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Newsletter
- Spring 2004
Student Profile
Stephanie Bingham, PhD
As a Biology major, I entered the MBRS Program, summer 1995. I had always planned on pursuing graduate studies in Biology but did not really know what that entailed. Participating in what I thought of at the time simply as a research-based Program was my way of correcting this. What I didn't understand until later was that the MBRS and MARC Programs are so much more than that. They are symbols of the commitment of many who have made it their mission to make graduate education accessible by providing the tools and supportive environment necessary for success. MBRS supplied me with an extended family consisting of fellow students and administrators. We really served as support systems for each other, forming lasting bonds.
I participated in MBRS Enrichment Program, performing research at the University of Florida's Whitney Marine Laboratory, summer 1995. This was my first exposure to Biomedical Research; I was able to apply what was taught in class to actual research problems, and use molecular biology techniques that I had only read about to address these questions. I formed great friendships with students from other schools all across the states - friendships that have lasted until today, almost 10 years later.
I continued with the Program for another two years, conducting research in Dr. Laura Mudd's laboratory until graduating in 1997. In the developmental neuroscience lab I used neuronal cell culture techniques to investigate factors involved in neuronal health and survival. In addition to presenting at the Society for Neuroscience Annual meeting, I had the opportunity as an undergraduate, to become the first author in a refereed publication from that lab. This provided me with invaluable experience in analyzing data and writing for the scientific community. Since then, I have been first author on 3 of 4 papers published during my graduate career. I pursued a doctoral degree in Biology, University of Missouri, fall 1998, with an emphasis on developmental neuroscience as a direct result of the research I performed in Dr. Mudd's laboratory, and it has been a most rewarding decision.
My doctoral research was focused on investigating the molecular and cellular bases for neuronal production and motility during development. I received my Ph.D. in Biology in the Fall of 2003 and have accepted a post-doctoral position at the University of Miami Medical School with The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. I credit my participation in the MBRS Program with getting me here. Throughout my graduate career, I was able to draw from my undergraduate experiences in the MBRS program beginning with the initial apprehension when starting a new research project in a new lab, to the frustration of experiments not quite working as planned, but still staying focused and working through it, to the extensive preparations when getting ready for presentations at Scientific meetings. My participation in the MBRS Program helped prepare me for the expected and provided me the tools to handle the unexpected.
I attended the 20th Anniversary MARC Symposium at Barry in February 2003 and was filled with pride at the number of persons there to celebrate this milestone and the clear impact this Program has made on the lives of so many students. It was truly a celebration of Scholarship fueled by support from programs such as MARC and MBRS, aimed at preparing our brightest and most promising for careers in Science. MBRS is an important resource in helping students reach their potential by actively participating in Science thus gaining a greater level of understanding and appreciation. This program has given so much. Those of us who have benefited should not forget, but should find ways to give back, so that this and other Programs like it can continue to thrive and help deserving students for many generations to come.
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