Left to right: Dr. Charles Wood, Ejikemenwa Anih, Paula Richards, Kim Kennett, Dr. John West, Dr. Robert Weldon, Dr. Peter Angeletti.
June 5 to August 13, were the dates of the 2004 Nebraska Center for Virology’s Undergraduate Summer Research Experience in Virology. This program is designed to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students from other institutions to learn more about conducting research and our University of Nebraska – Lincoln graduate programs. Three students from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, were selected to work on research projects in different UNL research labs under the supervision of NCV mentors. USREV, funded by the Nebraska Center for Virology and Truman State University, provides UNL room and board and a living allowance of $2400, and three credit hours from Truman State upon completion of their requirements which include a written final progress report of their research findings and a presentation of their research given at a local or regional scientific meeting.
This summer’s students included the following students from Truman State: Paula Richards, Kim Kennett, and Ejikemenwa Anih. Their mentors (respectively) were: Dr. Peter Angeletti, Dr. Robert Weldon, from Wood’s lab, Dr. Charles Wood and Dr. John West.
Applications for USREV 2005 are due February 10, 2005. To apply, contact Dr. Scott Ellis or Dr. Mike Lockhart, Science Division Office, Truman State University, MG 2030, 660.785.4598.
USREV Poster Selected for 19th National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR)
2004 USREV attendee Ejikemenwa “Ejike” Anih’s poster, “Epidemiology of Kaposi Sarcoma Associated Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Zambia: Accuracy of Current Serological Diagnosis,” has been selected for presentation at the April 21-23, 2005, NCUR conference in Lexington, Virginia.
The National Conference for Undergraduate Research is the one of the greatest avenues to showcase undergraduate academic excellence and research. According to the NCUR website, “the mission of the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research is to promote undergraduate research scholarship and creative activity done in partnership with faculty or other mentors as a vital component of higher education.” Anih states, “Having had the privilege of working in Dr. Wood’s lab with one of the best research teams in the country, I think it is worthwhile to present what we did and will continue to do. I think it will create more awareness for the Virology program at UNL and testify to the excellent work being done. The entire presentation will be based on my summer experience. The significance of being selected cannot be overemphasized. From the thousands of abstracts submitted, only the best were selected. In my notification e-mail, the committee noted that my ‘abstract conveyed to the faculty panel a sense of originality, thoughtfulness, and passion that, we feel, will help make this year’s gathering the most exciting and important of its kind.’ I think presenting my research is a great honor to an international student from humble beginnings. Since they are expecting students from some 300 institutions from all over the country, it will be a memorable experience.”
For more information about the USREV program contact Jolene Walker at virologycenter@unl.edu or phone 402.472.4560.