2010 INBRE Fellowships Awarded & Applications Still Being Reviewed

Contact: Charlie Slavin, Dean of the Honors College, 207.581.3262, slavin@honors.umaine.edu
Keith Hutchison, Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, 207.581.2827, keithh@maine.edu

ORONO — The University of Maine Honors College and the Maine IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) have announced five recipients of Honors Thesis Fellowships of $2,575, and one Junior Year Research Award of $1,030.

The Honors Thesis Fellowships are awarded as a stipend to Honors College students in their senior year whose thesis topic relates to biomedical research in comparative functional genomics. These students will also work with an INBRE research scientist at UMaine or at any of its partner institutions. Fellowships are awarded competitively, and a small award is also provided to the thesis advisors that support the student research thesis.

The five Thesis Fellowships have been awarded to:

· Ryan Dawes, a Biological Engineering major from Belgrade, Maine. His advisors are Sharon Ashworth, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, and David Neivandt, Associate Professor and Director of Product Development,Pulp and Paper Process Development Center.

· Sam Entwisle, a Chemistry major from Sedgwick, Maine. His adviser is Dorothy Croall, Professor of  Biochemistry.

· Erin Keim, a Biology major from Veazie, Maine.  Her adviser is Keith Hutchison, Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology.

· Aaron Perreault, a Biology major from Northfield, New Hampshire. His mentor is Carol Kim, Associate Professor of Biochemistry.

· Kara Sarver, a Biochemistry major from Gorham, Maine. Her mentor is Mary Rumpho, Professor of Biochemistry.

The Junior Year Research Award is a stipend available to third-year Honors College students who will work with biomedical research scientists on research projects in comparative functional genomics. This year, one award has been given to Breana Bennett, a Biochemistry major from Freedom, Maine. Her mentor is Sharon Ashworh, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences.

One additional Honors Thesis Fellowship is available, and five additional Junior Research Awards are available. Students in the Honors College can apply by contacting Charlie Slavin, Dean of the Honors College at 207.581.3262 or slavin@honors.maine.edu, or Keitch Hutchison, Professor of Biochemistry/Molecular Biology at 207.581.2827 or keithh@maine.edu.

INBRE is an NCRR/NIH supported network of thirteen Maine institutions including Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, the University of Maine, and the Honors College at the University of Maine.

The overall goal of the Maine INBRE is to strengthen Maine’s capacity to conduct NIH-competitive biomedical research. Maine’s INBRE provides research support and core facilities to junior faculty, creates research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and serves as a pipeline for students to pursue health research careers and enhance the scientific and technological knowledge of Maine’s workforce.