Meet the 2023 Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars
The Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars Program pairs promising undergraduates with research mentors — graduate students, postdocs, and faculty members — immersing them in a 12-month, comprehensive research experience in Knight Campus-affiliated labs.
These young scientists are taking on independent research projects in a diverse set of fields and connecting with mentors throughout the Knight Campus and across the UO. Read more below about this year's cohort of next generation leading researchers.
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Apply today to become a scholar or to become a mentor.
Guldberg Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biochemistry (Clark Honors College)
Minor: Art History
Mentor: Salil Karipott
Lab: Ong Lab
"At the University of Oregon, I have already grown a lot and affirmed my desire to work towards a PhD in biochemistry with an emphasis in research related to life science and regulatory biomolecules. I have had a crash course in RNA biochemistry and physical chemistry, and through the Widom Lab I have started to develop an interest in DNA and Protein engineering, especially in systems where disease and health science applications are involved. The Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholarship (KCUS) provides an unparalleled opportunity to immerse myself in lab work that is relevant to both my career goals and current developments in science and technology."
Thermo Fisher Scientific Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Biochemistry (Clark Honors College)
Minor: Bioengineering
Mentor: Guilherme Rocha
Lab: Benoit Lab
“At the Knight Campus, not only could I learn about biological function at the smallest level, but also gain insight into how people are living with chronic maladies, such as the damage caused by lengthy eating disorders. This program will help build my medical school application, but more importantly, give me experience in helping people and furthering scientific progress. I am considering pursuing neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, or even radiology alongside medical research."
Petrone Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Environmental Studies
Mentor: Jonathan Dorogin
Lab: Hettiaratchi Lab
"The opportunities that UO offers to experience hands-on research as an undergraduate was one of the main reasons I chose this university, and I wanted to join a research lab as soon as possible once pandemic restrictions loosened. After joining the Hettiaratchi lab, it was confirmed how much I enjoy problem solving and working towards a goal with the guidance and support of my mentors and peers.
Wolf Scholar
Class: Senior
Major: Physics (Clark Honors College)
Mentor: Raghuveer Parthasarathy
Lab: Parthasarathy Lab
"Bioengineering is the area of focus in which I am most interested. Although I enjoy the specific topics of math and physics, I have found the problem-solving, application-driven approach to research in physical science to be most rewarding."
Dr. Seeyan Lam Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Chemistry
Mentor: Michelle Marneweck
Lab: Marneweck Lab
"My ultimate goal is to provide care for patients at an individual level while also conducting medical research that drives the advancement of the field of medicine."
Tom and Cathy Hui Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biochemistry and Biology
Mentor: Calin Plesa
Lab: Plesa Lab
"Looking to the future, my career goal is to continue to engage in high level research, being able to bioengineer constructs and organisms to solve many of our world problems. KCUS will give me the much needed chance to continue my research in a high level setting, performing the same science that I fell in love with this summer, continuing to work alongside brilliant minds, learning new techniques, and immersing myself in research."
Jody Miller and Kip Leonard Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Music
Mentors: Kelsey Schultz, Alex Rockhill
Lab: Swann Lab
"I am interested in the precision medical technologies area of focus because I want to research proactive disease treatment methods. This is important to me because I transported patients with visibly painful conditions that were incurable while working as an EMT this summer."
Thermo Fisher Scientific Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Multidisciplinary Sciences (Clark Honors College)
Minor: Global Health
Mentor: Malley Gautreaux
Lab: Lindberg Lab
"Throughout all middle school and high school, my goals were set on becoming a pediatric nurse. The way children think about the world and themselves has always intrigued me. With my general sciences degree that I aim to achieve here at the University of Oregon, I am also interested in possibly becoming a teacher, giving back to the community in the way that my teachers and professors did for me. The chance to be included in an esteemed research program such as at Knight Campus will not only allow me to expand my knowledge but also an opportunity to aid in the discovery of technologies and methods that will greatly impact the scientific community."
William D. Rutherford Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biochemistry
Minor: Global Health
Mentor: Chandler Asnes
Lab: Hettiaratchi Lab
"My goal is to obtain an MD and Ph.D. so that my future work can bridge research and application of medicine. I understand that I am still a student with a limited knowledge of human biological systems yet this opportunity has the potential to initiate my contributions to science, and give me the chance to prove that I will never stop learning."
Jody Miller and Kip Leonard Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Human Physiology
Minor: Chemistry
Mentor: Alycia Galindo
Lab: Hettiaratchi Lab
"My goal for the future is to graduate from the University of Oregon with a bachelor of science in Human Physiology with a minor in Chemistry. After graduation, I hope to continue school to become a certified Physician Assistant. As a Physician Assistant, I would be able to care for the people in my community in many ways others would not be able to."
Dr. Seeyan Lam Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Biology (Clark Honors College)
Minor: Chemistry and Anthropology
Mentor: Shannon Snyder
Lab: Cresko Lab
"Since joining the Cresko lab in March of 2022, I have been exposed to academic research dealing with questions of ecology and evolution rooted in genetics. Working with Shannon Snyder on her Ph.D. research has been one of the most eye opening and exciting opportunities in my education and has launched my own passion for scientific research."
Clark Honors College Scholar
Class: Senior
Major: Biochemistry (Clark Honors College)
Mentor: Tayler Hebner
Lab: Benoit Lab
"Ever since I was younger, my aunt inspired me to be a scientist. After completing a thesis on the interface between mycelium and tree roots within mycorrhizal networks, she went on to be an advocate for more STEM engagement. She worked as a professor at a predominantly undergraduate institution and was a role model when it came to teaching biology to students who hadn’t previously been exposed to STEM education in a meaningful way."
Singer Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Physics and Biology (Clark Honors College)
Minor: Bioengineering
Mentor: Michael McGeehan
Lab: Ong Lab
"In addition to being actively involved in research at the Knight Campus, I’m also part of the newly formed bioengineering department’s minor cohort. As a Research Assistant in the Ong Lab, I’ve developed skills in circuit board fabrication, computer programming, and 3D-printing."
Tom and Cathy Hui Undergraduate Scholars
Class: Junior
Major: Biochemistry (Clark Honors College)
Mentor: DeShea Chasko
Lab: Lindberg Lab
"My favorite subjects revolve around organic chemistry: I love the study of organic molecules with the ability to control biological responses, and drug design and organic biomaterials are fascinating to me. However, I am also very interested in biomedical engineering, as it’s principles of design and science line up with my passion for both the arts and STEM quite closely."
Tom and Cathy Hui Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Neuroscience and Human Physiology
Mentor: Felix Deku
Lab: Deku Lab
"Since coming to the University of Oregon, taking on two degrees, and getting involved with research at an incredible facility, I realized how great of a position I am in to make my dreams come true for myself. I've always dreamed of being that person to be a part of something great but never realized it was something within my reach until I started my time at the Knight Campus."
Tom and Cathy Hui Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biology (Clark Honors College)
Mentor: Genny Romanowicz
Lab: Guldberg Lab
"I love applying my knowledge of science to solve problems and to answer big questions. In the lab, I constantly ask questions and learn quickly. I am enthusiastic, detail-oriented, thorough, and very communicative. I hope to experience a range of lab environments and get as much hands-on lab work as I am able before I graduate so I have the option to either continue working in laboratories or go on to graduate school."
Clark Honors College Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Chemistry (Clark Honors College)
Minor: Bioengineering
Mentor: Cassandra Gonzalez
Lab: Hosseinzadeh Lab
"I am excited by the opportunity to learn about how the different disciplines of science connect and how they can be applied to studying different problems. My decision to major in chemistry, combined with a bioengineering minor has allowed me to continue developing my interdisciplinary lens."
Tom and Cathy Hui Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Sophomore
Major: Biochemistry (Clark Honors College)
Mentor: Abigail Loftus
Lab: Garcia Lab
"The first time I became extremely interested in research is when I started wondering about the higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other illnesses in descendants of Holocaust survivors, and how epigenetic inheritance may play a role in this. I believe that an understanding of the mechanisms of epigenetics and why epigenetic changes are conserved is essential to improving treatment of diseases, mental illness, and understanding the interplay between historical events and the chemical evolution of our bodies."
Tom and Cathy Hui Undergraduate Scholar
Class: Junior
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Chemistry
Mentor: Chris Chapman
Lab: Human Cardiovascular Control Lab
"I am interested in understanding how exposure to extreme heat (e.g., heat waves) reduces cognitive function. The frequency and severity of extreme heat is predicted to increase with climate change. It is important to understand how extreme heat modulates cognitive function, because reduced cognitive function can lead to fatal outcomes due to poor decision making or a reduced ability to monitor one’s health."
