SURP Symposium Another Success
The Division of Graduate Medical Sciences hosted the 4th annual summer research symposium on Thursday, August 1, 2013 showcasing research projects conducted by visiting students. Jasmin Alves (Westminster College), Carolina Amorim (Weidner University), Lynisha Farrell (University of Virgin Islands), Norma Hernandez (Georgia State University), Victor Otano-Rivera (University of Puerto Rico), Carlo Quintanilla (San Diego State University), Mayara Lorena de Souza (Washington and Jefferson University), Igor Rodrigues Ramos (Washington and Jefferson University) and Charmonix Williams (Jackson State University) presented their projects to 60 attendees from the medical campus research community. Dr. Karen Antman, Dean, Boston University School of Medicine, welcomed attendees and thanked them for contributing to the success of the program.
What is SURP? The summer research program (SURP) is a pipeline program initiated by Dr. Linda Hyman, Associate Provost, to offer exceptional basic science research opportunities to academically talented students traditionally underrepresented in the biomedical sciences. Students in the program aspire to professional careers as medical scientists and other important roles within the research enterprise. The progression of SURP from pilot program to competitive summer internship for underrepresented (URM) students began in the summer of 2010 with ten students from Xavier University (Louisiana). Over four years, under the leadership of Linda Zimmerman, Program Manager, SURP increased the number of URM applicants by 200%. The remarkable increase in applications was due to conscientious marketing and outreach activities implemented by faculty and staff.
Key components of SURP include: daily, mentored scientific research under the guidance of a faculty mentor and lab community; weekly professional development activities and journal club; cohort-based housing on the Boston University campus; social activities focused in Boston and led by a peer group leader; and an end-of-program symposium. Graduates of SURP are encouraged to present their research at national meetings such as the Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) and Advancing Hispanics, Native Americans and Chicanos in Science (SACNAS), and to continue pursuing career interests in medical research and health care.
The following is a list of student presenters and abstract titles with full abstracts available in the Program Booklet.
- Jasmin Alves (Farmer Lab): Gelsolin Expression is Regulated during Brown and White Adipogenesis and is more prominent in White compared to Brown Adipose Tissue
- Carolina Amorim (Genco Lab): Regulation of small RNA in Neisseria Gonorrhoeae.
- Lynisha Farrell (Corkey Lab): Alterations in Extrecellular Redox States Affect Pancreatic Beta-Cell Insulin Secretion Levels
- Norma A. Hernandez (Wolozin Lab): Protein translation inhibitor reduces TDP-43 inclusion formatio
- Mayara Lorena de Souza (Cruikshank Lab): Cockroach allergen changes the balance between ciliated and secretory cells in the respiratory epithelium
- Victor Otano-Riviera (Sherr Lab): Role of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Human Breast Cancer Cell Chemo-Resistance
- Carlo Quintanilla (Zhdanova Lab): Age-Related Differences of Adult Neurogenesis in Zebrafish
- Igor Ramos (Garcia-Marcos Lab): GIV regulates integrin signaling pathways upon Extra Cellular Matrix stimulation
- Charmonix Williams (Bullitt Lab): Is Erythrocyte Spectrin really 190nm in Length?