OSU names 2011-12 Niblack research scholars

Monday, October 10, 2011

Dr. John and Heidi Niblack (front, center) with the 2011-12 Niblack Research Scholars. (second row, L to R) Kelsie Brooks, Mrinalini Patil, Mackenzie Jochim (third row, L to R) Dr. Stephen McKeever, OSU’s VP for research, Brandi Gallaher, Benjamin DeWeese, Kayla Davis, Chelsea Fortenberry (back row L to R) Jared Austin, Daniel Osagie, Grant Tinsley and Zachary Sheffert (not pictured: Kara Miller)

Oklahoma State University has selected 12 undergraduate students to participate in the 2011-12 Niblack Research Scholars program. Funded by a gift from OSU alumnus Dr. John Niblack, each student will receive an $8,000 scholarship and will have the unique opportunity to conduct research in a university lab, assisted by a faculty sponsor and graduate student mentor.

The 2011-12 Niblack Research Scholars are:

Jared Austin, a physics major from Fairview, Okla.
Kelsie Brooks, a microbiology and cell and molecular biology major from Norman, Okla.
Kayla Davis, biochemistry and molecular biology major from Stillwater, Okla.
Benjamin DeWeese, a zoology major from Broken Arrow, Okla.
Chelsea Fortenberry, a chemistry and biological sciences major from Durant, Okla.
Brandi Gallaher, physiology major from Tulsa, Okla.
Mackenzie Jochim, an entomology and plant pathology major from Broken Arrow, Okla.
Kara Miller, a nutritional sciences and allied health major from Keller, Texas
Daniel Osagie, a chemical engineering major from Nigeria
Mrinalini Patil, a biochemistry and psychology major from Stillwater, Okla.
Zachary Sheffert, chemical engineering major from Stillwater, Okla.
Grant Tinsley, a physiology and nutritional sciences major from Centennial, Colo.

More details about the students’ research are available at http://research.okstate.edu/nrs-2011-12-scholars.

Niblack, who attributes his own pursuit of research as a profession to the experience he received as an undergraduate at OSU, says he funds the program to give young people that same opportunity. Niblack is the former vice chairman of Pfizer Inc. He worked as an active scientist for the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company from 1967-1980 directing research into drugs for viral illnesses, cancer and autoimmune disorders. He was appointed director of research for the company's U.S. laboratories in 1980 and named president of Pfizer's Central Research Division in 1990. He became vice chairman in 1993 and retired in 2002.

The Niblack Research Scholars will make presentations about their findings during OSU Research Week, Feb. 20-24, 2012.