Cheyennes Samantha Haller Receives Wyoming INBRE Transition Fellowship

Samantha Haller is no stranger to research. She participated in several projects while a student at Laramie County Community College (LCCC). Thanks to a Wyoming INBRE Transition Fellowship, she will continue her research while studying at the University of Wyoming.

“It is significant to me to be selected as an INBRE Transition Fellow because it has allowed me to gain valuable research experience that I might not otherwise have been able to do,” says Haller, from Cheyenne. “It also is meaningful to me to be chosen for this fellowship because it acknowledges all of the hard work I have put into my studies.”

Haller earned her associate of science degree in biology at LCCC. She is one of nine students from Wyoming’s community colleges who received Wyoming INBRE Transition Fellowships to study and conduct research at UW.

Through a competitive selection process, the Wyoming IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program awards transition fellowships to Wyoming community college students who transfer to UW to pursue bachelor’s degrees in biomedical-related disciplines.

For two years, students receive $2,500 each semester to study and receive training in UW research laboratories. There also is the possibility of support through the Wyoming INBRE Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program that provides $3,500 for the summer, says Scott Seville, Wyoming INBRE principal investigator and program director.

Students must maintain full-time enrollment and at least a 3.0 GPA while being supported. They must commit to working about 10 hours per week in a laboratory on a mentored independent research project. They also are required to attend INBRE seminars and events as their course schedules allow, and present results of their research at the annual Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day.

“To facilitate the transition from their colleges to the university, junior and senior transition fellows meet regularly with the INBRE personnel to discuss and address transition challenges, share experiences and engage in a supportive community of student scholars,” Seville says.

Haller, a physiology major, guided by her faculty mentor Guanglong He, an assistant professor in the UW School of Pharmacy, is working on a variety of cardiovascular projects.

“I am very thankful to INBRE for presenting me with excellent opportunities both at Laramie County Community College and at UW,” Haller adds.

Wyoming, with UW as the lead institution, is one of 23 states and Puerto Rico funded by the National Institutes of Health INBRE program. INBRE funding is intended to enhance biomedical research capacity; expand and strengthen the research capabilities of biomedical faculty; and provide access to biomedical resources for promising undergraduate students throughout the eligible states.

Other transition fellows, listed by hometowns and community colleges, are:

Cheyenne -- Kelsea Zukauckas, Laramie County Community College, and Hannah Jernigan, Sheridan College.

Laramie -- Jessica Marsh, Laramie County Community College.

Rawlins -- Rebecca Iacovetto, Central Wyoming College.

Reliance -- Denise De Loera, Western Wyoming Community College.

Riverton -- Sara Cisneros and Philip Gard, Central Wyoming College.

Rock Springs -- Andrea Sanchez Walk, Western Wyoming Community College.