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David E. Shaw, managing partner of Black Point Group and founder of Westbrook, Maine-based IDEXX, delivered the keynote address "Adventures in Entrepreneurship" at the University of New England's 2013 Summer Internship Capstone Symposium on Wednesday, July 31st at the Alfond Center for the Health Sciences Room 106 on É«ÏãÊÓƵ's Biddeford Campus.

The symposium was the capstone of the É«ÏãÊÓƵ Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences' innovative Summer Internship Program designed to introduce high school and college students to the principles of neuroscience and pharmacology, translational biomedical research, and entrepreneurship.

Six Maine high school and college students are serving as fellows in the Summer Internship Program, hailing from Biddeford, Winthrop, Cape Elizabeth, Kennebunk, and Farmingdale. A seventh is from New York.

Fellows learn first hand how discoveries in É«ÏãÊÓƵ research laboratories are being developed as potential treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Fellows also interact with leaders from the Maine business community to see how they are working with nonprofit research institutions to further develop products and grow their companies.

Internship fellows presented from 8 a.m. to noon on topics on summer research projects that range from “Mimicking an In Vivo Environment” to “A Better Solution to Pain Management in Lab Research Animals.” 

Keynote Speaker David E. Shaw

David E. Shaw, is managing partner of Black Point Group, with wide-ranging interests in technology companies and public service. His business experience includes founder and retired CEO of IDEXX Laboratories, an international diversified life sciences company based in Westbrook, Maine; founder, former CEO and executive chairman of Ikaria Holdings, a leading critical care company based in New Jersy; Sapphire Energy (director/investor); Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (director/investor); DirectVetMarketing (founding chair); Itaconix (director/investor); Physion (director/investor); Venrock Associates (partner) and several other firms.

Shaw has served on the faculty of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the advisory board of the Center for Public Leadership. He is Treasurer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) publisher of Science, founding chair of the Sargasso Sea Alliance (ocean conservation), and a director of the National Parks Foundation. Other affiliations have included Chair of The Jackson Laboratory, a board member of Maine Medical Center and Hurricane Island Outward Bound, a member of the Executive Committee of the US-Israel Science and Technology Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, ServiceNation, the selection committee for America’s Best Leaders (US News and World Report), YPO, CEO and others.

Sponsors

This symposium is sponsored by the É«ÏãÊÓƵ Center for Excellence in the Neurosciences, the É«ÏãÊÓƵ Office of Research and Scholarship, Clear H2O, the Michael T. Goulet Traumatic Brain Injury and Epilepsy Foundation, The Baker Company, The Dave and Melinda Anderson Foundation, The Emily Jane Etherton Charitable Trust, Ann and Ed Legg and the Bilsky family.

Summer Intern Fellows

Andrew Emery | Winthrop, Maine
University of New England  ’14, Medical Biology

Andy is a top 10 graduate of Winthrop High School and a dean’s list rising senior at the É«ÏãÊÓƵmajoring in Medical Biology with a minor in Business Administration. During his undergraduate career, he has served as President of the International Medical Missions Club at É«ÏãÊÓƵ leading a 20-person medical mission group to Ecuador and has also completed community service work in Guatemala and a Global Citizenship trip to Peru.  As current President of the Pre-Dental Club, Andy has coordinated community volunteer and dental shadowing experiences. He has also participated in an independent neurospinal research project.  Outside of the pedagogical setting, Andy is captain of the Men’s Varsity Golf Team at É«ÏãÊÓƵ, volunteers as an Emergency Medical Technician in Kennebunkport and has worked as a pharmacy technician at Rite Aid.  Upon graduation from É«ÏãÊÓƵ, he hopes to attend dental school and one day manage a practice.

Hilary Swift | Altamont, New York
California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo ’14, Kinesiology

Before moving out west for college, Hilary grew up and attended high school outside of Albany, NY. She’s always loved being active and outdoors doing things such as hiking, camping, skiing and kayaking. In college, Hilary has been involved in activities such as the college health assessment team, vice president of STRIDE - a club focused on promoting healthy lifestyles, tutoring other students in anatomy & physiology, researching at the NY state Dept. of Health, and playing intramural soccer and volleyball. After college Hilary plans on attending an osteopathic medical school and É«ÏãÊÓƵCOM is her #1 choice. She is undecided as of yet if she would specialize, but she is strongly considering primary care and neurology. If possible, she would very much like to integrate biomedical research into her life/career as a physician.

Kristin Kerney | Cape Elizabeth, Maine
University of Denver ‘14, Psychology

Kristin Kerney is an honors psychology major (biology minor) with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Denver. During her senior year, Kristin will be conducting research for her honors thesis project on alternative treatments for adolescent depression. She grew up in Maine and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2010. In high school Kristin focused on biology and math while participating in the National Honor Society, Varsity Nordic skiing, Varsity tennis and was captain of the Varsity soccer team. She is looking to explore future career options in both the areas of entrepreneurship and neuroscience research this summer at É«ÏãÊÓƵ.

Damian Melnicove | Farmingdale, Maine
Lewis & Clark College ‘14, Psychology

In 2010, Damian graduated from Hall-Dale High School, in Farmingdale, Maine, where he was fully involved in the school’s music program (concert and jazz bands) and was captain of the varsity basketball team. This fall he will be entering his senior year at Lewis & Clark College, in Portland, OR. He is a dean’s list student, majoring in psychology, with a neuroscience focus. He works as an ESL tutor and teacher’s assistant. In his college career he has been a residential assistant, volunteered for local trail maintenance and youth outreach programs, completed research in time estimation and perceived attractiveness, and assisted in thesis research projects on cognitive inhibition. An avid outdoorsman, he has hiked the Appalachian Trail from Pennsylvania to Maine and been on the staff of the Chewonki Foundation as a counselor and art teacher. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Damian plans to attend graduate school to pursue cognitive psychology or behavioral neuroscience.

Ryan Keefe | Kennebunk, Maine
Kennebunk High School ‘14

With a strong academic record, Ryan is a member of National Honors Society and a recipient of the school’s Harvard Book Award, Phi Beta Kappa Assoc. of Maine award, and the Maine State Hockey Coaches Award All-Academic Team. Aside from his rigorous academic schedule of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, Ryan also volunteers as a laboratory aide for chemistry class and complements his studies with three varsity sports: hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. His other extra-curricular activities include the Model United Nations Club, Model State Club, and Mock Trial Team. Ryan plans on majoring in biochemistry or chemistry in college and has his sights set on a future career in medicine.

Trevor Ewald | Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Cape Elizabeth High School ‘14

Trevor Ewald of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, is currently completing his junior year at Cape Elizabeth High School.  Trevor has been actively engaged throughout his high school career, running on the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track varsity teams, as well as being involved in many extracurricular clubs and organizations, such as the science team, jazz ensemble, and jazz combo.  He is also an in-class teaching assistant for advanced algebra, as well as a member of the National Honor Society, CEHS Maroon Medal Society, and the CEHS Freshlinks program, which connects freshmen with junior and senior mentors.  Outside of school, Trevor keeps himself busy with hobbies like reading, playing instruments, and guitar building, in addition to being a jazz guitarist for hire.  After high school, Trevor hopes to pursue a career in biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or genetics.

Victoria Eon | Biddeford, Maine
McGill University ’16, Physiology

As a captain of the varsity girls’ ice hockey team, and 4th in her graduating class of 2012, Victoria demonstrated strong leadership and insatiable academic drive. She fueled passions for both art and biology by participating in Regional Fine Arts for writing and studying biomedical sciences through the Medical Explorers Program at Maine Medical Center.  Victoria was featured in a comprehensive case study compiled by the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), a daughter organization of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, for invigorating youth in Biddeford by nurturing connections between the community and Biddeford’s historic textile mills (Pepperell Manufacturing Co.). She has served as an inaugural member of the Biddeford Mills Museum Board of Directors since January 2012. As a freshman at McGill University, Victoria, born of Franco-American and heritage, is a candidate for the B.Sc. in Physiology Program with a minor in World Religions. Upon completion of her Bachelors degree, Victoria plans to attend medical school where she’ll explore her interests in surgery and its applications in the development of surgical biotechnology.