I . r.!::academics At some point in their college career, most students embarked on the task of finding a summer internship. For junior Carrie Brown the task was morc than challenging. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences offered fellowships that were avail– able for undergraduate students who would be juniors or seniors by the end of the year. According to UAMS, the goal of this national research program was to give undergraduate studcms who might be interested in graduate school and a career in biomedical research the opporruniry w experience what it was like to work in a research lab and perform biomedical research in pharmacology or toxicology. Brown spent 10 weeks during the summer of2005 working with the Department ofBio– chemistry and Molecular Biology at UAMS. The program consistcd ofscven students from different universities across the nation who shared Brown's interest. "We were able to get a feel ofwhat gradu– ate school would be like," 'Brown said. "There were students from Hendrix College, Christian Brothers University, Southern Arkansas Uni– versity and Ouachita Baptist University. It was interesting working with them." Brown, a biology major, said she wanted to be a doctor, but had always wanted to get involved in the biological research program. Before applying, she said she thought that she could try to get into the research program and decide later in life what to do after getting her doctorate. Brown was rejected a month after applying. III WI' It turned out that there had been confu– sion and UAMS did in fact want her in their program. A week later, they sent her an apology letter and an offer. "I was a little disappointed at first, but after the offer, I was so happy that it simply became funny," Brown said. The IO-week Summer Undergraduate Research Program, SURF, required students to take many courses. Meet-the-srudent socials, meet-the-faculty luncheons and a mid-summer seminar were some of the activities the students were involved in. Apart from the courses and labs, SURF had a canoe trip on the first week so the faculty and students were able to get to know each other on another level. "That was a good way to start my summer internship," Brown said. Brown was not working with strangers at UAMS. Dr. Dennis L Madock, assistant professor of biology, was also involved with SURF. "Working with Dr. Madock was fantastic," Brown said. "I couldn't have asked for a bener professor to work with." By the end of the summer, Brown had to write an abstract and give a presentation on her research. The reseatch was "Bacteriophage T4 Dda helicase unwinding and translocation of DNA" and was presented at the 12th Annual SURF Symposium at UAMS Aug. 12. "I think this was a great experience," Brown said. "Trying to find something new every day is incredible." -Atenas Hernandez Cruz (i" IWIJ' 1 III '\1 Senior HunlerVolislooks at a mineral sample with freshman Patrick Covert Sept. 1:(in Physical Science Department Chairman Dr. David Cole's geology class. Geology students memorized the names and properties of each mineral for an exam. -Amber Boznrgoni Freshmon Brillney Niblock dis\ecls a clam in a zoology lab Sept. 20. Members of the zoology class dissected other simple animals such as worms and crayfish. -Russell Keck
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