HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP

The Houston Methodist Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (“HM SURI”)  offers a 10-week national competitive research internship each summer for 70+ undergraduate students. Interns are placed in Houston Methodist Research Institute labs in their area of research interest and conduct an independent scientific research project.

They receive assistance and mentorship from leaders in their designated labs and acquire valuable professional exposure through a range of networking opportunities, Additionally, interns engage in diverse social activities that contribute to a comprehensive and enriching summer encounter.

Throughout the internship, students attend weekly seminars focused on career growth and professional advancement. Additionally, interns have the opportunity to engage in didactic lectures delivered by leading scientists and physician researchers from Houston Methodist.

Some interns, in collaboration with their mentors, have the chance to publish their work.  At the conclusion of the internship, interns present their findings and compete in a poster presentation competition.    

The Brown Foundation is guaranteed 25% of the annual HM SURI
slots. Priority is given to E2EnMed EAP students followed by pre-med science
students, assuming availability. 

2024 HOUSTON
METHODIST SUMMER
UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH
INTERNSHIP

2023 HM SURI
AWARDS AND
HONORS

1st Place at MAPTA Summer Symposium Poster Presentation

Theresa Tran Wins 1st Place at the 2024 Houston Methodist MAPTA Summer Symposium Poster Presentation ​

Outstanding Intern Award at the 2024 Houston Methodist Summer Undergraduate Research Internship

Vibha Velur and Ananya Bhawsinka Win Outstanding Intern Award at the 2024 Houston Methodist Summer Undergraduate Research Internship

HOUSTON METHODIST 2024 SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP POSTER PRESENTATIONS

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Amanda Morse

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Theresa Tran

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Izzy Glenn

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Vibha Velur

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Steven Wu

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Neha Lakka

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Anaya Bawiskar

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Marie Strittmatter

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David Hunt

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Ananya Bhawsinka

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Gavin Graham

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Vishaka Bhora

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PHOTO GALLERY

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Amanda Morse

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy! My name is Amanda Morse, and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027. I am majoring in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience and am involved in the Biology Honors program.

This summer, I had the opportunity to work in Dr. Sonia Villapol’s lab in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. The Villapol lab focuses on studying how traumatic brain injuries can accelerate Alzheimer’s Disease progression through a unique connection called the gut-brain axis. For my project, I used the gut-brain axis to focus specifically on how antibiotics can be used as a treatment for the inflammatory response following a traumatic brain injury in Alzheimer’s mice.

Throughout my experience in the Villapol lab, I was able to learn to be a part of a research team, several new lab techniques, how to quantify data, and how to effectively present a research poster. This experience has not only broadened my scientific knowledge, but also allowed me to see the critical role of research in medical advancements.

I am grateful to the Villapol lab, Houston Methodist Research Institute, and the Brown Foundation for making this incredible experience possible.

Theresa Tran

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy, my name is Theresa Tran, and I am a proud member of the Class of 2027!  I am a Computer Science major and have been admitted to the E2EnMed program.

This summer, I had the privilege of working in Dr. Philip Horner’s lab. Our lab studies the potential of ventral spinal stimulation (VSS) as a treatment for spinal cord injuries. Previous research in the lab demonstrated that one week of VSS improved rats’ motor function compared to rats without treatment with the immediate early gene Nr4a1 being upregulated in neurons and downregulated in microglia. To investigate the differences in Nr4a1 expression between one week and eight weeks of VSS, I developed a machine-learning classifier that generated label predictions for the various cell populations in confocal images of the spinal cord post-injury and analyzed Nr4a1 expression in these cell populations. Our findings reaffirmed that VSS is a promising and efficient therapy that could be instrumental in enhancing the quality of life and independence of individuals with paralysis.

In addition to learning new laboratory and coding skills, I have grown more confident in my public speaking, communication and teamwork, and networking abilities. I am extremely grateful to the Horner Lab, Houston Methodist SURI program, and Mr. Craig Brown and Ms. Sue Smith for making this incredibly rewarding opportunity.”

Isabella Glenn

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy, my name is Isabella Glenn, and I’m a member of the Aggie Class of 2025 and a biology major. This summer, I had the privilege of working in Dr. Phillip Horner’s lab in the Center for Neuroregeneration. The Horner lab studies electrical stimulation as a treatment for spinal cord injury, and previous data suggests that stimulation could contribute to motor function improvement after spinal cord injury. The molecular mechanism underlying this improvement is not understood, so exploring potential mechanisms could help future scientists amplify the beneficial effects and improve treatments and outcomes for spinal cord injury patients. To study a possible mechanism, my project investigated the effects of electrical stimulation on inflammatory gene expression in microglia, immune cells of the central nervous system. After a spinal cord injury, microglia take on an inflammatory state which helps them perform beneficial functions but also contributes to a damaging secondary injury to the spinal cord. The hypothesis is that using stimulation will promote an anti-inflammatory effect in microglia, thus decreasing the harmful effects of the secondary injury and improving motor function for spinal cord injury patients.  

Throughout the summer, I learned lab techniques such as cell culture, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemical staining, and improved on skills such as collaboration, project planning, and making presentations. 

I plan to pursue a healthcare advocacy career as a genetic counselor, so both the biology knowledge and communication skills I gained this summer will help me make complex biological topics understandable to patients. I’m so grateful to the Horner lab members, Houston Methodist OGSTA team, and the Brown Foundation for this incredible opportunity!

Vibha Velur

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

My name is Vibha Velur, and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027, a Materials Engineering major, and I was admitted to the E2EnMed program. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work alongside Dr. Francesca Taraballi and her lab in the Department of Orthopedics and in the Center for Musculoskeletal Regeneration at Houston Methodist. My specific research project explored the impact of cell culture methods on infrapatellar-derived mesenchymal stem cells (FP-MSCs) and their immunomodulatory potential. We compared the proliferation and regulatory properties of FP-MSCs cultivated in traditional 2D cultures to those in 3D spheroid configurations, as well as their biocompatibility when seeded onto collagen-based scaffolds. By advancing our understanding of how these stem cells and their environment can be optimized for therapeutic use, this research holds the potential to improve current regenerative medicine approaches and offer innovative, highly effective treatment options for patients with inflammatory musculoskeletal injuries and diseases such as osteoarthritis. This incredible experience has significantly enhanced my technical lab skills, as well as my confidence in public speaking and abilities in effective communication, project planning, and network building. I am grateful to Mrs. Sue Smith, Mr. Craig Brown, and all the supportive mentors at the Houston Methodist Research Institute and beyond for this invaluable opportunity. It has deepened my appreciation for research, broadened my understanding of medical advancements, and allowed me to grow both professionally and personally.

Steven Wu

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy! My name is Steven Wu, and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027, an Aerospace Engineering major, and an admit to the E2EnMed EAP program. This summer, I had the privilege of conducting research in Dr. Mahwash Kassi’s lab in the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Our lab studies the correlation between outflow cannula angle and adverse neurological events in HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients. My research project involves data collection for patients being enrolled in the multicenter study as well as co-first-authoring a literature review on contemporary outcomes of heart transplant and LVAD patients with particular emphasis on the 2018 heart allocation policy change. In addition to honing my scientific writing skills, I have also developed communication and presentation skills to properly represent and demonstrate my work. I am very grateful to Mrs. Smith and Mr. Brown for this phenomenal opportunity as well as to Dr. Kassi and Ms. Katelyn Ingram for their mentorship and support throughout the program. 

Neha Lakka

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy, my name is Neha Lakka! I’m a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027, and I’m a Biomedical Sciences major. This summer I was honored to be a part of Dr. Wong’s lab in the Systems Medicine and Bioengineering Department in Houston Methodist Research Institute. Our lab investigates spatial and systems biology methods for drug and biomarker discovery in cancer treatment and prevention. My project focused on using spatial analysis technology in order to identify biomarkers of prediction in breast cancer patients. I performed whole RNA transcriptome assays and immuno-oncology protein assays on biopsies from patients with metastatic breast cancer to identify possible novel targets for treatments. My experience in Dr. Wong’s lab has been truly impactful, from the incredible people I worked with to the advanced skills I learned. I am immensely thankful to the Brown Foundation and the SURI program for this incredible opportunity, which gave me invaluable skills and expanded my knowledge of the pursuit of scientific discovery.

Anaya Bawiskar

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy! My name is Anaya Bawiskar, and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027. I am a Biomedical Engineering major and was admitted to the E2EnMed program. 

This summer I conducted research with Dr. Stephen Wong’s group in Systems Medicine and Bioengineering, specifically in the Translational Biophotonics lab. Our lab explores label-free optical imaging technologies, which can provide real-time imaging of live tissues during surgery. My project involved implementing Generative AI models to translate these label-free optical images into pseudo-stained tissue images that surgeons and pathologists can easily interpret. By evaluating different models, we determined the model architectures resulting in the best quality, accuracy, and realism of generated images.

During this internship, I have extended my technical skills in programming and machine learning. Additionally, I have developed my public speaking, presentation, and communication ability. This experience has deepened my interest in the impact of AI in the medical field and how technology can advance quick, cost-effective, and accessible healthcare. 

I am incredibly grateful to everyone at the SMAB lab for their continuous support. Thank you to Mrs. Sue Smith and Mr. Craig Brown for this amazing opportunity!

Marie Strittmatter

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

My name is Marie Strittmatter and I am a proud member of the Aggie class of 2027 and a biomedical engineering major. I am also in the  E2EnMed program. This summer, I had the privilege of conducting research as part of the Fang Lab in the Center for Cardiovascular Regeneration at Houston Methodist Hospital. We investigated the implications and mechanisms of angiogenesis using forward genetics in zebrafish models. The zebrafish we studied were genetically engineered with fluorescent protein cellular lines for improved visualization and we performed genotyping to analyze the connections between different phenotypes and specific genes we selected. During this process, we also developed a faster, improved procedure for genotyping zebrafish embryos at 24 days post fertilization that will have positive implications for efficiency and accuracy of future experiments. The research I worked on this summer will have applications in understanding and treating diseases that involve angiogenesis, including diabetic retinopathy, congenital vascular malformations, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. I am so grateful to the Brown Foundation and the Houston Methodist Research Institute for providing this opportunity and would like to thank the OGSTA team and Fang lab for all of their support.  

David Hunt

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy! My name is David Hunt and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027. I’m a computer science major and a member of Texas A&M’s E2EnMed program. This summer I had the honor of conducting cancer research using machine learning under Dr. Stephen Wong in the Systems Medicine and Bioengineering (SMAB) lab of Houston Methodist Research Institute. While the lab overall explores a variety of areas, my team and I focused on identifying tumor spots in a variety of cancerous tissue images using Microsoft’s Prov-GigaPath image embedding model and a separate binary classifier. Down the road, we hope to develop a method for generation of expression profiles from a simple tissue image, dramatically shortening the time for cancer diagnosis and beginning targeted treatment. While managing my project and working with the team, I’ve grown tremendously in defining clear goals, communicating with experienced colleagues, and working through obstacles, while taking my computer science skills to new heights. I’m infinitely grateful for the Brown Foundation and SMAB for making this experience possible.

Anaya Bhawsinka

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

My name is Ananya Bhawsinka, and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027 and a biomedical engineering major. This summer, I am conducting research with Dr. Krencik’s team in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Our lab studies the impact of glial cells, specifically astrocytes, on neural diseases. My research specifically investigates the potential connection between astrocytes in the brain and amyloid oligomers (a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease) to shed greater insight into the molecular pathways through which Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) progresses.

Using bioengineered human pluripotent stem cells and various readouts, we generated a reductionist, astrocyte-driven organoid model of AD and studied amyloid’s direct impact on neurodegeneration. During this research, I led projects to optimize our protocols, conduct various assays, and properly extract and quantify the resulting data. Beyond expanding my technical skills in microscopy, cell culturing, and lab techniques, I have also further honed my project management and communication skills through this program.

I am incredibly grateful to Mrs. Sue Smith and Mr. Craig Brown for providing and sponsoring this opportunity, as well as to the entire Krencik Lab for their incredible support and encouragement. This experience has been nothing short of transformative for me, giving me valuable insights into the resilient nature of research and the vast host of opportunities that science and medicine, in particular, have to offer.

Gavin Graham

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy! My name is Gavin Graham, and this summer I had the pleasure of being a research intern with the Chang Lab at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Previously, my lab had identified two genes found to cause lower overall survival in triple negative breast cancer patients. The lab is now creating targeted therapies related to these genes in differing stages of the central dogma. My research  focused on comprehensively analyzing the function of these genes: examining RNA expression, protein translation, and cancer stem-cell properties by creating a knockout cell line for each gene using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. This allowed us to compare cells with no expression of either gene to cells with baseline expression.

My summer experience was incredibly beneficial to me in more ways than I can count. I effectively learned all the basics of a molecular biology lab, something I had previously no experience in. I 

enhanced my problem-solving skills, as research is filled with unexpected setbacks you have to find your way through. It was also extremely valuable experiencing a real work environment for the first time and learning how to allocate time efficiently. Overall, it was an unparalleled experience, and I’m thankful for the Brown Foundation and Houston Methodist for facilitating it.

Vishaka Bhora

HOUSTON METHODIST SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIP 2024

Howdy! My name is Vishaka Bhora, and I am a proud member of the Aggie Class of 2027, majoring in Interdisciplinary Engineering. I have also been admitted to the E2EnMed program, where I am excited to explore the intersection of engineering and medicine. This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to conduct research in the Laboratory of Bioenergetics at the Houston Methodist Research Institute. My research focuses on the activity of Serum Opacity Factor (SOF), a bacterial protein with the potential to treat high levels of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL). While HDL is typically seen as protective against cardiovascular disease, recent studies suggest that extremely high levels may also pose a risk. My work aims to understand how the plasma microenvironment influences SOF’s ability to modify HDL, which could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for managing cardiovascular risk. Throughout this experience, I have gained valuable technical skills in lipid analysis, size exclusion chromatography, and protein expression techniques. Moreover, this research has deepened my understanding of the complexities of cardiovascular health and the importance of personalized medicine. I am immensely grateful to Dr. Rosales’ Lab and the Brown Foundation for this opportunity, which has further solidified my aspirations to contribute to the advancement of medical science.