Eleven Oklahoma high school and college students have been named Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars by OMRF, officials announced today.
The group, chosen from a pool of 85 statewide applicants, will spend eight weeks this summer working side-by-side with senior medical researchers at OMRF in Oklahoma City.
“While much has changed about science since this program began at OMRF 55 years ago, young people remain innately curious and eager to explore the complexities of how the human body functions,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “We look forward to their arrival and the energy they bring to our laboratories.”
As Fleming Scholars, the students will complete research projects on various topics, including autoimmune disease, cancer biology and heart disease. For most, the program offers a first look at research outside a classroom and opens doors to a wide range of career options. Scholarships include a $3,000 stipend.
Since 1956, more than 450 gifted Oklahoma science students have taken advantage of this one-of-a-kind program to complete a medical research project in a real-world laboratory. Many have gone on to become physicians and scientists, including three current members of OMRF’s scientific staff: Rodger McEver, M.D., Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., and Andrea Sestak, M.D., Ph.D.
The 2010 Fleming Scholars are:
- Toby Bothwell, Oklahoma City, Westmoore High School
- Caroline Burnett, Oklahoma City, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- Bob Cail, Edmond, University of Oklahoma
- Peter Clark, Norman, University of Texas at Austin
- Paul Gorbsky, Edmond, University of Michigan
- Jasmine Htoon, Edmond, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
- Jennifer James, Edmond, Baylor University
- Teresa Le, Oklahoma City, Westmoore High School
- Alexander Mann, Norman, Norman High School
- Mohan Dipika, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
- Halee Patel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
