Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences' summer internship capstone program featured in Press Herald and Journal Tribune

The Portland Press Herald and the Journal Tribune (Biddeford) published stories Aug. 11, 2011 on the UNE Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences' summer internship capstone program. The program was the culmination of an 11-week internship introducing seven Maine students to the connection between medicine, research and entrepreneurship.

The program was developed under the leadership of Edward Bilsky, Ph.D., director of the center and professor of pharmacology in UNECOM. Interns attended lectures on research, were mentored by UNE student interns in the labs, and got experience at local businesses and labs.

"You can have the greatest discovery in the world, but if it doesn't translate back up into something ... it's a disservice to that technology," Bilsky said. The program culminated Aug. 10th with students' presentations of what they have learned.

"The business aspect was the most unique part for me," Danielle Rafferty said in the Press Herald story. "I really had no idea biotech research was being done here (in Maine)." Rafferty, a 2010 graduate of Kennebunk High School, is studying bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania.

Interns Allison Saunders of Saco, Evan Shuris of Kennebunk and Hannah Clarke of Falmouth were quoted in the Journal Tribune story.

Biddeford City Manager John Bubier told the Journal Tribune that "Traditional manufacturing jobs are going by the wayside in Maine, especially in southern Maine. Working with UNE to create a technically trained workforce and incubating small businesses is a way to grow the economy for the region and Biddeford in particular."

The keynote speaker for the capstone program was Dr. Lee Thibodeau, a neurosurgeon in Portland, who co-founded Maine Distilleries LLC, known for its potato-made Cold River Vodka.

He encouraged students to be innovative, continue research and consider entrepreneurial business opportunities. "This state has a big future, and bringing technology into this state is the way to do it."

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.