By its very nature, The Hormel Institute is defined by the future: always working forward in the continuing search for a cure to cancer.

So it makes sense that the Institute, known around the world for drawing some of the top scientists in the field, would also work steadily toward finding the next group of researchers that will be on the front lines of cutting-edge research.

That’s where the SURE (Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) Internship Program comes into play.

Established in 1988, the program takes in 10 paid interns each summer for 10 weeks between June and mid-August and sets them to work learning about the field and working alongside the scientists in the lab.

It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that many students don’t get until they are working through either masters or graduate studies.

“There here as other juniors and seniors that are undergraduates are entering classes in the fall, beginning to work with technology that our interns have already had a summer to experience,” said Gail Dennison, director of development and public relations at The Hormel Institute. “It’s a close up look at what it would be like to be a researcher.”

On Thursday, this latest group of interns, which included Mary Willrodt, Tressie Kinney, Mike Peterson, Emma Rector, Katie Waller, Caoimhe Farrell, Trinity Gray, Caitlin Lura, Kelly Van Hooser and Abigail Schammel, wrapped up their time at the Institute.

Each gave a five-minute presentation about where they worked and what they learned. Each intern talked about the experience they had and how it put them one more step ahead of the rest on their educational path.

Willrodt is a 2017 Austin High School graduate and is currently attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota, majoring in biology pre-med.

Before the presentations Willrodt and Gray, who is a 2018 graduate from AHS and is currently a biology major at Hamline University in St. Paul, talked about the benefits they received from taking part in the program.

“It really went along with my major, especially the medical research,” Willrodt said.

“Being around the scientists, you learned something new every day,” Gray added.

Both Willrodt and Gray started applying for the competitive program in November and December of 2018. With both being from Austin, it was a perfect opportunity to enhance their studies.

“I would definitely say the experience made me more capable to utilize the technology and take the time to use it,” Gray said.

Offering research experience to college students at the Institute isn’t a new idea. The Hormel Institute has been offering opportunities since the mid-1940s, according to a document written by former Executive Director Dr. Harald Schmid.

Schmid wrote that at that time, several graduate students were helping with research at the Institute, including an Orville S. Privett, who later stayed on to become a faculty member.

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Where they worked

1. Dr. Ilana Chefetz – Cancer Stem Cells and Necroptosis
2. Dr. Zigang Dong – Cellular and Molecular Biology
3. Dr. Liang Liu – Chromatin and Epigenetic Gene Regulation
4. Dr. Rendong Yang – Computational Cancer Genomics
5. Dr. Shujun Liu – Cancer Epigenetics and Experimental Therapeutics
6. Dr. James Robinson – Cell Signaling and Tumorigenesis
7. Dr. Sergio Gradilone – Cancer Cell Biology and Translational Research
8. Dr. Rebecca Morris – Stem Cells and Cancer
9. Dr. George Aslanidi – Molecular Bioengineering and Cancer Vaccine
10. Dr. Bin Liu – Transcription and Gene Regulation

To support The Hormel Institute’s SURE Internship program, please contact The Hormel Institute at 507-437-9601 or donate online at hi.umn.edu “donate now.”

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Records indicate that in 1994, Privett’s wife Arlene established the Privett Memorial Fund to support college students’ research at the Institute.

As each intern worked through their time at the Institute, they saw firsthand the work needed to be in this field.

“The SURE internship at The Hormel Institute offers college students opportunities to gain hands-on laboratory experience in fields of cancer research and therapy, and learn about different equipment and techniques that generally are not available in undergraduate academic programs,” said Dr. Shuiun Liu, who leads the Cancer Epigenetics and Experimental Therapeutics lab at The Hormel Institute. “The invaluable experiences, knowledge and skills gained from these daily experiments will promote students’ achievement and competitiveness, and strengthen their goals to be world leaders in medical research.”

It opened a window into the world of research they may not have gotten otherwise until much later into their studies. At the same time, it fortified their desire to be a part of research.

During his presentation, Mike Peterson explained that everything he experienced fit with why he got into science in the first place.

“I want to be able to make a difference,” he told the gathering of scientists and family members in the Gary Ray Live Learning Center.

But as the interns learned during their time, the science behind cancer research is more than just the raw science. It’s everything outside of it. It’s grants, publishing, collaborating and going to seminars.

Even in that way, the experience was eye-opening.

“I didn’t realize how hard it was to get grants,” Waller admitted during her presentation.

The SURE Internship program has grown into a valuable educational resource over the years. It’s an example of the beneficial reach of The Hormel Institute that not only reaches out with another facet of education, but that also serves to enhance the general interest in science.

“Providing the SURE internship to college students aligns with the values and the mission of The Hormel Institute University of Minnesota to conduct research and provide education,” said Dr. Ann Bode, acting Executive Director. “We strive to advance their education and excitement about careers in science, research, medicine and more and we are thankful for the support given for this program.”

When Thursday’s presentations were all finished, Dennison stood in front of the interns and told them what many of the scientists gathered were probably already thinking.

“You have all convinced us that your future is as bright as the sun.”