Albany State students selected for prominent summer research and internship opportunities

Albany State University students DeStandreana Norwood (left) and Danielle Prier (right) will attend the 2018 Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute at Duke University to conduct health science research.

Albany State University students DeStandreana Norwood (left) and Danielle Prier (right) will attend the 2018 Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute at Duke University to conduct health science research.
ALBANY, Ga. – From exploring cutting edge theories to addressing challenging health disparities, Albany State University (ASU) honor students will be active this summer participating in  programs at some of the country’s leading research universities and businesses.

The experiences will prepare students for advancement in graduate level programs and learning beyond the classroom.

Sixteen Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program students from various majors will participate in research programs and internships at UCLA; Duke University; University of California, Irvine; Western University; Carnegie Mellon University; University of Pennsylvania; University of Iowa; Meharry School of Medicine; Tuskegee University and Kohl’s.

Sabrina Netters, a freshman computer science major, plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in the future. This summer, she will participate in the institution’s Program in Interdisciplinary Education Research (PIER) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.

“PIER REU will assist my career and provide me with future mentors,” Netters said. “The job market for computer science is growing and becoming more competitive, and my participation in the program will afford me with advantages that will enable me to become a frontrunner in the job market.”

ASU freshmen biology major DeStandreana Norwood will attend the 2018 Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute at Duke University. The six-week program will prepare students to apply to medical school and prepare them for success in the pre-health sciences.

“Once I graduate from ASU, I plan to pursue a medical degree in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Duke University and later practice medicine in the field,” Norwood said. “I look forward to experiencing the rigors of medical school by taking multiple pre-health science courses while also attending clinical exposures and clinical shadowing in a Duke Health System facility.”

Honor students, along with summer research students and interns from other universities, will work closely with professors and advisors from each designated institution and business. Many of the programs cover transportation costs, lodging and food expenses. Some ASU students will also receive stipends ranging from $3,000 to $5,000.

“The programs will substantially broaden their knowledge in the field, enhance their resumes and significantly strengthen their academic credentials,” said Florence Lyons, director of the ASU Velma Fudge Grant Honors Program. "Since I reviewed and edited the application essays for the majority of the students, I know how hard they worked to prepare excellent applications and I am overjoyed that they have been accepted.” Lyons initiated the partnerships between ASU and many of the universities in an effort to increase the number of research opportunities for ASU students.

ASU honors program students will participate in the following research opportunities:

• Emoni Cook, junior biology major - Evolutionary Medicine Research Program at UCLA, June 24 – Aug. 18, 2018

• Jerome Neal, junior forensics science major - Evolutionary Medicine Research Program at UCLA, June 24 – Aug. 18, 2018

• DeStandreana Norwood, freshman biology major - Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute at Duke University, June 9 – July 21, 2018

• Danielle Prier, freshman biology major - Summer Biomedical Sciences Institute at Duke University, June 9 – July 21, 2018

• Bionca Cummings, freshman music major -  Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the University of California, Irvine, June 25 – Aug. 17, 2018

• Asia Hollinger, freshman human performance major (exercise science) - Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at Western University, June 17 – July 28, 2018

• Sabrina Netters, freshman computer science major – Program in Interdisciplinary Education Research (PIER) at Carnegie Mellon University, May, 28 – Aug. 3, 2018

• Chiagoziem “Sylvester” Agu, sophomore biology major – Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania, May, 28 – Aug. 3, 2018 (Will fund study abroad experience to Cape Town, Africa)

• Nikesia Patrick, sophomore psychology major – Study Abroad in Trinidad Tobago, May 20 – June 12, 2018 (Received Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship)

• Deva Watson, junior health and human performance major – Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the University of California, Irvine, June 25 – Aug.17, 2018

• Da’Monie McRae, sophomore forensics and chemistry major – Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE) at the University of Iowa, May 30 – Aug. 3, 2018

• Tajorean Jenkins, freshman business major and Spanish minor – Argentina Study Abroad, June 18 – July 16, 2018

• Janese Bibbs, junior chemistry major –  Meharry School of Medicine BS/MD Program, May 12 – June 22, 2018

• Morgan Josey, junior biology major – University of California, Irvine BioPhotonics, June 24 – Aug. 10, 2018

• Synedi Head, sophomore chemistry major – REU Nanotechnology and Nanoscience at Tuskegee University, May 27 – July 27, 2018

• Kennady Wright, junior math major – Data Analyst Intern for Kohl’s, June 4 – Aug. 2, 2018

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