National Institutes of Health

Last February, Xiomara Mercado, a Biomedical Sciences Program student, got to see first hand how world-renowned researchers are solving today’s global health problems. Mercado was chosen as 1 of only 21 students to participate in a highly competitive program offered by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Mercado took part in the 2008 Intramural NIAID Research Opportunities (INRO) exploratory program, held at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland.

INRO is geared toward college and graduate students with strong academic standing who are from underrepresented populations in biomedical research. The program seeks, identifies, and mentors students interested in careers in allergy, immunology, and infectious diseases. NIAID pays for all participant expenses, including travel and hotel accommodations.

During the 4-day program, participants learn about current NIAID research and career development opportunities, from summer internships to research traineeships. They also attend scientific lectures by prominent scientists, tour NIAID laboratories, view state-of-the-science technologies, and interview with scientists for potential research training positions.

Through her academic excellence and drive, Mercado was given the chance to pursue her goals. If you have a passion to help improve global health in the 21st century, NIAID seeks to train you. University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus students who belong to a population underrepresented in biomedical sciences and who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to apply for INRO 2009. Applications are open from August 15–October 15, 2008. To learn more about INRO or to submit an application, visit the Web site at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/labs/training/inro/.