Eleven YU Undergrads Participate in Advanced Biomedical Research Program
Eleven 黑料社 All undergraduates have been selected to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), an advanced biomedical research program at YU鈥檚 . Directed by Dr. Victoria Freedman, Einstein鈥檚 associate dean for graduate programs in the biomedical sciences, and Dr. Barry Potvin, professor of biology at Yeshiva College and visiting professor in the cell biology department at Einstein, the program has drawn 58 students in total from a variety of colleges and universities to engage in cutting-edge scientific studies.
Stern College's Nechama Dreyfus is conducting research in the animal imaging lab at Einstein's Nuclear Medicine and Biophysics Department.
In fields ranging from neuroscience to epidemiology to microbiology, the students receive hands-on research experience in their areas of interest normally reserved for graduate-level work.
鈥淚鈥檓 particularly enjoying my placement in Dr. Linda Jelicks鈥檚 animal imaging lab within the Nuclear Medicine and Biophysics Department at Einstein because this technology and field are completely new to me,鈥 said Nechama Dreyfus, a biochemistry major at . The lab she鈥檚 working in uses imaging technology to study the relationship between Chagas Disease, an infectious heart disease, and high-fat diets by analyzing MRI and microPET (Positron Emission Tomography) heart images of mice from different test groups.
鈥淚 learned about the medical application of radioisotopes, but I never would have guessed I鈥檇 get to see them used firsthand, let alone implement them myself,鈥 she said. 鈥淭his experience has broadened my sense of research as a whole as well as emphasized the incredible potential imaging technology contributes to research breakthroughs.鈥
Back row: Nechama Dreyfus, Shira Marder, Yosefa Schoor and Anna Weinstein. Front row: Mordechai Smith, Melissa Kramer, Deena Miller, Sarah Mizrachi, Esther Robin, and Dov Levine
The 11 students are clustered into three programs. Eight students鈥擠ov Levine, Mordechai Smith and Darren Sultan of and Deena Miller, Sarah Mizrachi, Esther Robin, Yosefa Schoor and Anna Weinstein of Stern College鈥攚ere awarded scholarships through the Roth Institute Scholars Program, funded by the Ernst and Hedwig Roth Institute of Biomedical Science Education at YU. Two Stern College students鈥擬elissa Kramer and Shira Marder鈥攚ere chosen as part of the University Undergraduate Summer Research Scholars Program, which is supported through the Provost鈥檚 Office.
Dreyfus is participating in the program through the Stern Einstein Research Connection Fellowship, created and funded by Stern College alumnae attending Einstein, which provides a student between her sophomore and junior years with an introductory summer research experience at the medical school.
Each program provides students with a stipend and on-campus housing at Einstein, so they can feel part of the science community. Group seminars and workshops throughout the summer give participants a broad overview of the many types of research conducted at Einstein and provide them with strategies to become better scientists. In August, the students share their work as part of a poster session.
鈥淭he aim of SURP is to provide each student with the opportunity to experience the many rewards and challenges of biomedical research,鈥 said Potvin. 鈥淚t is hoped that some will decide to include research in their future career plans and that they will apply for admission to Einstein鈥檚 MD, PhD or MD/PhD programs.鈥
For Weinstein, a biology major working on a clinical research study in epilepsy with Dr. Sheryl Haut at Montefiore Medical Center, this summer has already influenced her thoughts about the future. Playing a real part in the diagnostic process has been an exhilarating experience. 鈥淓very Friday, the neurology department holds an epilepsy case study conference, during which a recent difficult patient case is presented to physicians, residents and fellows,鈥 Weinstein said. 鈥淒uring the conference, we鈥檙e all prompted to take a stab at the potential diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis for the patient. It鈥檚 incredible to be a part of the thought process of some of the most brilliant minds I鈥檝e encountered.鈥
She added, 鈥淲hile I had already planned to attend medical school, this summer is definitely steering me in the direction of neurology as far as specialty is concerned.鈥
Levine, a chemistry major with a minor in writing, is working in Dr. Sridhar Mani鈥檚 Cancer Research Lab to study bacterial motility in inflamed intestines. 鈥淭he different aspects of the question we鈥檙e addressing have been discussed locally in scientific literature, but very little research has been done previously regarding our particular question,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 hope to participate in a serious biomedical research experience, impacting it in a concrete way by designing and performing experiments and ultimately producing and discovering significant results about the complexity of the human body.鈥
Stern College's Nechama Dreyfus is conducting research in the animal imaging lab at Einstein's Nuclear Medicine and Biophysics Department.
Back row: Nechama Dreyfus, Shira Marder, Yosefa Schoor and Anna Weinstein. Front row: Mordechai Smith, Melissa Kramer, Deena Miller, Sarah Mizrachi, Esther Robin, and Dov Levine
For Weinstein, a biology major working on a clinical research study in epilepsy with Dr. Sheryl Haut at Montefiore Medical Center, this summer has already influenced her thoughts about the future. Playing a real part in the diagnostic process has been an exhilarating experience. 鈥淓very Friday, the neurology department holds an epilepsy case study conference, during which a recent difficult patient case is presented to physicians, residents and fellows,鈥 Weinstein said. 鈥淒uring the conference, we鈥檙e all prompted to take a stab at the potential diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis for the patient. It鈥檚 incredible to be a part of the thought process of some of the most brilliant minds I鈥檝e encountered.鈥
She added, 鈥淲hile I had already planned to attend medical school, this summer is definitely steering me in the direction of neurology as far as specialty is concerned.鈥
Levine, a chemistry major with a minor in writing, is working in Dr. Sridhar Mani鈥檚 Cancer Research Lab to study bacterial motility in inflamed intestines. 鈥淭he different aspects of the question we鈥檙e addressing have been discussed locally in scientific literature, but very little research has been done previously regarding our particular question,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 hope to participate in a serious biomedical research experience, impacting it in a concrete way by designing and performing experiments and ultimately producing and discovering significant results about the complexity of the human body.鈥
Stern College's Nechama Dreyfus is conducting research in the animal imaging lab at Einstein's Nuclear Medicine and Biophysics Department.
For Weinstein, a biology major working on a clinical research study in epilepsy with Dr. Sheryl Haut at Montefiore Medical Center, this summer has already influenced her thoughts about the future. Playing a real part in the diagnostic process has been an exhilarating experience. 鈥淓very Friday, the neurology department holds an epilepsy case study conference, during which a recent difficult patient case is presented to physicians, residents and fellows,鈥 Weinstein said. 鈥淒uring the conference, we鈥檙e all prompted to take a stab at the potential diagnosis, treatment plan and prognosis for the patient. It鈥檚 incredible to be a part of the thought process of some of the most brilliant minds I鈥檝e encountered.鈥
She added, 鈥淲hile I had already planned to attend medical school, this summer is definitely steering me in the direction of neurology as far as specialty is concerned.鈥
Levine, a chemistry major with a minor in writing, is working in Dr. Sridhar Mani鈥檚 Cancer Research Lab to study bacterial motility in inflamed intestines. 鈥淭he different aspects of the question we鈥檙e addressing have been discussed locally in scientific literature, but very little research has been done previously regarding our particular question,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 hope to participate in a serious biomedical research experience, impacting it in a concrete way by designing and performing experiments and ultimately producing and discovering significant results about the complexity of the human body.鈥
