The department of pharmacology’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program culminated Aug. 12 with research presentations given by each of the 17 program participants. These students were selected from an applicant pool of more than 70 and represented schools throughout the nation, including Rice University, Baylor University, Texas A&M University, The University of Texas-Pan American, the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University.
This concluded the fourth year of the 10-week program, and it continues to encourage students to enter and complete research-intensive programs in the biomedical sciences. It particularly focuses on recruiting minority students, since less than 3 percent of minorities hold doctorates in biomedical sciences.nThe students attend a series of techniques classes and participate in one of two courses:
Biological Bases of Brain Function or
Topics in Neuropsychopharmacology, which are structured as graduate-level courses.
“I came into this program with very little background knowledge in the field of pharmacology,” said Mandar Khanal, a junior at Whittier College in California. “But, I gained so much in 10 weeks. The research experience was incredible. Although it was taxing at times, the knowledge and experience I gained are truly amazing.”
Khanal was mentored by Charles P. France, Ph.D., professor in the department of pharmacology, and he carried out a research project, entitled
Discriminative Stimulus Effect of γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and Phencyclidine (PCP) in Rats: Interaction Studies. The program is open to all undergraduate students with an interest in biomedical science who have completed at least one semester of both college-level biology and chemistry. It has an emphasis on mental health issues and provides an interactive research experience, including individual research projects, participation in the department’s Graduate Student Journal Club, seminar attendance and coursework.
It is structured in a way so that a student can return for a second summer of research; therefore, freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to apply. This year, four students returned for a second summer – three continued their previous work and one chose to delve into another area of research.
In addition to working in the labs, participants took part in several social activities, including a trip to San Antonio’s Riverwalk and a San Antonio Missions game. Students also took a field trip to the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research.
“Our program works,” said Veronica Sprayberry, program coordinator. “Two of our minority participants, José Casanova and Alfred Hernandez, are now in doctoral programs in biomedical sciences. Another minority participant, Jamie Bass, is currently working toward an M.S. in pharmacology and intends to pursue a Ph.D. degree after the completion of her master’s work.”
The program was funded this year by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) of the National Institutes of Health and the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. Due to the NIMH’s financial restrictions, it will only fund the program through the 2006 summer session. The department of pharmacology is currently seeking other means of funding to continue the minority program.
Next year’s program will begin June 5, 2006 and will run through Aug. 11, 2006. Applications will be accepted through Apr. 1.
