Summer Research Institute
Undergraduate Program
In a nation of changing demographics, it is important to maintain a representative balance of population and workforce. However, some minority groups are severely underrepresented in sciences and health care occupations, undermining the nation’s strengths as a leader in science, health and technological advances. It is becoming increasingly clear that as the population demographics move toward increasing numbers of diverse individuals, the future health and prosperity of the United States will depend on equitable representation and participation in science, health, and technological occupations.
Students will work in a laboratory for eight weeks under the direct supervision of an experienced faculty mentor who will provide hands on training of laboratory personnel. Students begin studying the mentor’s model system and conduct preliminary experiments after the proper use of instruments has been demonstrated. At the end of the summer program, the students present their summarized research experiences in the form of an oral and poster session at a widely publicized colloquium. Each student will design and arrange the research data and prepare a short paper presenting the introductory background, experimental design, results, and discussion of the research they performed during the summer. The audience will consist of a panel of judges, the mentors, other interested faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students and the public. The colloquium is intended to give the students the experience of presenting their results before a larger audience.
High School Program
Students from the greater Omaha area will be selected to participate in training and research projects in local Community Based Organizations (CBOs).
Students will receive training in health disparities and research methods from the Health Sciences-Multicultural and Community Affairs Department (HS-MACA) and the Center for Promoting Health and Health Equality (CPHHE) before they are matched with partnering CBOs. Students will perform brief research projects under the guidance of HS-MACA, CPHHE, and CBO.
Students will work in collaborative groups to learn about issues in their neighborhood by developing surveys, examining data, doing community mapping, and conducting interviews resulting in policy recommendations.
At the end of the internship, students will be expected to present their research experiences in the form of a poster and oral sessions in July. Each trainee is responsible for designing and arranging the research data and preparing a short paper presenting the problem statement, approach, observation/data/results, and conclusion of the research they performed during the summer. The audience will consist of Community Based Organizations, Creighton University faculty members, undergraduate and graduate students, and staff. This colloquium is intended to give the trainees the experience of presenting their results before a larger audience.