Undergraduate Niblack scholars jump-start science careers

Monday, December 7, 2015

The 2015-16 Niblack Research Scholars and program supporters are (front row, L to R) Dr. John Niblack, Alexis Gullic, Erica Goodenow, David Bradt, Ashley Simenson, OSU V.P. of Research Dr. Kenneth Sewell. (second row, L to R) Heidi Niblack, Ashley Hadwiger, Rachel Davis, Logan Kunka, Anna Condacse. (third row, L to R) Hannah Paradis, Jacey Brooks, Tyler Goldsmith, Dominic Martin. (back row, L to R) program sponsor Dr. Stephen McKeever, Joseph Crook, Nicholas Foster.

The Niblack Research Scholars program at Oklahoma State University has opened the doors of cutting-edge research for undergraduates for more than a decade. This year, 14 OSU undergraduate students are receiving $8,000 scholarships and the opportunity to conduct supervised research as 2015-16 Niblack Research Scholars. The annual program is funded by OSU alumnus John Niblack, who wants to jumpstart the careers of future scientists through the experience of conducting actual research.

“It’s fun to see kids learn during hands-on research just how difficult it is to produce the smallest granule of data that’s of any use. It’s a big experience for them,” said Niblack, who said he had a similar experience as an OSU undergraduate that changed the course of his career. “Undergraduate research convinced me that I wanted to become a professional scientist because it was such a thrill to perform new experiments that no one else had ever done before.”

Niblack went on to become a scientist and then vice chairman of Pfizer Inc., the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company. Niblack will be recognized with an honorary doctorate and will be the keynote speaker at OSU’s undergraduate commencement Dec. 12.

“This is something totally different than anybody has done before and especially as an undergraduate because the average undergraduate doesn’t get to do this.” said Rachel Davis, a chemical engineering major from Fort Smith, Arkansas, who is in her second year as a Niblack scholar. “Working in a research setting, we’re trying to make new knowledge and publish new information that could help people all over the world.”

OKLAHOMA

Edmond

Nicholas Foster, mechanical and aerospace engineering

Owasso

Logan Kunka, mechanical and aerospace engineering

Perry

Erica Goodenow, nutritional sciences

Stillwater

Anna Condacse, chemical engineering

Ashley Hadwiger, physiological sciences

Tulsa

Joseph Crook, biosystems and agricultural engineering

Alexis Gullic, animal science

ARKANSAS

Fort Smith

Rachel Davis, chemical engineering

CONNECTICUT

Oxford

David Bradt, entomology

MAINE

Bangor

Dominic Martin, physiological sciences

Corinna

Hannah Paradis, animal science

MINNESOTA

Howard Lake

Ashley Simenson, biochemistry

TEXAS

Archer City

Jacey Brooks, zoology

Texarkana

Tyler Goldsmith, chemical engineering

Videos about the students and more information is available at http://niblack.okstate.edu.

PHOTOS: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ostatenews/albums/72157661273409929

Niblack founded the research scholars program in 2004. He worked for Pfizer as a scientist from 1967 to 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.