Illustration of educational lab environment with drawings on chalkboard and colorful liquids in test tubes and microscope.

UC Honors students gain hands-on research experience

Biomedical Research and Mentoring Program connects faculty members, undergraduates

By Megan Burgasser Email Megan

7 minute read April 1, 2025

It’s only his second semester at the University of Cincinnati, but one undergraduate student is already gaining hands-on research experience.

Rush Mathai, after only about six months on campus, is working in a lab focusing on aerosols: How to generate them, monitor concentrations and collect them with different air samplers. Mathai is now handling lab instruments like a pro and even helping design experiments.

“I’ve learned a lot by doing,” he said.

Mathai has found himself immersed in Sripriya Nannu Shankar’s environmental and industrial hygiene lab, as a result of his participation in UC’s Biomedical Research and Mentoring Program (RaMP). The spring semester experience for University Honors Program students provides real-world training in biomedical research.

Sripriya Nannu Shankar with UC lab coat DEPHS

Sripriya Nannu Shankar, PhD

RaMP also promotes a strong student-faculty mentor relationship.

“I have become invested in how the students working with me are advancing in the lab, as well as outside of it. I want them to succeed,” said Nannu Shankar, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences in the College of Medicine.

Nannu Shankar handpicked her current students. She said she was so impressed by the applicants that she selected three students instead of one.

“They are enthusiastic and have a contagious energy. It’s been exciting to watch them,” said Nannu Shankar.

Gaining research experience

Portrait of first-year student medical sciences Rush Mathai

Rush Mathai, first-year medical sciences student

Mathai is a medical sciences student in UC’s Connections Dual Admissions Program, a BS/MD pathway that allows high school seniors to apply and be accepted to a UC undergraduate college and UC’s College of Medicine simultaneously. Mathai plans to attend medical school.

Most RaMP participants are medical sciences or biological sciences majors with STEM-based career aspirations. Faculty mentors typically come from UC’s College of Medicine or Cincinnati Children’s Hospital — but can be from any campus labs.

Mathai, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, had no prior research experience before this semester. He now spends three days a week in an on-campus lab complex.

Nannu Shankar said she has watched him adapt and absorb information quickly.

“He’s a great learner. I’ve looked forward to his intriguing questions. It brings back memories of my undergrad years,” she said.

But the learning has not been limited to the students. Nannu Shankar said working as a team has been beneficial for everyone.

“I have learned with them and from them, too,” Nannu Shankar said. “It’s been so much fun.”

She and Mathai plan to continue conducting research together through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program.

RaMP and co-op

Sarah Nazzal, second-year chemical engineering student

The RaMP projects are generally in wet bench labs, which refers to a more traditional setting with equipment and chemical or biological samples — but not always.

Sarah Nazzal, a second-year chemical engineering student, is on co-op this semester at SABIC, a plastics manufacturing company in Mount Vernon, Indiana.

Because of that, she could not commit to in-person research hours in Nannu Shankar’s lab. So instead, she is working remotely to collect and input data on the toxicity of aerosols.

Nazzal and Nannu Shankar have made their long-distance collaboration work through virtual meetings and emails.

“Dr. Nannu Shankar is very supportive and open to helping me from wherever she is and I am,” she said.

Nazzal, from Mason, Ohio, hopes to eventually publish a paper on her research.

Mentorship matters

Portrait of medical student Annie Emmert

Annie Emmert, second-year medical student

For Annie Emmert, now a second-year medical student, her RaMP undergraduate experience stirred her biomedical research interests enough that she worked in the same lab doing research during the year between graduation and beginning medical school.

But it was the mentorship she received that made all the difference as Emmert transitioned from nursing to a pre-med track. She was the first RaMP student to work with Qingnian Goh, PhD, in the Cornwall/Goh lab at Children's Hospital, where he and his partner, Roger Cornwall, MD, investigate drug therapies to prevent muscle contractures.

Qingnian Goh, PhD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital researcher

“Having a mentor was almost more beneficial than the research and science aspect,” said Emmert, who is from Cincinnati.

Victoria Cullen, assistant director of the University Honors Program and coordinator of the RaMP program, said that’s a key aspect of the program.

“We emphasize the importance of the relationship between student and mentor,” she said.

Goh also recognized the significance of his time with Emmert.

“Annie is a success story,” said Goh. “She changed majors, showing it’s never too late to pursue your passions. Now she’s at the medical school of her choice.”

“We want to create a conducive learning environment and take a holistic approach to students’ growth and help them to continue to develop professionally,” he said.

Professional development

This semester, 31 undergraduate students are taking part in 27 RaMP projects.

Cullen said students typically spend eight to 12 hours a week in their labs. While they do not receive pay or academic credit, it does count as an honors experience — one of five required for graduation. Students also gain experience in a research environment. Last year, 40% of RaMP participants went on to other research experiences, Cullen said. One of the cornerstones of the University Honors Program includes interdisciplinary experience and reflection.

“They are in a structured environment that fosters both personal and technical skill development,” said Cullen.

RaMP also requires students to take part in three professional development sessions, covering topics such as ethics in research and case studies of effective communication between mentors and students.

VIctoria Cullen, assistant director of the University Honors Program and coordinator of the RaMP program

“One of our goals is to help students learn to tell the story of their research experience,” said Cullen.

Cullen emphasized that RaMP is open to any University Honors Program student. This year, for example, a business student is participating.

“The program is for anyone excited and interested in biomedical research,” said Cullen. “These are tangible, transferable skills.”

RaMP recruitment begins in late summer or early fall when faculty mentors pitch their research projects. Interested students apply directly to up to five mentors in October, followed by interviews and a matching process. Matches are finalized in late fall, and students begin their work in January for the spring semester.

For more information: Victoria Cullen

Assistant director & adviser, University Honors Program

www.uc.edu/campus-life/honors

cullenvm@ucmail.uc.edu

Featured image at top: iStock/DragonImages. All other photos provided.