HUNTSVILLE – 38 college undergraduate and graduate students were recently selected to participate in the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology’s highly competitive BioTrain Internship Program in Huntsville.
This marks the 14th summer that HudsonAlpha has provided specialized internship opportunities for college students interested in careers ranging from in-depth laboratory research, genomic health and bioinformatics to biotechnology education, communications and business strategy. HudsonAlpha’s goal is to provide students the opportunity to connect classwork with real-world job experience while developing their professional skills. The addition of the professional development and support networks provided by BioTrain separate an internship with HudsonAlpha from other laboratory experiences.
A variety of internships are offered through HudsonAlpha’s nonprofit research labs, educational, economic development and communications departments as well as many of the companies on the campus of HudsonAlpha. Included in the BioTrain Internship program are ten students participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Genomic Medicine (SURE-GM). Students typically underrepresented in science are trained in research skills and will transition next summer to the University of Alabama in Birmingham for a mentored research experience. These interns train in the Educational Outreach department and gain valuable experience toward their career goals.
“We are thrilled to have these students on our campus.” said Michele Morris, HudsonAlpha’s director for Workforce Development for Educational Outreach. “Learning about life science is something that is important to the future of our city, state and nation and it’s our good fortune to have the opportunity to work with these students here at HudsonAlpha.”
Student participants will spend eight weeks in their respective departments, gaining valuable hands-on experience and earning a stipend. BioTrain interns spend their summer breaks contributing to scientific research and findings, collaborating with leaders in genetic technology, or completing multiple projects for the economics and communication teams. At the culmination of the internship program, all interns will showcase their gained knowledge, experience and discoveries with a poster presentation.
Selected students are:
- Hannah Almquist, Auburn University, Huntsville
- Om Badhe, James Clemens High School, Madison
- Hannah Barr, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Madison
- Caroline Bendickson, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Madison
- James “Nick” Brazell, Auburn University, Ardmore
- Morgan Brown, Jacksonville State University, Piedmont
- Chrishell Carter, Xavier University of Louisiana, Belle Rose, La.
- Olivia Cole, University of Alabama, Owens Cross Roads
- Stephanie Cook, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Hoover
- Hannah Eady, Auburn University, Madison
- Katie Giltner, University of Alabama in Huntsville, New Market
- Jaelyn Harris, Alabama A&M University, Mobile
- Charis Harrison, Auburn University, Athens
- Karla Hildebrand, University of North Alabama, Athens
- Elizabeth Hobbs, Auburn University, Athens
- Katherine Hunter, William & Mary, Huntsville
- Taylor Jordan, Athens State University, Scottsboro
- Azariah Kaplelach, University of Tennessee Southern, Homewood
- Ellen Konadu, Oakwood University, Jacksonville, Fla.
- Preston London, Lawson State Community College, Birmingham
- Saul Lopez, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Decatur
- Allison Lovell, University of Montevallo, Athens
- Lyda McComber, Auburn University, Auburn
- Claire Mitchell, University of North Alabama, Taft, Tenn.
- Kennedy Morman, Miles College, Fairfield
- Jonani Pasupathy, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Miss.
- Joseph Quan, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville
- Taniya Rainge, Alabama A&M University, Montgomery
- Quentin St. Charles, Lawson State Community College, Hueytown
- Joshua Stanley, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, Birmingham
- Trevor Suddarth, University of Alabama at Birmingham, New Market
- Luke Terwilliger, University of North Alabama, Florence
- Yalonda Thomas, Alabama State University, Dixons Mills
- Jayden Vanterpool, Oakwood University, Harvest
- Emma Vroonland, Auburn University, Madison
- Riley Watkins, University of Montevallo, Ardmore
- Lauren White, Jacksonville State University, Maylene
- Ashlyn Winters, Emory University, Owens Cross Roads
HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to developing and applying scientific advances to health, agriculture, learning, and commercialization. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second-largest research park. The state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. HudsonAlpha is a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education and fosters more than 48 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn more about HudsonAlpha, visit hudsonalpha.org.
By Elizabeth Hobbs, June 27, 2022
