Lynn Burgess, PhD, DSU associate professor of biology, working with students Courtney Berry, a junior from Yakima, WA, and Godwin Konde, a sophomore from Accra, Ghana.

Courtney Berry, a junior biology major from Yakima, WA, believes the lab experience will help her plan for the future.

“I wanted to get some experience in research because I plan on going to medical school,” she says. “Maybe it will give me a heads-up on what I want to do when I get to medical school.”

The success of BRIN and INBRE helped DSU make the case for a new addition to Murphy Hall, its science building, notes Michael Hastings, PhD, chair of the Natural Sciences Department. Now, instead of operating out of a converted closet with barely enough room for four people, Burgess has a lab that easily accommodates 12 students.

“INBRE provided research equipment and the new building provides the facilities which enable us to apply for other research grants,” Hastings says. “INBRE and the new building helps with recruitment and retention of students, especially the better students interested in research.”

Seven years ago when DSU was approached about conducting research under the BRIN grant, Burgess remembers skepticism among the faculty. But times have changed, and the success of BRIN and INBRE has also changed the way faculty views research.

"INBRE and the new building helps with recruitment and retention of students"

“Now they’re trying get involved,” Burgess says. “We have people on campus and in our department who are trying to get into research themselves. We’re looking at ways to work together.”

In addition to DSU, INBRE-funded research involving undergraduates is conducted at Mayville State, Minot State, Turtle Mountain Community College and Valley City State. Other tribal college partners are Cankdeska Cikana Community College in Fort Totten, Fort Berthold Community College in New Town, Sitting Bull College in Fort Yates and United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck.