Our Vision
The Office of Undergraduate Education- Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry will enable undergraduates to stand at the center of creation and dissemination of knowledge.
Our Mission
The Office of Undergraduate Education- Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry strives to nurture and support mentored research pursuits of all undergraduate students to proactively transform and enrich their academic experience by providing inclusive and innovative research engagement opportunities and fostering collaborative partnerships in the world beyond the classroom.
Shared Values
As a unit of the Office of Undergraduate Education, we are committed to the core values of excellence and innovation, collaboration, community service, teamwork, inclusion and respect for diversity, integrity and personal accountability, openness, and trust.
Contact Us
Kuhn Honors & Scholars House
220 West 12th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-8307
ugresearch@osu.edu
Donate to the Office
Donations to The Office of Undergraduate Research Discretionary Fund (312045) support student research grants and fellowships.
Our Team
Claire Sweigart, JD
Program Director
Claire Sweigart has worked in advocacy and education since graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with a B.S. in Environmental Education. She completed a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 2010, focusing on public interest environmental law. After a fellowship with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Claire transitioned to working in higher education at the University of Cincinnati where she served as Sustainability Coordinator for three and a half years. In this role, Claire worked closely with students, faculty, staff, and community partners to advance environmental and social sustainability programs and create a campus culture of engagement. She has also taught environmental law and policy as an adjunct instructor. Claire returned to Ohio State in 2015 as the Program Manager for the Office of Service-Learning and has served as Program Director since 2019. Claire’s approach is informed by experiential education and high impact practices literature. She is particularly interested in the ethics of community-engaged learning and research as well as the power of experiential education to help students find purpose and meaning in their academics and life.
Zach Hooten, PhD
Program Specialist
Dr. Zach Hooten is a graduate of the PhD program in higher education and student affairs at Ohio State University. While pursuing his PhD, Zach worked as the co-director of research for the Assessment of Collegiate Residential Environments and Outcomes (ACREO) and a research associate for the Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (IDEALS). Additionally, as an administrative associate, he supported the higher education and student affairs EdD program through program development and student support and advising. Zach is passionate about learning design, teaching, and student support. He has taught college courses related to college environments, core issues in higher education, organizational leadership, and service learning and social justice. Before his time at Ohio State, Zach received a master’s degree in college student personnel, a master’s degree in theological studies, and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of Dayton.
Jonathan Calede, PhD
Faculty Fellow
Jonathan Calede is an Assistant Professor in Evolution, Ecology, & Organismal Biology at OSU's Marion campus. His research integrates comparative anatomy, morphometrics, phylogenetics, and biostatistics to reconstruct the ecology and evolution of fossil mammals. Dr. Calede focuses on the study of mammals that lived 30 to 5 million years ago. These mammals have living relatives so he often studies the morphology of modern mammals to understand the taxonomic affinities and phylogenetic relationships of fossil mammals and help resolve patterns of diversity through time. He also use comparative anatomy and morphometrics to infer the ecology (such as diet, locomotion, and body mass) of fossils mammals. As a Faculty Fellow for Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry, Dr. Calede is creating materials on Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs). He has developed and taught a CURE and regularly mentors undergraduate student researchers.
Caitlin Fagan
Program Specialist
Caitlin Fagan is a graduate of the Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Russian and International Studies. During her time as a student, she worked in front-facing roles as a resident advisor and conference assistant. Currently, she is responsible for student-facing activities within the office. She presents "How to Get Started in Research", hosts workshops related to research activities and meets with campus partners to get students more engaged in undergraduate research. Caitlin is passionate about local issues and being an advocate for members the Ohio State community. She is in the Master of Social Work program at Ohio State and is expected to graduate in Spring 2025.
Kamorah Ryhlick
Undergraduate Student Ambassador
Kamorah Ryhlick has been a student at The Ohio State University since 2020. She began her time working in The Amacher Lab in the Spring of 2021, where she was assigned to the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) project. In the DMD project, she investigates putative genetic modifiers of DMD. During her time in the lab, she was a participant in the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP). In addition to her lab involvement, Kamorah is a colligate rugby player, enrolled in the pre-med program, and a member of the prestigious bio-scholars cohort. Kamorah's objective is to help UR&CI achieve its goal by promoting bold inclusiveness and collaboration with clubs and scholars programs.