NE-INBRE Announces 2026 Biomedical Research Scholars
In late May, the Nebraska Institutional Development Award Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (NE-INBRE) program welcomed a new cohort of undergraduate students from across Nebraska as they embark on their summer research experience.
Following orientation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the NE-INBRE Scholars spend 10 weeks conducting research with a faculty mentor. Most remain at UNMC, while others conduct research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University before returning to their home campuses this fall to continue their laboratory work.
The NE-INBRE program is overseen by Paul Sorgen, PhD, a professor in the UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and principal investigator of the annual $2.75 million National Institutes of Health grant that supports the program.
“We’re excited to welcome a new cohort of NE-INBRE scholars this year to UNMC and the INBRE program,” Dr. Sorgen said. “You never know where or when the next breakthrough will come from to help human health, and INBRE opens doors for students across 11 different undergraduate institutions to engage in research and science that makes a difference.”
This year’s INBRE scholars and their undergraduate institutions are:
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Merlin Arevalo-Soriano of Lincoln, Nebraska
Ava Runnebaum of Lincoln, Nebraska
Chadron State College:
Danara Abshire of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Sonya Behrends of Alliance, Nebraska
Piper Ryschon of Scottsbluff, Nebraska
College of Saint Mary:
Exaucee Katalu of Elkhorn, Nebraska
Creighton University:
Nirvan Bhalala of Timnath, Colorado
Daniel Cline of Columbus, Nebraska
Sarah Fowler of Colorado Springs, Colorado
Abby Hullinger of Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Noah Matsuda of Pearl City, Hawaii
Steven Nguyen of Chino Hills, California
Madeleine Shearer of Flower Mound, Texas
Lee Vermeulen of Waterloo, Illinois
Maddie Witchger of Chicago, Illinois
Doane University:
Logan Brooks of Juniata, Nebraska
Isabella Caranna of Centennial, Colorado
Katelyn Iwata of Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Ian Susa of Bogotá, Colombia
Kaydence Throm of Marysville, Kansas
Orion Ulmer of Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Lilith Umberger of Randolph, Nebraska
Nebraska Indian Community College
Casey Grippando of Mounds, Oklahoma
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Kaiden Aaronson of Lincoln, Nebraska
Samar Khudidah of Lincoln, Nebraska
Syndey Leslie of Portland, Oregon
Bayan Sheruza of Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Nebraska at Kearney:
Samantha Bursaw of Ravenna, Nebraska
Carly Chandler of Pleasanton, Nebraska
Carter Moss of Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Anamel Olegario of Kearney, Nebraska
Joseph Roeder of North Platte, Nebraska
Nikolus Schrock of Kearney, Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
Jenna Box of Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nyayoung Gatluak of Lincoln, Nebraska
Caroline Slama of Rising City, Nebraska
Ashley Texel of Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Nebraska at Omaha:
Rafael Azpeitia Jr. of Papillion, Nebraska
Abigail Keating of Papillion, Nebraska
Mollie Nielsen of West Point, Nebraska
Uyen Phan of Bellevue, Nebraska
Roy Prebble of Omaha, Nebraska
Kaleigh Williamson of Centennial, Colorado
Wayne State College:
Ethan Frangenberg of Ashton, Iowa
Carlos Ponce Lopez of Aguascalientes, Mexico