Page 18 - The Hormel Institute 2024 Annual Report

18 | THE HORMEL INSTITUTE // UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
UNDERGRADUATE TRAINING
SURE SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (SURE) INTERNSHIP
The 2024 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program hosted
16 interns and one American Physiological Society Fellow. Spanning 10 weeks from May 28 to August 2, interns engaged in 40-hour weeks packed with a mix of labora- tory training, and professional development activities.
The program emphasized building a sense of belonging and a strong scientific identity among participants, offering cohort activities beyond the professional setting to foster camaraderie. Interns had the opportunity to apply their university coursework and textbook knowledge to real-world applications, enhancing their overall experience and professional growth.
“My favorite part about working in the lab is having the independence to work on my own experiments while still having great mentors who are very supportive about any questions or roadblocks I may encounter.”
– Cynthia Dong, 2024 SURE Intern
STUDENT TRAINING EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (STEP)
This year, we launched the Student Training
Experience Program (STEP) in partnership
with the University of Minnesota Rochester and
Riverland Community College, hosting two
students, Martin DeKam, UMR and Eric Frazier,
UMR. The STEP internships provide students
with meaningful laboratory science experiences
at The Hormel Institute, allowing them to apply
their coursework knowledge and gain practical
research experience. Interns are offered various
opportunities to engage in biomedical research, enhance their professional development, and deepen their understanding and appreciation of the research and science profession.
Working as a STEP Research Assistant has allowed me to gain invaluable insight into the connection between basic science research and clinical application. This experience has
not only prepared me with structural
biology related knowledge and skill, but
has also solidified my passion for science
and discovery.
– Eric Fraiser, 2024 STEP Intern.
Martin DeKam, 2024 STEP Intern.
2024 SURE Interns
Allison Tanabe Ashley Wise Cynthia Dong Laney Killpack Katrina Yaeger Lexie Grieber Marta Bacon Francis Perroud Daniela Hernan-
Morgan Arnold Brynn Johnson Hannah Brenke Rachel Trebesch Marc Bindzus Lily Flaherty Joseph Garry Kate Kurotani
dez-Merlin