Mayo Clinic undergraduate research experiences spark new possibilities for health innovation

On September 5, the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance hosted a poster session and celebration for Illinois students participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) and Health Equity Research Experience (HERE) at Mayo Clinic. Attendees were invited to celebrate the students and learn about their research projects and experiences over the summer. View the poster session photos.

LeaAnn Carson, clinical partnerships manager for the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, coordinates the foundational educational programs for the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance.

“Most people recognize Mayo Clinic as one of the top healthcare institutions in the world, but many don’t realize the depth and breadth of research happening there,” Carson said. “The environment at Mayo Clinic is truly unique and offers research and career exploration experiences that students won’t find on the Illinois campus. It’s amazing to see what the students can accomplish in 10 weeks!”

Each year, Mayo Clinic invites approximately 180 undergraduate students across the nation to participate in their Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program and work at the forefront of biomedical research in one of the world’s leading medical centers. This year, nine outstanding Illinois undergrads were selected to participate in the SURF program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Over the past 15 years, 127 Illinois undergraduate students have participated in this unique summer research opportunity.

In 2023, Mayo Clinic and Illinois worked to develop the Health Equity Research Experience (HERE), a program that provides undergraduates who are interested in health equity the opportunity to gain research skills and learn from clinicians and scientists at a highly respected healthcare institution. This year, two Illinois undergraduates were selected to conduct health equity research at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida for 10 weeks over the summer.

Both program cohorts worked in the laboratories of Mayo Clinic faculty on small research projects or as part of ongoing investigations, attended weekly seminars, and tested their inclinations toward a career in biomedical research. The students learned to appreciate the value of mentorship, gained real-world research insight working with top-notch scientists in modern facilities, and connected with peers from across the country.

Alexander Chang, an Illinois student majoring in bioengineering and participant in the 2024 SURF program, plans to focus on finding new treatments for neuromuscular conditions like Parkinson's disease and dystonia. At Mayo Clinic, Chang worked with Dr. Ahad M. Siddiqui, whose research focuses on ways of regulating the immune system to help promote regeneration of the nervous system.

“The SURF program reinforced my goal of pursuing an MD-PhD, as I got to see both the clinical and research aspects this summer at Mayo Clinic,” Chang said. “I was interested in viewing procedures related to my research project on spinal cord injury and I shadowed a few spine surgeries at Mayo Clinic. I'll always remember how everyone took care to keep me informed and engaged during the procedure.”

The summer experience at Mayo Clinic allowed the students to explore a variety of career paths in both research and medicine, gain experience in experimental design, science communication, and laboratory techniques, and evaluate next steps in their academic careers.

Anjali Yedavalli, an Illinois student in the Integrative Biology Honors program and participant in the 2024 HERE program, plans to pursue a career as an epidemiologist or public health practitioner to research health disparities. Her fascination with the field of public health was guided entirely by the potential to promote health equity. At Mayo Clinic, Yedavalli worked with Dr. Dawn Mussallem in the Lydra P. Daniel Center for Humanities in Medicine.

“Working in the Humanities in Medicine side of research at Mayo Clinic this summer was not something I expected to do, but I was pleasantly surprised,” Yedavalli said. “I made lasting connections with professionals in biomedical ethics and health equity and was exposed to a huge range of people in my work. I learned many tangible research skills I will carry with me in future endeavors.”

Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Kim Marie Barbel Johnson, DO, MPA, is a distinguished Family Physician and clinical researcher whose expertise spans family medicine, clinical research, cancer screening and early interception, health equity, and public health. Barbel Johnson mentored the HERE students over the summer.

“The Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance exemplifies the power of institutional collaboration in creating transformative educational experiences. We're not just shaping future professionals; we're fostering long-term relationships with individuals passionate about advancing health equity,” Barbel Johnson said. “It's inspiring to see how the HERE program seamlessly blends rigorous academic training with real-world exposure, truly preparing students to make meaningful contributions in the realm of health equity.”

IHSI Director Stephen Boppart believes unique experiences like the SURF and HERE programs to be defining moments in one’s career and life because they challenge one to consider problems that impact people’s lives, driving them to develop ideas and solutions that make a difference.

In welcoming remarks at the poster session and celebration, Boppart thanked Carson and all IHSI, Illinois, and Mayo Clinic staff and faculty mentors for making the SURF and HERE programs possible. Boppart congratulated the students for defining, building, and completing successful research projects and experiences over the summer, thanking them for being the catalyst to spark not only their future careers and goals, but also something for the greater good.

“While your SURF and HERE experiences were for you as students, you also served critical roles as bridge builders between Illinois and Mayo Clinic faculty. You helped create interdisciplinary and inter-institutional networks and nucleate research connections and collaborations that will continue to develop and evolve over time, leading to impactful discoveries, solutions, and endpoints,” Boppart said. “I predict that in decades to come, you’ll reflect on how these experiences shaped your way of thinking, and your perspective on the world. More importantly, however, is the bigger picture of what you have done. The big discoveries and advances, I’m convinced, will come from interdisciplinary solutions to the grandest health challenges we all face.”

Illinois Professor of biotechnology and developmental biology Matthew B. Wheeler mentors Jackson (Jack) Carlton, an Illinois student majoring in animal sciences and participant in the 2024 SURF program, who works in his lab. Wheeler attended the poster session and was impressed with the students’ research achievements after just ten weeks at Mayo Clinic.

“Jack Carlton has worked in my lab for the past two years on a project examining the role of specific minerals on bone differentiation. This Mayo Clinic experience has broadened his interest and excitement about research,” Wheeler said. “He returned to the lab invigorated with many new scientific techniques and ideas about where his Illinois project could go. The SURF experience at Mayo Clinic has transformed Jack and will benefit him now and in his future as a physician.”

In a video capturing participants’ reflections of the summer, the SURF and HERE cohorts shared why they applied to their respective programs, the impact of the experience on their academic and career goals, memorable experiences both inside and outside their work at Mayo Clinic, and advice for future program participants.

Illinois undergraduates interested in the 2025 SURF program we invited to an information session on Oct. 10. The recording will be sent to the info session registrants and posted to the website once available. Students may apply for Illinois preselection by Nov. 4. Information about the next HERE application period is coming soon. Selected applicants are awarded $6,000 to cover living expenses during both programs. For more information, visit the Mayo Clinic & Illinois Alliance website and contact LeaAnn Carson with questions.