From Break to Breakthrough: Undergrads Gain Research Insight at TTUHSC
Summer research internships with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offered unique, hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduates and recent graduates.
Interns conducted rigorous research under the mentorship of graduate students and faculty at campuses in Abilene, Amarillo and Lubbock. They presented their projects at the end of the 10-week program. In addition to gaining valuable skills, interns also learned what it takes to be a successful graduate student.
“We were able to dive into conversations that were very insightful,” SABR Intern Iliana Ramirez said. “One can think about being a grad student as being fully independent, knowing everything and being prepared. But when you get to meet real people, you realize it’s not that way. Everyone is learning all the time, and it is okay to make mistakes.”
Ramirez interned in the lab of Sharilyn Almodovar, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, where she explored the intersection between HIV and diseases.
“Specifically, I was focusing on neurovascular problems in the brain,” Ramirez said. “At the beginning, I was very shy. I was observing, and then I ended up becoming completely independent in the lab activities. I’m very proud of that.”
Ramirez soon will start her last year at The University of Texas at El Paso. She’s one of five interns who completed the 2026 TTUHSC Summer Accelerated Biomedical Research (SABR) program.
SABR is affiliated with the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program in Lubbock. The program also is connected closely with the TTUHSC School of Medicine through shared research space, faculty mentors and academic goals.
“I had graduate school in my mind, but I wasn’t sure what graduate school was like or what I would be doing,” SABR Intern Alex Ko said.
Ko interned in the lab of Malaiyalam Mariappan, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry.
“I studied the quality control mechanism of proteins and the degenerative process of misfolding membrane proteins,” Ko said. “Not only did I learn the research process, but I was able to learn about the graduate school process and life through the SABR program.”
Ko will enter his senior year at The University of Texas (UT) at Austin this fall.
“I would say it’s a great experience to get out of your comfort zone, learn from people who are in the field and know what they’re doing,” SABR Intern Brady Filla said. “All the people here, they’re so smart. They’re geniuses. They’ve got so much knowledge, and they just want to share it.”
Filla studied cancer and tested a potential new drug treatment in the lab of Kumar Palle, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry.
“They really wanted to teach me everything they could,” Filla said. “They showed me how they evaluate cancer treatments and grow cells, which helped me see how enjoyable and engaging actual hands-on research is.”
Filla will start his junior year at Texas Tech University (TTU) in the fall.
“I was interested in SABR, because I started doing research in high school,” SABR Intern Aldan Joseph said. “I did dry lab research. I never got that wet lab experience, so that was something I was looking forward to.”
Joseph interned in the lab of J. Josh Lawarence, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, where he studied the interplay of vitamin A and Alzheimer’s disease in mouse models.
“I’m interested in applying to either medical school or going for a Ph.D.,” Joseph said. “In either of those, research is extremely important. So just getting that experience, getting those hours in, it’s very important for applying to those graduate programs.”
Joseph will start his sophomore year at TTU in the fall.
“This past year, I was developing an interest in research, and I wanted to understand whether to pursue that or not,” SABR Intern Thomas Spencer said. “This solidified my interest in graduate school.”
Spencer will also start his sophomore year at TTU in the fall. He’s majoring in biological systems engineering and interned in Palle’s lab. Spencer’s research mainly focused on ovarian cancer cells, triple-negative breast cancer cells and some kidney cancer cells.
“My favorite non-academic part was playing pickleball with the interns,” Spencer said. “My favorite academic part was those points where I realized that I started understanding some of the processes, like cell culture work, and when I was able to do some of that work on my own. It felt very validating.”
The summer internship program is not only held at TTUHSC’s Lubbock campus. Valerie Nguyen participated in the Biomedical Research Internship of Abilene (BRIA). BRIA is associated with the Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Abilene.
Nguyen, who attends Texas A&M University, interned in the lab of Sanjay Srivastava, Ph.D., associate dean for the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. As part of a diverse research team, BRIA interns work on projects to develop new cancer therapies and uncover new knowledge of cancer biology.
Sofi Ali completed her internship with the Amarillo Biomedical Research Internship (ABRI) program. ABRI is affiliated with the pharmaceutical sciences graduate program and the Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy in Amarillo.
Ali, who attends UT, interned in the lab of Alex Mabou Tagne, Pharm.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
“Through a project completed with my mentor, I gained experience with preclinical in vivo research, behavioral pharmacology testing protocols and laboratory analysis techniques such as immunofluorescence staining and microscopy,” Ali said. “This program has truly strengthened my interest in biomedical research and helped me grow both personally and professionally.”
Olivia Williams from Purdue University also took part in the ABRI program. She interned in the lab of Thomas Abbruscato, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
"This summer has been a pivotal part of my scientific journey, teaching me the techniques that will build my foundation as a researcher as I move forward into my own graduate education,” Williams said. “The ABRI program has provided me with countless mentors that I can draw on as I navigate graduate school and independent research beyond. My experience in Dr. Abbruscato's lab has shown me how I can apply my scientific interests to my previous experiences, creating a place for myself in the academic world.”
During final presentations for SABR, Lance R. McMahon, Ph.D., executive vice president for Research and Innovation and dean of the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, spoke with interns.
“I never gave a formal presentation as an undergraduate,” McMahon said. “It wasn’t until well into graduate school that I did that. What you’re achieving is impressive. You’re ahead of the curve, and we look forward to seeing your future success.”
Summer internships provided valuable experience that will benefit the participants in multiple ways, interns said.
“After a program like this, you gain more confidence,” Ramirez said. “You see how much you can learn and grow in a short amount of time when you are around great people who teach and guide you.”