Thirteen Kent State Brain Health Research Institute (BHRI) Undergraduate Fellows from seven different majors recently completed summer neuroscience research experiences with capstone presentations. Based on their outstanding scholarship and interest in working with BHRI faculty mentors, these students were selected at the beginning of the summer to be BHRI Undergraduate Fellows. All were also participants in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program at 5XÉçÇø.
The BHRI Undergraduate Fellows met together virtually each week for one-hour seminars aimed at expanding their understanding of basic research practices including Responsible Conduct of Research for human and animal studies, authorship and peer review, and skill-building activities including research report writing and presenting a research talk. Throughout the summer, Fellows worked with their mentors to carry out research projects, applying the concepts learned in the weekly seminars to their research. The program culminated in 10-minute capstone presentations in a group session via Zoom. Many of the Fellows intend to continue their research throughout the 2021-2022 academic year with the goal of publishing their work in peer-reviewed journals.
The BHRI Undergraduate Fellows Program was created and led by Dr. Lique Coolen, BHRI Fellow Program Coordinator, Professor of Biology and Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences:
“The goal of the BHRI Undergraduate Fellow program is to provide a research-intensive experience for highly motivated undergraduates. Summer research is a key part of that program, and what we hope will inspire students to become excited about pursuing careers in neuroscience. A large part of this summer’s success was the willingness of mentors to step up and engage with their fellows, both in their research project and capstone presentations.â€
Dr. Mike Lehman, Director of the BHRI:
“Our recent 2021 class of BHRI Undergraduate Fellows were terrific group who carried out neuroscience research on a wide range of topics at a very sophisticated level. I was very impressed by their engagement and enthusiasm, as well as the support of their mentors who worked closely with them over the summer. Dr. Lique Coolen deserves much credit, again this year, for organizing such an informative program, one that I’m sure will serve the fellows well as they continue their undergraduate education and beyond.â€