Jenna Bohler
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences, Psychology, Spanish
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Paula McSteen, Biological Sciences
What would you identify as your best moment, so far, as an undergraduate researcher?
“My best moment as an undergraduate researcher was getting to present a poster at the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Midwest Meeting this past March. It was really enriching to meet other scientists there and I felt so proud of the research that I’ve done throughout the school year.”
Will Costigan
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Scott Peck, Biochemistry
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
“I wanted to become an ambassador to help recruit new people into the MU research community. I have found that becoming involved in research at Mizzou has greatly shaped the course of my academic career thus far, and I would like to extend that opportunity to others as well.”
Alex Vanover
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Henry Nguyen, Plant Sciences
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
“I always knew that research was going to be important to me. Getting hands-on experience in a real laboratory is completely different from what you learn in classroom labs, and getting that experience as an undergraduate would help me get a head start on becoming a great scientist. I became ambassador because I love working in research and want to encourage anybody who thinks scientific and experimentally give research a try.”
Ashwin Garlapaty
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Aaron Stoker, Orthopaedic Surgery
Why is undergraduate research important?
“Undergraduate Research allows students to go beyond the classroom. Students are not learning from textbooks but learning from new discoveries they’ve made in their own research.”
Delanie Vinzant
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences, Economics
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Pam Brown, Biological Sciences
What piece of advice would you give to any student interested in pursuing undergraduate research?
“I would advise any student interested in research to look into the work of several labs that seem interesting and then speak to more than one PI before selecting a lab. Choosing the right lab for you is important!”
Maddy Creach
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Walter Gassmann, Plant Sciences
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
“I wanted to become an undergraduate research ambassador at Mizzou to show my peers the value that working in a lab and doing research has brought me. Not only has being in a lab provided real world experience for my studies but it has given me the confidence to present my research to experts at Mizzou. I know that being in a lab as an undergraduate is not always the most positive experience at first but with time and dedication I have found a support system within my work that has been vital to my undergraduate career.”
Meghan Lawlor
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Pete Sutovsky, Animal Sciences
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
“I wanted to become an ambassador to inform, encourage, and serve as an approachable resource for undergraduates of all majors who are interested in conducting research. I wish for all undergraduates to know how research provides countless opportunities to discover and explore the field you are passionate about while learning lots and making connections along the way.”
Mollie Harrison
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Chemical Engineering
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Bret Ulery, Biomedical, Biological, and Chemical Engineering
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
“When I first came to Mizzou, I knew nothing about undergraduate research. I didn’t know that tons of undergraduates across all disciplines are involved in research, or that those students were getting to make real scientific discoveries and not simply perform grunt work for graduate students. I was lucky to get involved with undergraduate research through Discovery Fellows early in my college career, and this involvement has completely changed my projected career path. Once a Pre-Med student, I now plan to earn my Ph.D. after I complete undergrad in order to pursue a career in research. I found my passion through undergraduate research, and I want to help other students at Mizzou do the same by being an Undergraduate Research Ambassador.”
Rebecca Shyu
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Computer Science
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Iris Zachary, Health Management & Informatics
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
“I applied to be an Undergraduate Research Ambassador because I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved with incredible projects and mentors during my time here at Mizzou. Doing research can open up doors to many other opportunities for graduate school or internships/jobs, and I think that everyone should have the chance to do so!”