The Niblack Research Scholars program at Oklahoma State University has opened the doors of cutting-edge research for undergraduates for 13 years. This year, 14 OSU undergraduate students are receiving $8,000 scholarships and the opportunity to conduct supervised research as 2016-17 Niblack Research Scholars. The annual program is funded by OSU alumnus John Niblack and his wife, Heidi Niblack.

At the recent presentation of research from 2015-16 scholars, Niblack listed a number of personal qualities leading to success that he recognized in the careers of current Nobel prize winners.

“One of the scientists began his studies when he was 23 years old and only dared to enter his almost uninhabited field at the time because he didn’t know much about it and didn’t have any preconceived notions about what could or could not be done. He just dived in,” Niblack said. “So now you know the secrets of success in science – join areas where few have traveled; don’t worry, just dive in; don’t give up easily; be young; and most important of all, get lucky.”

Niblack graduated from OSU in 1960 and, after graduate studies, become a scientist and then vice chairman of Pfizer Inc., the international pharmaceutical giant. He retired in 2002 and founded the Niblack Research Scholarship in 2004.

The 2016-17 undergraduate Niblack Research Scholars include students in a wide variety of research fields who came to OSU from across the United States and even the world.

The scholars, hometowns and areas of research:

OKLAHOMA

Edmond

Alicia Aguilar, microbiology

Karley Washburn, nutritional sciences

Glencoe

Madison Krehbiel, nutritional sciences

Moore

Garret Boren, biochemistry

Okarche

Amanda Demackiewicz, biochemistry

Sperry

Kaitlyn Dudley, integrative biology

Stillwater

Charith DeSilva, physics

Indah Merkel, mechanical & aerospace engineering

Nicholas Nelsen, mechanical & aerospace engineering

Tulsa

William Starr, microbiology

ARKANSAS

Fort Smith

Field Watts, chemistry

CALIFORNIA

Placerville

Beata Mackenroth, microbiology

TEXAS

McKinney

Zachary Helms, physiological sciences

SOUTH KOREA

Woong Hee Cho, biochemistry

More information about the Niblack Research Scholars program is available at http://niblack.okstate.edu.