Our Sixteen Newest Scientists
Sixteen undergraduate students from seven states, representing ten institutions, arrived at MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) two weeks ago. They are taking part in our popular and highly competitive ten-week summer fellowship programs, through either the INBRE or REU programs. These student fellows infuse the MDIBL campus with energy; our labs are bustling, the curiosity is…
Continue ReadingHere comes the Class of 2022!
Every year, without fail, we are amazed at the determination, curiosity and sheer excitement for science that our Summer Fellows demonstrate. Training the next generation of scientists, physicians and entrepreneurs is a significant aspect of our mission and without the support of our wonderful community, these valuable educational opportunities wouldn’t be possible. The ten weeks…
Continue ReadingThe Maine INBRE in its 22nd Year – Looking Back and Ahead
As the Maine IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (ME-INBRE) enters its 22nd year (and the fourth of the current five-year funding cycle) it is exciting to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and how we are positioned to further augment and expand biomedical research excellence in Maine. This National Institutes of Health (NIGMS) funded Institutional…
Continue ReadingCourses Already in Full Swing for 2022
Somehow February is already here and we’re proud to say that we’ve already successfully hosted three primarily in-person short courses for Maine INBRE undergraduate students. The year got underway with the University of Maine Honor’s College course “Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease,” which featured faculty from the University of Maine, Dartmouth College, and MDI Biological…
Continue ReadingSummer of Fun and Futures: Life in the Haller Lab
Keagan Dunbar and Alyssa Kent are rising seniors, spending their summer in the Haller Lab. Although only half-way through their time on campus, both already say they know it’s an experience of a lifetime. “I’m really happy here,” smiles Keagan, “I’ve learned so much more about the breadth of biomedical sciences and I know my…
Continue ReadingSharing MDIBL Career to Inspire Young Scientists
Held virtually this year, Karlee was one of three Maine scientists chosen to share, via video, a bit about what life science is, the variety of jobs within the industry, about MDI Biological Laboratory, and what her day-to-day job looks like. She also wrote the below blog to give more insight how she came to…
Continue ReadingNot Just a Drop in the Bucket
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element in many residential wells in Maine. At elevated levels, it poses a potentially significant health threat, causing cancer, heart disease, immune dysfunction, and developmental delays in children. MDI Biological Laboratory’s Jane Disney, Ph.D. has been engaging researchers, teachers, and students in Maine and New Hampshire in well water monitoring…
Continue ReadingAnother Successful Summer at MDIBL
Walking through the MDI Biological Laboratory courtyard on a sultry August afternoon, you couldn’t help but be inspired by the depth and breadth of research from our 2021 student fellows. 45 undergraduate and high school students from institutions across the country, working with mentors at MDIBL and other INBRE institutions around Maine, spent 10 weeks…
Continue ReadingCitizen Scientists Support Doctoral Research
Arsenic, lead, and uranium, naturally occurring contaminants in some groundwater, are not uncommon in New England, where significant portions of the population rely on wells for drinking water. Long-term or acute exposure to these contaminants can lead to multiple types of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Federal and state guidelines regulate the maximum contaminant…
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