grow to master with practice,” he said.

His future plans include graduate school and earning his M.D. and Ph.D. “To have the technical skills from both is an intriguing proposition for I believe each are required to obtain a level of competency that could serve me well in my future in medicine,” Smith said. “For doctors to help patients they first need researchers to give them the tools so it seems important to understand both aspects.”

Learn more about Elias Smith, his career goals, and how he became interested in science here.

For more information on the INBRE program, including student recommendation processes and research themes, visit the INBRE program on UNMC’s website.