Summer Interns of 2025
This year we have welcomed eight interns for the 68th year of our intern history! Here, we provide biographical summaries of the interns – this is an impressive group and we hope to continue to have an outsized impact on the scientific future in Great Falls, Montana, and nationally!
Note that each year, the interns who are high school students receive a stipend of $3000 and those who are in college receive a summer stipend of $4000. We encourage you to support a stipend this summer ($3000 or $4000) or alternatively $1000 to support our internship director, Ms. Hope Gasvoda, an alumnus of the internship program in 2023, or any contribution to laboratory supplies for our program activities. This is a great investment in the future of science.
HIGH SCHOOL INTERNS
Elina Maganito is a high school student going into her senior year at Gallatin High School in Bozeman, MT. She wrote that she is extremely excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the WHIT/MRI summer internship program and looks forward to the opportunity to see her science AP courses in action in research applications. Elina has been active as a leader in the school, community and state including a member of committee of high school students, school counselors, administrators, community partners, and trustees who were tasked with working on the district’s strategic plan on Student Well-Being; she also served as the Montana Athlete Representative to the 2024 USA Swimming Western Zone Camp and has volunteered for the Special Olympics Montana – Swimming team and participated in the GFHS Orchestra. Elina has a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo.
Adriana Miser: Adriana wrote that she “craves to learn more about the world around me and how it operates. The WHIT/MRI internship would assist me in pursuing future internships and career opportunities along with deepening both my knowledge and interest in science fields.” Adriana grew up in Great Falls, MT, where she is attending Great Falls High School (GFHS). She has also worked as a Great Falls swim coach and instructor, as a lifeguard at the Meadowlark Country Club and volunteered for the Special Olympics and tutor for Sunnyside elementary students.
Alexis White: Alexis writes that she is an incoming senior at GFHS who enjoys a variety of sports, singing in choir, and playing with her two dogs. She indicated that she ultimately would love to be a geneticist or a teacher abroad when she is older. In addition to her high school studies, she was active in basketball, track, volleyball, and cross country, played cello in the GFHS orchestra and participated in the Leadership High Program to learn more about community projects including military, public service, agricultural, law enforcement, health care, and other specialties. She has been a volunteer at Toby’s House and worked as a babysitter and pet care assistant.
COLLEGE INTERNS
Ashley Rosario Ramos is a rising junior at the University of Providence; she attended Capital High School in Helena. Ashley writes that she is excited for the opportunity to be an intern at the research institute, and looks forward to all she will learn that will help her grow in her education and career aspirations! In addition to her studies at UP, Ashley has been active in the UP Faith Doing Justice program, student government, science club and thespian club where she also served on the State of Montana Thespian Board. She has worked chemistry tutor, housekeeper and substitute teacher.
Brooke Vermeulen is a rising senior at the University of Providence where she majors in Biology Health Professions and minors in Business Administration; she received an Associate of Arts degree from Great Falls College. She writes of a deep interest in genetics and neurology and that she has lived in Great Falls for 18 years would like to continue learning, living, and working in Great Falls. In addition to her studies, Brooke has volunteered for the Alliance for Youth, Toys for Tots and mentoring of high school business students.
Ellie McCluey is from Great Falls and is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University where she majors in Neuroscience with a minor in Business. At Vanderbilt, she conducts research on myelin integrity in multiple sclerosis; she is the first author of a manuscript submitted to the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology that is a culmination of her project investigating the effects of paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) on surrounding normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in treatment naïve patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). She has also presented on this work at national conferences. Prior to her enrollment at Vanderbilt, Ellie was a certified nurse assistant (CNA) at Benefis Health where she provided patient care in the surgical unit and assisted patients with activities of daily living. Ellie indicated that she is excited about the emphasis of WHIT/MRI on rural health and neurology. She hopes to build a career that combines research and clinical care.
Grace Pomajevich received her associate’s degree in science from Great Falls College last year and is currently working as a CNA at Benefis Hospital while attending the University of Providence fulltime. Grace attended high school at Helena High School and would like to pursue a career in rural healthcare and research. She writes that as a born and raised Montanan, she has seen how access to healthcare has not only affected her community, but also those she has personal relationships with. She is excited about the opportunity to be a part of the WHIT/MRI internship program as it will contribute to her future in the healthcare profession and rural research is personal.
Nyla O’Brien writes that she looks forward to the opportunity to join WHIT/MRI this summer and the exposure to contemporary research to expand her knowledge of biology and neurological research. Nyla is seeking her BA degree in biology from UP and has worked as an intern at MT Fish Wildlife and Parks and as a forklift operator at Enfield Farms. Prior to attending UP in Great Falls, she attended Bellingham High School, WA. She seeks to contribute at the intersection of human health and animal health as she combines research and health science.