SURF Testimonials

RI-INBRE supports undergraduate students to work on research projects in laboratories at our Rhode Island network institutions.  Opportunities exist to support biomedical research projects during the academic year and via Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF). If you are interested in the SURF program please browse the links above for details about the program. 

 

SURF Testimonials:

 

Dr. Nicholas DaSilva

(SURF → Bridge → Ph.D.) Nicholas participated in the INBRE SURF Program in 2013 and graduated from URI in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical sciences. He then spent a year as a research technician in the multiple-melanoma research program at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston. “It was an amazing year,

John Rhoat

John participated in the RI-INBRE SURF Program under Dr. DeBoef (2013). His successful research project was instrumental in the development of the collaborative research and curriculum development project between the DeBoef laboratory and the CCRI ChemTech program.

Dr. Dioscaris Garcia

Dr. Dioscaris Garcia (SURF → PhD → SURF Mentor) was a recipient of the DiMaio Scholarship (2001) and USDA’s Opportunity Scholarship (2002) when he was an undergraduate at URI. He was one of the first recipients of a full-tuition scholarship to URI through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Multicultural Scholars Program. “That scholarship was the driving force in my academic life.” In 2003, he got one of his first experiences in an academic research laboratory via the RI-INBRE SURF Program, where he worked in Dr. David Rowley’s laboratory.

Dr. Katherine Walsh

The time that I spent working in Fr. Austriaco's lab provided me with the skills and confidence I needed to pursue my graduate studies. During this time, I presented a poster of my research at an INBRE meeting (the first time I had presented my research in such a forum), and this experience helped solidify my desire to become a member of the scientific community.

Toyosi Akanji

Doing undergraduate research under Dr. Meschwitz gave me the unique opportunity to find my passion for research. The experience gave me the confidence to work independently and to solve real world issues using science. The SURF program prepared me for a future career in research.

Lisbeth Avalos

My SURF experience prepared me with the knowledge and skills necessary to conduct research, analyze data, and communicate scientific investigations to diverse audiences. Dr. Towle-Weicksel’s passion for science, constructive criticism, and dedicated guidance were instrumental in my development from student to mentor.