The Niblack Research Scholars program at Oklahoma State University has opened the doors of cutting-edge research for undergraduates for more than a decade. This year, four CASNR undergraduates are receiving $8,000 scholarships and the opportunity to conduct supervised research for the 2015-16 academic year. The annual program is funded by OSU alumnus John Niblack, who wants to jumpstart the careers of future scientists through the experience of conducting research.

“It’s fun to see kids learn during hands-on research just how difficult it is to the produce the smallest granule of data that’s of any use. It’s a big experience for them,” said Niblack, who said he had a similar experience as an OSU undergraduate that changed the course of his career. “Undergraduate research convinced me that I wanted to become a professional scientist because it was such a thrill to perform new experiments that no one else had ever done before.”

Niblack went on to become a scientist and then vice chairman of Pfizer Inc., the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company. Niblack served as the keynote speaker and was recognized with an honorary doctorate at OSU’s undergraduate fall commencement ceremony.

Congratulations to the following CASNR students:

OKLAHOMA
Tulsa
Joseph Crook, biosystems and agricultural engineering
Alexis Gullic, animal science

CONNECTICUT
Oxford
David Bradt, entomology

MAINE
Corinna
Hannah Paradis, animal science

Videos about the students and more information is available at: http://niblack.okstate.edu

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all.  As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research, and outreach. As America’s Healthiest Campus, OSU is committed to the health and well-being of its students, employees and the community. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated around 255,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world