2026 Pharmaceutics Research Internship and Summer Experience (PRISE)
The 2026 Pharmaceutics Research Internship and Summer Experience (PRISE) supported eight undergraduate researchers who worked closely with faculty mentors on a range of pharmaceutical and biomedical research projects.
The 2026 PRISE students were Max Sumicad (Mei Lab), Kaiyan Jiang (Lu Lab), Olivia Pomerleau (Khurana Lab), Kahlil Monje (Khurana Lab), Andrew Larson (Ghandehari Lab), Savannah Cochran (Ghandehari Lab), Eliana Underwood (NARI, Pulsipher Lab), and Melaina Shirley (NARI, Owen Lab).
Throughout the summer the interns engaged in laboratory research while also participating in professional development activities designed to strengthen their scientific communication and critical analysis skills, including the PRISE Journal Club, where they discussed current research literature and explored emerging topics in the field.
The program culminated in several opportunities for students to share their work. Participants presented their research during the PRISE Poster Session on July 27, highlighting the breadth and impact of undergraduate research conducted throughout the summer. In addition, four students presented at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, showcasing their findings to the broader community. The students also completed and submitted final reports summarizing their summer research experiences and accomplishments.
The Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics extends special thanks to Dr. Nitish Khurana, Department Administrative Manager Ruby Steele, and Student Advisory Committee Officer Tara Buzinski for their support and coordination of the 2026 PRISE program.
