Wichita State University biomedical students were selected to receive eight highly competitive Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (K-INBRE) grants.

K-INBRE, a grant funded by the National Institute of Health, offers research-based awards for college juniors and seniors at 10 Kansas universities.

Chemistry students Sam Womack, Esther Alao and Elvin Salerno, along with biological sciences major Amer Alsoudi and biomedical engineering major Martina Salerno were awarded Star Trainee awards. These awards are designed to identify outstanding prospective biomedical researchers and provide financial support during their senior year.

Star Trainee awards provide up to $7,000 for two semesters of research, at the end of which students present their research at the annual K-INBRE Symposium.

“The K-INBRE program is pleased to continue partnering with Wichita State University by supporting a large number of Star Trainees for the coming year,” says Douglas Wright, K-INBRE principal investigator. “Wichita State continues to provide excellent opportunities in biomedical research for undergraduate students, and this year’s selection of five Star Trainees is reflective of the high quality of students involved in research and the strong mentoring by faculty at WSU.”

Biological sciences majors Devon Miller, Hien Tran and Carissa Stover were awarded Summer Scholar awards, a grant for $4,000 toward research costs for the summer.