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Home - News - OMRF names its 2016 class of Fleming Scholars

OMRF names its 2016 class of Fleming Scholars

March 18, 2016

Trading beach towels for beakers and video games for Petri dishes might not sound like the ideal way to spend summer to the average student. But for a small group of Oklahoma science students, it represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has selected 12 high school and college students for its 61st class of Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars. They will spend eight weeks this summer working in labs on projects ranging from cardiovascular disease to immunology. 

The students, chosen from a statewide pool of applicants, will spend the summer at OMRF working side-by-side with senior medical researchers. Each will conduct an in-depth, individual research project during their time at the nonprofit biomedical research facility. At the end of the summer, the students will write scientific papers and present their research results in formal seminars for OMRF’s scientific staff.

“A lot of students coming out of high school or even in college don’t have real-life experience in a laboratory setting, so this gives them the opportunity to see if this is something they really want to do with their lives,” said program coordinator Carlisa Curry. “In addition to allowing them to take a deeper dive into research than they’ve been able to previously, it also gives them invaluable skills they will need in order to work in a lab.”

More than 500 Oklahoma students have gotten their first glimpse of laboratory research under the tutelage of OMRF researchers since the program began in 1956.

“OMRF is a place for learning and growing,” said Curry. “Our scientists really enjoy and benefit from mentoring and showing the younger generation what real science and research are about. Having these young, curious students here reminds scientists of that same time in their own research careers.”

Many Fleming Scholars have since gone on to successful careers in medicine and research. Among them are two of the foundation’s own senior scientists. Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., and Rodger McEver, M.D., who started their research careers as Fleming Scholars. 

“This experience trains students to think in new ways, and it is intense by any standard,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “They work hard to get here, they work hard when they’re here, and it can prove to be a career game-changer. It says a lot about people this age who choose to give up an entire summer to work in a lab, but the payback is incredible.”

The 2016 Fleming Scholars are:

Nicole Biddinger, Bartlesville, Purdue University  

Zane Dennis, Tulsa, Baylor University

Michael Harmon, Enid, Chisholm High School

Uday Kohli, Edmond, University of Oklahoma

Joey Maher, Yukon, Harding Charter Preparatory High School

Evan McKinnis, Oklahoma City, Classen School of Advanced Studies

Lindsey Purcell, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State University

Annelise Poss, Tulsa, Oklahoma State University

Caroline Say, Oklahoma City, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Dat Truong, Oklahoma City, University of Oklahoma

Emily Wilkie, Oklahoma City, Classen School of Advanced Studies

Ariel Thorson, Oklahoma City, Bethany High School 

For more information on the Fleming Scholar Program, visit www.omrf.org/fleming. 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 61st, annelise poss, ariel thorson, bartlesville, baylor, caroline say, class, college, dat troung, Edmond, emily wilkie, Enid, evan mckinnis, Fleming Scholars, high school, James, joey maher, Judith, lindsey purcell, maichael harmon, McEver, newsok, nicole biddinger, OKC, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, okstate, OMRF, osu, ou, program, purdue, researchers, rodger, scholar, scholarship, science, scientist-news, sir alexander fleming, staff, state, summer, Tulsa, uday kohli, zane dennis

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OKLAHOMA MEDICAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
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Oklahoma City, OK 73104
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