2025 IDBI-SPUR

The Saint Louis University (SLU) Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation (SLU-IDBI) Summer Program in Undergraduate Research (IDBI-SPUR) was run in two formats in 2025 for undergraduate SLU students: 

1) full-time ($6,000 stipend: $15/hour, 40 hours per week, 10 weeks) 

2) part-time ($3,000 stipend: $15/hour, 20 hours per week, 10 weeks)

We had 31 applications for the full-time IDBI-SPUR Fellowship and 62 applications for the part-time IDBI-SPUR Fellowship. We were able to fund 2 full-time IDBI-SPUR Fellows and 8 part-time fellows thanks to the generous scholarship funding from the Glenn W. Bailey STEM Scholars Program (IDBI-SPUR STEM Scholar). This was an 6.5% acceptance rate for the full-time fellowships and a 12.9% acceptance rate for the part-time fellowships. 

Out of the total 68 applicants for the IDBI-SPUR (many applicants applied for both part-time and full-time), we were able to place 39 IDBI-SPUR fellows in IDBI faculty mentor labs. This was a 57.3% acceptance rate.

Below is a table highlighting the IDBI-SPUR participants for 2025. Please send edits/corrections to blythe.janowiakmulligan@slu.edu.

Below is a photo of the director of IDBI-SPUR and 7 of the 10 IDBI-SPUR STEM Scholars. From left to right: Benjamin Wiseman, Eric Piening, Yaniya Battle, Yash Tadikonda, Blythe Janowiak, Brady Huggins, Elora Koski, and Paul Sanchez. Not shown: Brian Kelly, Nithin Suresh, and Mohib Kazmi

IDBI-SPUR Fellows participated in three cohort events in 2025:

1. Beginning of IDBI-SPUR cohort event 1 (May 27, 2025): safety training, guidance on importance of record keeping, and a social gathering (ice cream social).

2. Midpoint of IDBI-SPUR cohort event 2 (June 30, 2025): group picnic lunch, games & networking, and a field trip to three drug discovery labs, highlighting some of the research projects being aided by core facilities at SLU.

3. End of IDBI-SPUR cohort event 3 (August 1, 2025): Research Blitz Seminar where each IDBI-SPUR fellow creatively shared research in 3 minutes or less and we celebrated the successes of the program. 

Below are some photos from the 2nd cohort event:

At the third cohort event, fun was had by all as we learned about everyone else's research and celebrated our accomplishments. Below are some photos of the 3rd cohort event! 

Nithin's presenation also had a game - Each of us was assigned a protein (a specific antigen, a specific primary antibody, or a specific secondary antibody) we had to go around and find our "binding partners"! The winners got candy! Below are some action shots of the game.

Last, but not least, Meghana's presentation included her skill of being a nail artist! Seriously, this was amazing skill. Below are some examples of the protein structures that she painted on her nails!! Wow!

All IDBI-SPUR fellows were invited to present their work at the Annual IDBI Research Symposium on Friday, September 19th. 8 of the 10 IDBI-SPUR STEM Scholar Fellows and many other IDBI-SPUR Fellows had their research on display as poster presentations at the event, while one IDBI-SPUR STEM Scholar Fellow, Elora Koski, presented her work as one of the 5 oral presentations. Below are some photos from the symposium.