The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has chosen 12 Oklahoma students as its Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars for 2022.
Members of OMRF’s 66th Fleming class will arrive in early June and work with the foundation’s scientists on research projects in areas including autoimmune disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease. At the end of the eight-week program, they will author scientific papers and deliver presentations to the foundation’s research staff.
“Spending a summer at OMRF gives these students a rare chance to obtain real-world biomedical research experience,” said Autumn Huffman, an OMRF Fleming Scholar Program coordinator. “It’s an exciting and challenging time for them, and in turn, they inject an exuberance and curiosity into our workplace.”
Founded in 1956, the program gives Oklahoma high school and college students hands-on biomedical research experience. The program is named for Sir Alexander Fleming, the British scientist who discovered penicillin and in 1949 came to Oklahoma City to dedicate OMRF’s first building.
OMRF Vice President of Clinical Affairs Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., and Vice President of Research Rodger McEver, M.D., started their research careers as Fleming Scholars.
The 2022 Fleming Scholars, their hometowns and schools are:
- Cassidy Baughman, Lone Grove, Lone Grove High School, Oklahoma State University
- Parker Brecheen, Edmond, Edmond Santa Fe High School, University of Central Oklahoma
- Michael Dong, Edmond, Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Rice University at Dallas
- Annemarie Edmonds, Oklahoma City, Bishop McGuinness High School, St. Mary’s College of Indiana
- Srija Nuguri, Oklahoma City, Deer Creek High School and Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, University of Oklahoma
- Tyana Parker, Oklahoma City, Millwood High School, University of Central Oklahoma
- Abigail Sifuentez, Bethany, Putnam City West High School senior
- Sarah Teeman, Stillwater, Stillwater High School, Oklahoma State University
- Betsy Varughese, Oklahoma City, Mustang High School, University of Oklahoma
- Lindsey Vongthavaravat, Edmond, Deer Creek High School senior
- Kate Walker, Oklahoma City, Heritage Hall High School senior
- Sofia Weaver, Oklahoma City, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Lehigh University
For more information about the Fleming Scholars program, visit www.omrf.org/fleming.
