2014 Miller Internship Award Recipients

Sierra Adler

I am a rising junior Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major at LC, very interested in pursuing a career in health. This summer I will be working in the OHSU Marks lab, investigating the neuronal pathways of inflammatory signals in rats, and the role of these signaling methods in sickness behaviors. This research will give me an opportunity to work with live animal subjects, something I’ve never done before, and utilize the basic science skills I have so far gained from my classes at Lewis & Clark in a laboratory setting. I am excited to see how implementing changes on a molecular level can change physiological symptoms in organisms. I’m very thankful for the Miller Award to help me be able to benefit from this great opportunity.

Claire Agosti

My name is Claire and I am a rising senior here at Lewis & Clark College. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Art while completing pre-med requirements. Though I am on a doctor career path, I have always been intrigued by scientific/medical illustration because it melds my love for art and the sciences. Furthermore, recent exposure to genetic research has contributed to my interest in the challenge of understanding and communicating the theories presented in primary literature. To communicate these theories through art would be an extremely exciting challenge. Consequently, I decided to explore the work that scientific illustration entails. This summer I have the amazing opportunity to intern at Sayo-Art LLC where my time will be split between marketing and organization tasks and learning concepts and techniques involved in the production of scientific illustrations. I am excited to learn aspects of business and new computer software programs used for digital art production. I am so grateful for the Miller Internship Award that makes this opportunity possible! Thank you.

Zoe Bostick

Hi I’m Zoe! I’ll be graduating with a biochemistry major this semester. This summer I’ll be working in the Banker lab at OHSU, where I’ve been volunteering since February. The Banker lab aims to identify interactions between motors and the proteins that they transport within the cell using two-color imaging. I’m incredibly excited to continue working at OHSU, which will give me a feel for what it’s like to work in a lab full time and hopefully give me insight into which areas I want to pursue in graduate school.

Alicia Callejo-Black

Hi! I’m Alicia Callejo-Black, a recent Lewis & Clark graduate with a BA in Psychology. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine, specifically in pediatric health, and will be continuing my studies at PSU through a Post-baccalaureate pre-med program.  This summer I will be an intern for the Healthy Lifestyles Clinic, an Oregon Health Sciences University Doernbecher Hospital program located in Bethany Village.  The clinical team is comprised of four different health care providers: a pediatrician, a psychologist, a physical therapist, and a nutritionist. The clinic serves children and their families throughout the Portland community, providing health education and management services. I have already visited the facility, and I’m very impressed with the setup of the appointments with each child and his or her family. Each team member is compassionate and considerate, providing necessary health advice while still establishing a good rapport with the patient. As an intern I will be working with each team member, collecting and analyzing data on patient characteristics and satisfaction. I will also be creating and distributing a monthly newsletter for the clinic, which will go out to all the families with children seen in the clinic. Lastly, in order to support this newsletter, I plan on reading current research and literature on pediatric health and fitness. I am very grateful for the opportunity that this grant has given me, and look forward to beginning working with the clinical team.

Lily Clarke

Jambo! My name is Lily and I am from Montana. I am a biology major here at LC, and this summer I will be conducting fire ecology research with The Wilderness Society in beautiful Montana wilderness! We will be studying the effects of different fire regimes on pollinator and forb succession patterns. We will be camping high in the mountains all summer. There will be many great adventures, and I am so excited to continue doing environmental biology research with The Wilderness Society!

Hannah Cohen

Hi! My name is Hannah Cohen, and I just graduated from Lewis & Clark as a Biology major with a pre-vet focus. Before I apply to veterinary school in the fall, I will be working at the Oregon National Primate Research Center this summer, in the lab of Dr. Kristine Coleman. Dr. Coleman studies ways to reduce stress in and improve the psychological well-being of laboratory primates, a topic that has long fascinated me due to my dual interests in animal medicine and research. During my time in Dr. Coleman’s lab, my primary responsibilities will deal with recognizing different stress behaviors in nonhuman primates and also with designing enrichment for them, with the ultimate purpose of reducing stress in primates at the ONPRC. I am tremendously excited to be involved in a lab that will both teach me valuable skills in recognizing different animal behaviors and teach me a lot about how to improve the lives of animals in captivity. I will also have the opportunity to attend lectures about veterinary care for animals at research facilities, held in the summer at the ONPRC. I am very thankful to Lewis & Clark for providing me with the opportunity to pursue this internship!

Julia Covell

I’m a rising Junior and a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major with an Art Minor. I’m interested in a career in health care and this summer I have the privilege of working in Dr. Terry Morgan’s lab at OHSU. For my internship, I will be studying pregnancy complications, specifically, preeclampsia in a genetically modified mouse model. My project will be to test whether a certain drug will rescue the fetal growth restriction, which is a result of the condition.  I’m looking forward to this awesome learning opportunity because it will allow me to practice working independently in a lab setting.

Gregory Geraldo

My name is Greg and I am a rising Junior Psych major at LC. I’ll be interning in the Developmental ADHD Research Lab at OHSU this Summer. I’m very excited to stay in Portland over the Summer in hopes of maybe, just maybe, catching a glimpse of sun. In my internship, I’ll be working with data entry software and learning to accurately and efficiently organize and record research data. I’ll also be working with subjects in the lab and administering testing. I love working with kids, and I’m very excited to learn in the lab environment. You may see me biking to and from Marquam and Palatine Hills or just about anywhere in Portland. There’s lots of exploring to do, and the Miller scholarship is allowing me to search for opportunity and awesomeness to my heart’s content!

Miles Hume

I am a rising senior Physics major, minoring in Math and Art. I am interested in a career in engineering, but art and design are also important to me. I am looking to go to  school for engineering after Lewis and Clark, so I am excited to get some first hand experience in the field. I will be working at the Mechatronics and Controls Laboratory at NYU Poly this summer. Mechatronics is a design process that combines the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, so I think that working here will be a good way for me to figure out what parts of the design and engineering process I work best in. The lab is currently working on a humanoid robot and I am going to be working on the design of the head and face, to create a design that will have all the needed functionality with an aesthetically pleasing exterior. I am excited to have an opportunity to incorporate art and design into an engineering based project, as this is the type of work I would like to be doing in the future.

Peter Innes

Hello! My name is Peter. Besides studying biology at Lewis & Clark I spend my time running, skiing, climbing, and playing jazz. This summer I will be living and working at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, Colorado. Cloistered at 10,000’ by rugged peaks and pristine alpine meadows, RMBL is home to over one hundred field biologists and students each summer. Under the tutelage of Dr. Rosemary Smith, I will be involved with various research projects focused on the behavioral ecology of one very peculiar beetle. Burying beetles are large and colorful, but they are also very stinky because their life cycle revolves around carrion. Adult burying beetles raise their young on the carcasses of small vertebrates, which provide food for the brood as they develop. I am very excited to explore the worlds of field biology and entomology, and I also look forward to being surrounded by so many interesting and inspiring people during my time at RMBL. Living in the mountains will certainly have its perks!

Emily Jochem

My love for the outdoors and my curiosity for the natural world lead me to study biology at Lewis & Clark College. As a rising senior, I am exploring the fields of conservation biology and ecology. In order to see conservation work in action and experience life as a field researcher, I will be traveling to Madagascar this summer to participate in a study on Jolly’s Mouse Lemur. I will be living at a field station with other students and researchers who collaborate to preserve Madagascar’s unique flora and fauna.  My specific project will be conducting a census of the local population of Jolly’s Mouse Lemur and collecting data on their social behavior.  I will also be collecting fecal and blood samples for genetic testing. I am eager to apply what I have learned in my coursework at LC, and gain real world experience in conservation biology in a global biodiversity hotspot!

Kelsey Kahn

Hiya! My name is Kelsey and I am an Environmental Studies Major with a concentration in alternative energy policy and science communication. This summer I will be interning at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Portland. My work will surround the hydrology of the Columbia River and I will also have the chance to do some self-directed research about the Klamath River Hydroelectric Project that I hope to use in my thesis.

Emerald Kaitryn

Thanks to the Miller Award, this summer I have the opportunity to
continue my research at OHSU studying Parkinson’s Disease. I’m a
psychology major, with a pre-med focus, and a neuroscience minor. For
my internship I will be building on my research last summer of
characterizing alpha-synuclein protein in mouse models using
fluorescence microscopy and antibody staining techniques. This summer
I will be looking at different species of post-translationally
modified protein and tracking how they relate to the aggregations of
protein in the brain that are involved in the disease. This research
is very important to me, not only for nourishing my growing passion
for neuroscience, but also because several members of my family have
struggled with PD. Seeing the progression of their disease makes me
even more motivated to make a personal impact on PD research. Without
the Miller Internship Award there is no way I would have been able to
pursue this opportunity, thank you so much!

Nate Klimpert

I’m a rising junior biology major/classics minor interested in pretty much everything! I hope to go into research later in life, so I’m ecstatic to have the chance to intern with Mary Logan this summer at OHSU. I’ll be in the Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research, where Dr. Logan examines the reparative properties of glial cells in the brain. Specifically, I’ll be helping Maria Purice determine the effects of aging on glial responses to injury. I’m incredibly thankful to be given such a unique and engaging opportunity!

Keean Kondo

I am a rising senior Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major as well as a member of the collegiate baseball team. This summer I have the opportunity to work with Dr. Arlen Johnson at University of Texas, Austin. As an intern in Dr. Johnson’s lab, I will be investigating the exportation of the large subunit of the ribosome from the nucleus in yeast cells. I will be mutating proteins that make up the large subunit as well as the proteins within the nuclear pore such that the two will be able to interact and I can capture the large subunit during exportation. I am excited for this opportunity to work in an exciting city and, for me, a new campus. I hope that this experience will act as a stepping stone towards a possible career in biomedical research.

Amaya Lucas

My name is Amaya and I am a rising senior majoring in Math and Physics. This summer I have the opportunity to work with FEI Company in Hillsboro on their Beam Technology Research and Development team - more specifically, I will be part of a group working primarily with the company’s Focused Ion Beam technology. I’m so excited to join the FEI team this summer and I’m grateful to have been presented this opportunity by L&C!

Hannah Rempel

Hi! My name Hannah Rempel. I am a rising junior, working towards a dual BA in Biology and Foreign Languages (Chinese & Spanish). This summer I am working at the Caribbean Primate Research Center in Puerto Rico. I am assisting Dr. Carla Escabi, studying the effects of various parasites on the behavior of male macaques. Specifically, I collect and prepare fecal samples to analyze for parasite distribution and diversity, as well as record behavioral data on mating behavior. From this opportunity I hope gain experience that I can apply both in my classes at Lewis & Clark, in my work in the Biology department, and in a future career in biology after LC.  I am extremely grateful to the CPRC for granting this unique experience as an undergraduate, and for the Miller Internship Award that makes it possible for me to do this work. Thank you for your support.

Will Shaw

My name is Will Shaw and I am a rising senior here at Lewis & Clark.  I’m a biology major and a computer science & art minor.  This summer I will be interning at Vanderbilt University in the Biomedical Elasticity and Acoustic Measurement Lab.  I’ll be working on a project that focuses on  passive mechanical measures of myocardial stiffness. We can estimate passive mechanical properties by measuring the strain in the ventricles during atrial contraction.  Clinically, this technique is used as an ultrasonic tool for early differentiation of acute and chronic myocardial infarct. I can’t thank Lewis & Clark enough for providing me with such a fantastic opportunity!

Nikki Ulug

My name is Nikki Ulug and I just graduated in May 2014 with a degree in biology. Over the past several years my interest has been drawn towards cell, molecular, and neurobiology. Recently, I have also really enjoyed learning about the biological mechanisms that create the link to understanding human diseases. This summer I have the opportunity to work with a neuroscientist researching to explain a human degenerative disease. I will be working as a research assistant with Dr. Fred Robinson at Oregon and Health and Science University. Dr. Robinson works in the Jungers Center for Neurosciences Research in the Biomedical Research Building at OHSU. This lab is researching how mutations in members of the myotubularin family of PI 3-phosphatases lead to Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) peripheral neuropathy. This disease is a commonly inherited neurological disorders characterized by a loss of motor nerve function. In CMT patients, the motor nerves are observed to have dysfunctional myelination and demyelination. The Robinson’s lab is investigating how specifically PtdIns3P and PtdIns(3,5)P2 lead to cellular dysfunction and this neurological disease. I am very excited about the research I will be doing this summer and I hope it gives me insight about the decision of pursuing further research and graduate school. Without the Miller award and help from my professors at Lewis & Clark, this wonderful opportunity would not be possible. Thank you!

Amelia Walsh

Hello! I’m Amelia Walsh, I just graduated from Lewis and Clark with a degree in studio art and biology. I am particularly intrigued by the way in which these two studies interact, especially in reference to biological imaging techniques. People always ask how these two fields relate to one another, but I think that Leonardo da Vinci had it just right. It is important to be able to communicate information visually in order to reach a broader audience when conveying scientific information. At Lewis and Clark I studied photography, but I also had the opportunity to take neuroscience classes. This summer, I will be studying under Dr. Teresa Nicolson at the Vollum Institue at Oregon Health & Science University. I’ll be helping to identify genes related to hearing in zebrafish, and explore how mutations in these genes affect their behavior. I can’t wait to meet new people and learn a bit more about scientific imaging techniques that can be used as a form of visual communication.

Mayadah Yahya

Hello! My name is Mayadah. I’m a rising senior who is planning to pursue a career in epidemiology. An Epidemiologist is a scientists capable of identifying and preventing the spread of disease. They study patterns, designs, conduct ,and analyze research studies. As well as communicate complex ideas with the community. Fortunately, I will be able hone these skills when I continue the research I have been conducting with Dr.Tanyi at the Oregon Health and Science University this summer. My research focuses on inter-fractional primary liver tumor motion in patients that undergo SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy).  I aim to find strong evidence for the best localization methods that can be used to safely deliver ablative doses of radiation. This internship is an ideal way for me to prepare for a future as an epidemiologist and I couldn’t be more grateful to Lewis and Clark for giving me this opportunity!