OUR 2024-2025 SUMMER SCHOLARS

Future Leaders

ADDISON GROE, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Project: "Biosafety and Biosecurity in Space: Protecting Earth's Biosphere"
Mentors: Tomoko Steen, Ph.D., Georgetown University, Pres-elect Schull Institute
Taylor Winkleman, DVM, MPH, Georgetown University, UN, WHO

BRIANNA “BRI” THOMPSON, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, RICE
Project: “Constructing a Radiation Effects and Events Repository”
Mentor: Armin D. Weinberg, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

MANSHI PATEL, RICE UNIVERSITY, TEXAS A/M UNIVERSITY
Project: “Role of Social Media in Scientific Information Dissemination”
Mentor: Armin D. Weinberg, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

MICHAEL BOLANOS, RICE UNIVERSITY
Project: “Genetics In Primary Care”
Mentors: Mohammad Shoaib, Wellhealth Labs
Marcos Masson, MD, Reconstructive Orthopedic Center

UT Houston Department of Orthopedics
Kim Dunn, MD, Ph.D., Past-President Schull Institute, HealthQuilt,

UT Houston McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics

MIGUEL ALAMILLO, BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Project: “Optimizing Orthopedic Care with Telemedicine”
Mentors: Marcos Masson, MD, Reconstructive Orthopedic Center
UT Houston Department of Orthopedics
Kim Dunn, MD, Ph.D., Past-President Schull Institute, HealthQuilt,
UT Houston McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics

NITESH ENDURU, UT HOUSTON MCWILLIAMS SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS
Project: “Deciphering Sjorgren’s Syndrome Genetic Links Through Muli-omics Network Integration”
Mentor: Zhongming Zhao, Ph.D., M.S., UT Houston McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics

ROBERT “ROBBIE” DUNN, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
Project: “Improving the Quality of Healthcare”
Mentors: Marcos Masson, MD, Reconstructive Orthopedic Center
UT Houston Department of Orthopedics
Kim Dunn, MD, Ph.D., Past-President Schull Institute, HealthQuilt,
UT Houston McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics

The seven students from multiple different areas of interest including genetics, public health,
bioinformatics, archival research, and medical sciences. They and their mentors represent 14
different academic US institutions. They were selected after the 2024 Annual Conference in
Houston. They spent June and July exploring their research question and area of interest.
On July 31, they presented their work to the Board of Directors and their mentors. They will
continue to work with their mentors to extend their research and refine their presentation and
paper. Their final presentation will be at the Annual Schull Institute International Conference in
Japan on March 15-16, 2025. This conference is co-chaired by Dr. Takashi Gojibori (Vice-
Director of the National Institute of Genetics (NIG) and the DNA Data Bank of Japan
(DDBJ) at NIG, in Mishima, Japan. Gojobori is a Distinguished Professor [1] at King
Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. and
Dr. Tomoko Steen (Georgetown University). At this Conference, The Schull Institute will be
celebrating 25 years in a multinational strategic planning program and a toast to “The Schullian
Way”.

Past Scholars

FACES LOOKING AHEAD

Always, The Institute seeks to develop future researchers and leaders through its mentorship programs in the fields of population genetics, public health informatics, and archival research.

These new leaders are instilled with a spirit of community and social service.

Our principal activities now focus on three mentoring programs: The Schull Institute Annual Invitational Conference, Schull Summer Scholars Research Program, and "Song Among the Ruins," our bi-national exchange program with Japan.

THRIVING CAREERS

Since The Institute's inception, half of our fellows and scholars have returned to their countries of origin to academic or ministerial positions of major significance. Among the remaining half, some continue their education or job experience in the United States. The rest have been recruited to American universities or healthcare agencies.

WHAT OUR SCHOLARS SAY

TESTIMONIALS

"Besides participating in the genetic testing research, I got to shadow physicians, engage with patients, and work as a medical assistant. My Schull internship was the greatest experience ever."

— Cassandra Ramtahal, Schull Summer Research Scholar from University of St. Thomas

"Such an invigorating experience. Initially, I was somewhat daunted as a Humanities graduate student in a field of scientists, but the fellowship provided me with an opportunity to understand the importance of including humanities perspectives alongside those of science and vice versa. It is a wonderful program."

— Clint Wilson, Schull Summer Research Scholar from Rice University

"I learned so much more than the facets of healthcare, and I made valuable connections. All of the judges and professionals who came to the annual conference willingly spoke with me afterward and gave me advice on how to further my goal."

— Moushumi Sahu, Schull Summer Research Scholar from Rice University

"I found the annual conference very informative and intriguing. I was able to network and meet with professionals in the field of biology research as well as listen to research by other students. I enjoyed the variety of lecture topics presented by professors with different backgrounds.

— Angela Moreno, Schull Summer Research Scholar from University of St. Thomas