Alex Vanover
Year in School
Senior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Barry Edwards, Biochemistry
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.”
Bethany Moore
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Public Administration and Policy
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Jennifer Bohanek
Why did you want to become an Ambassador?
Participating in research was the best experience of my Freshman year. I was able to develop skills in communication, leadership, and collaboration; meanwhile, I made lasting academic connections and gained personalized mentorship. I wanted to become an ambassador to encourage other undergraduates to pursue research opportunities. Coming to college, I thought “research” was solely defined by lab experimentation with test tubes and microscopes; I quickly learned that there is a vast space and great need for research in all areas of study. As an ambassador, I hope to demonstrate that people of all majors and all interests – whether STEM, humanities, or anything in between – have a place in undergraduate research.
Devanshi Patel
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Health Science
Faculty Mentor(s)
Gary Baker
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
The desire to make it easier for freshman to get into research is how I reached out and became an ambassador.
Kristen Barwick
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Antje Heese
Why is undergraduate research at Mizzou important?
There are a lot of unanswered questions we have about biological systems and in biological research that need to be answered. I want to help to understand our growing population, and understand how to improve biochemical processes we already have.
Lauren Tigner
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Speech, Lang, & Hear Sci-BHS
Faculty Mentor(s)
Stacy Wagovich
Why did you want to become an ambassador?
I became a research ambassador because I have had a great experience in undergraduate research. It has shown me the real application of what I am learning in class and I want to share my experiences and story with others!
Leah Lepore
Year in School
Junior
Major Degree Program / Department
Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Chris Lorson
Why did you want to become an Ambassador?
The task of finding your niche of research can be a rewarding feat, but also serve as a daunting task. Being a point of contact as someone who has gone through the experience, I hoped to do something to make it more navigable for students who want to learn more about the realm of possibilities in research. By becoming an ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research, I can do just that.
Micah Turrell
Year in School
Graduate
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Manuel Leal
Can you name a time that stands out as a great experience during your time as an undergraduate researcher?
My best moment so far would be the time that I presented the results of my research project (that I completed as part of LSUROP) at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. I really enjoyed the opportunity to share my research and exchange ideas with scientists in my field.
Vishvi Aurora
Year in School
Sophomore
Major Degree Program / Department
Biological Sciences
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Gavin King
What made you want to get involved in research?
I was very curious about it, I knew what I wanted to do in research, but wasn’t sure about where do I start. I ended up attending a workshop with Dr. Linda Blockus with the UGR Office, and she guided me to look at faculty and research areas. It’s helped me expand content knowledge as well as to form those basic skills you need to advance in research. It teaches you things not taught in the classroom.