Class of 2026

Cyrus Anderson

Hometown: San Diego, CA
University: Carleton College
Major: Biology
HI Lab Placement: Ewa Bielczyk-Maczynska Lab
Research Area: Metabolics

From a young age I’ve possessed a fascination with the world around me and an unreasonably persistent curiosity to understand exactly how everything works. As I’ve grown up, this interest has evolved into a passion for life sciences. Through the study of science, I have deepened my understanding of the molecular processes that make up the functioning world by engaging with these processes firsthand.

I want to pursue a career either in biological research or medicine. The InSPIRE program’s focus on innovative cancer research aligns with my interests while providing exposure to biological research I am unfamiliar with. I also was drawn to the opportunity to collect my own data, analyze it, and present my findings. This experience would develop oral presentation skills that would be valuable for a future in research while also allowing me to explore my ideas more freely, helping me build confidence in my ability to manage my own research and results. 

By participating in the InSPIRE program, I will gain valuable research experience and more insight into working in a lab setting while developing valuable critical thinking skills and independent research and technical skills needed to succeed in the field. I hope to use the skills I develop from my InSPIRE experience throughout my career.

Lucas Bell

Hometown: Lima, Ohio
University: Ohio Northern University
Major: Biology pre-med
HI Lab Placement: Babicheva Lab
Research Area: Pulmonary Hypertension in Hypoxic Conditions

I’ve always enjoyed it more than any other subject, especially in human biology.

I intend on becoming a cardiologist one day, and this experience will allow me to have a greater understanding of the type of research that goes into learning more about cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions.

I’m looking forward to gaining research experience that will allow me to have a better understanding of the systems within our bodies and how we learn more about conditions that affect us. I’m also hoping to be a more rounded physician in the future, as I’ll have a better grasp on the research world, instead of just knowing about the clinical one.

Kezia Lemke

Hometown: Houston, MN
University: Winona State University
Major: Biochemistry
HI Lab Placement: Tan Lab
Research Area: Lung Fibrosis

After I took chemistry in college as a PSEO student, I knew I wanted to have a career in science. Chemistry was just so interesting to me, and it made me realize that understanding how people and the world function can be explained by understanding how they work at the microscopic and molecular level. I also wanted to use science to be able to help people with their health. This was especially important to me after experiences in my own family with my sister being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 9 and my grandpa suffering through a ruptured aortic aneurysm and a stroke. 

I was aware of the biomedical research that The Hormel Institute was conducting, and because this is the type of research I want to do in my future career, I was eager to get experience with it now through this internship. In addition, my friend, Celeste Remolina, was also an intern here last summer, and she gave me a tour of the Institute. I thought the labs and the facilities were so cool, and it had been my goal ever since then to be able to participate in one of the summer internship programs at The Hormel Institute.

I’m hoping to learn how to do experiments that are often used in biomedical research, as well as to learn to do them independently. I am also excited to learn about how to structure experiments and to plan them myself, as well as to learn what experiments need to be done to investigate a question I’m interested in. 

George Moussa

Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
University: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Major: Business Administration, Biochemistry
HI Lab Placement: Hoeppner Lab
Research Area: Vascular Permeability

Ultimately, my passion for research stems from a desire to improve outcomes for those who are ill. All the therapies I enjoy as a patient, from topical antibiotics to my life-saving insulin, originated in a research lab. This has motivated me to take part in the research process and contribute to developments that can change lives down the road.

As though The Hormel Institute being a world-renowned name in the biomedical research field wasn’t enough, I certainly couldn’t turn down an opportunity to participate in a program supported by the American Heart Association!

In addition to familiarizing myself with new research techniques and forming relationships with the exceptional researchers at the Institute, I hope to gain exposure to the experimental design process and learn how to independently create and test a well-supported hypothesis.