Heidi Sellman, a summer 2019 Idaho INBRE student at North Idaho College, works in a lab. Sellman’s scientific research poster won second place at the statewide Idaho INBRE conference in July. (Photo by JEROME POLLOS)
By MAUREEN DOLAN/North Idaho College
Research. Education. Opportunity.
The Idaho IDeA Network of Biomedical Excellence, better known as Idaho INBRE, offers all that and more for students training to be the next generation of biomedical scientists.
Idaho INBRE is a statewide scientific network of research and educational collaborators -- including North Idaho College and the state’s other public higher education institutions -- focused on strengthening the capacity of biomedical research and education in the state.
Microbiology Professor and INBRE Coordinator Rhena Cooper helped establish INBRE at NIC in 2003. With a grant from the National Institutes of Health, an internship program was developed that connects NIC students with labs throughout North Idaho, and offers the students a chance to earn while they learn.
“INBRE was an open door that just continues to open more doors and opportunities,” said Heidi Sellman, a 2019 NIC graduate. “It was inspiring, mind-blowing, eye-opening, motivating, and influential.”
And, Idaho INBRE at NIC promotes student success. There is a 98 percent program completion rate for participants, with many moving on to bachelor-level degree programs and beyond.
“Transferring works really well because INBRE helps them find a lab home or advisor at their new institution,” Cooper said. “Even if they go to work after earning their associate degree, they all go back for more education.”
NIC INBRE student Kirah Aldinger-Gibson said the program helped her develop her research skills, and also her professional skills.
“Getting to interact with graduate students, doctors and other undergraduate students gave me the opportunity to explore paths for my own future as well as learn about incredible research projects going on at my regional universities,” Aldinger-Gibson said.
Sellman and Aldinger-Gibson were among six NIC students who presented scientific research posters at the statewide INBRE conference last July in Moscow, Idaho. A total of 92 posters were presented by students from universities and colleges throughout the state.
Sellman, whose INBRE internship was at Accurate Testing, a water test lab in Coeur d’Alene, won second place with the poster: “Arsenic in Drinking Water: The Issue Lies Beneath the Surface.” To develop her presentation, Sellman studied data from previously tested water samples. She determined the addresses of the wells the samples were taken from, looking for concentrations that correlated with the well addresses.
“Then I got to do research and figure out why the patterns may be the way they are,” Sellman said.
With help from NIC Geology Associate Professor Bill Richards, she was able to use a computer program that studies the geology of the surface underground and make some interesting connections.
Another two NIC students tied for third place at the conference: Parker Fife, with the poster “Distribution of Off-Bipolar Cells in the Mouse Retina,” and John Sanchez, with the poster “The Synthesis of Mucin 7 Tandem Repeat.”
Most INBRE students, according to Rhena Cooper, are majoring in biology, microbiology or chemistry, although they generally complete their associate degrees as general studies.
Sellman is now studying at Lewis-Clark State College. Fife and Sanchez have transferred to the University of Idaho.
“My INBRE experience definitely accelerated my academic experience,” Sanchez said. “It gave me a great outlook on what research projects entail. I made connections with various students and, especially, professors who I might consider working with in the future.”
