Idaho Science Network announces 32 undergraduate summer research fellows

MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence has chosen 32 undergraduate students from eight state colleges and universities, including three from Idaho State University, to spend the summer working in research laboratories.

The network, created in 2001, seeks to build Idaho’s biomedical research infrastructure and its scientists’ competitiveness in pursuing federal grants. This is its sixth summer of support for undergraduate research. The network in 2004 received a $16.1 million competitive grant from the National Institutes of Health Institutional Development Award program.

The network includes the University of Idaho, Boise State University, Idaho State University, Albertson College of Idaho, Northwest Nazarene University, College of Southern Idaho, Brigham Young University – Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, North Idaho College, Eastern Idaho Technical College, Boise VA Medical Center, and Mountain States Tumor and Medical Research Institute.

In addition to funding the undergraduate fellowships to train future researchers, INBRE also supports faculty development and equipment purchases to advance Idaho’s research capabilities.

“One goal of the network grant is to build the resources and environment so that any Idaho student or faculty member with the desire and the talent to do biomedical research can do so in our state,” said Carolyn Hovde Bohach, the network’s director and a University of Idaho microbiology professor.

The undergraduate fellows will conclude their summer of research at the network’s annual conference, which will be held in Moscow this August.

<>• Albertson College of Idaho students and their faculty mentors include: Britni Arlian of Big Timber, Mont., and Juliette Tinker, assistant professor of biology, Boise State University; Colin Burke of Pagosa Springs, Colo., Ashley McCartney of Nampa, Kate Arbon of Caldwell and Sara Heggland, associate professor of biology; and Katherine Ball of Boise, and Michelle Sabick, assistant professor of engineering, Boise State University.

• Boise State University students and their faculty mentors include: Alina Schimpf of Boise and Don Warner, assistant professor of chemistry; Andrew Ormond of Boise and Owen McDougal, assistant professor of chemistry; Briana Flaherty of Boise and Henry Charlier, associate professor of chemistry; Bryan Diebels of Juneau, Alaska, and GongXin Yu, assistant professor of biology; Chelsea Sonius of Boise and Julie Oxford, associate professor of biology; Emily Barnhart of Hagerman and Ken Cornell, assistant professor of chemistry; Kate Allen of Boise and Eric Brown, assistant professor of chemistry; and Lisa Young of Boise and Dale Russell, professor of chemistry.

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• Brigham Young University-Idaho students and their faculty mentors include: Jadd Shelton of Rexburg, and Ron Strohmeyer, assistant professor of biology, Northwest Nazarene University; Jason Hooton of Rexburg and Peter Sheridan, associate professor of microbiology, Idaho State University; Tanner Nielsen of Sugar City and Erin Rasmussen, assistant professor of experimental psychology, Idaho State University; and Mark Cheney of Idaho Falls and Trish Hartzell, associate professor of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry, University of Idaho.

<>• Idaho State University students and their faculty mentors include: Jessica Evans of Pocatello and Peter Sheridan, associate professor of microbiology; Maria Lai of Pocatello and Alok Bhusan, assistant professor of pharmacology; and William Reilly of Pocatello and Leslie Devaud, professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

• Lewis-Clark State College student Elizabeth Flerchinger of Lenore will work with David McIlroy, associate professor of physics, University of Idaho.

• North Idaho College student Veronica Hendricks of St. Maries will work with Julia Oxford, associate professor of biology, Boise State University.

• Northwest Nazarene University students and their faculty mentors include: Erin Shively of Yakima, Wash., and Jennifer Chase, professor of biology; and Zach Beech of Nampa and Barry Myers, professor of computer science.

<>• University of Idaho students and their faculty mentors include: Alexis Jones of Enterprise, Ore., and Doug Cole, associate professor of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry; Andrew Nicholson of Coeur d’Alene and Dirk Vanderwall, associate professor of animal and veterinary sciences; Dan Gingrich of Moscow and Zonglie Hong, assistant professor of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry; Elizabeth Myers of Dalton Gardens and Mark McGuire, associate professor of animal and veterinary sciences; Jade McDaniel of Athol and Deb Stenkamp, associate professor of biology; Jose Alcocer of Grandview, Wash., and Bruce Miller, professor of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry; Kathryn McGuckin of Kootenai and Kurt Gustin, assistant professor of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry; and Sara Gilmore of Caldwell and Scott Kobayashi, assistant professor of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry.