The Office of Academic Enrichment is pleased to announce the selection of the 2026 Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) cohort, a distinguished group of students recognized for their curiosity, commitment, and potential as emerging scholars and creators.
URAP, administered through Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry (UR&CI), is a competitive program that provides funding, mentorship, and professional development for undergraduate students from all majors and disciplines who demonstrate financial need. Over the academic year, participants collaborate closely with faculty mentors on meaningful research or creative inquiry projects while engaging in a structured professional development curriculum facilitated by UR&CI staff.
The students selected for the 2026 cohort represent a wide range of academic interests, methodologies, and creative perspectives. Their projects reflect the breadth of inquiry taking place across the university and the vital role undergraduate researchers play in advancing knowledge, innovation, and artistic expression.
We congratulate this year’s URAP scholars on their achievement and look forward to supporting their work throughout the coming year.
Explore the full list of selected students and their faculty mentors below.
| Student name | Major(s) | Faculty mentor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Abel Vinoyi | Biomedical Engineering | Bryan Whitson, MD, PhD |
| Abigail Fourmann | Biology | Shahid Nimjee, MD, PHD |
| Abigail Kille | Biochemistry | Kristine Yoder, PhD |
| Abigail Watts | Zoology | Sarah White, BA and Robin Bagley, PhD |
| Adam Ballas | Physics and Astronomy | Marc Pinsonneault, PhD |
| Alec Minikowski | Microbiology | Darryl Wesener, PhD |
| Anthony Backer | Exercise Science | Carmen Swain, PhD |
| Aspen Carson | Biology | Daniel Spakowicz, PhD |
| Austin Fomby | Astronomy & Astrophysics | Dan Wilkins, PhD |
| Ava Jerro | Philosophy, Politics and Economics | Janet Box-Steffensmeier, PhD |
| Camryn Mackey | Biology | Ryan Yoder, PhD |
| Carter Kohli | English, Journalism, & Political Science | Spencer Hunt, MA |
| Cyprian Okoroafor | Pharmaceutical Science | Megan Meuti, PhD |
| Daranii Asoba | Public Management, Leadership, Policy | Mehr Mumtaz, MA and Eric Schoon, PhD |
| Dingcheng (Richard) Wang | Neuroscience | Min Zhou, MD, PhD |
| Emily Kuhlman | Neuroscience | Miqdad Dhariwala, PhD |
| Gabby Wang | Biology | Jerry Lio, PhD |
| Grace Davis | Microbiology | Alex Michaud, PhD |
| Jack Agnew | Exercise Science | Carmen Swain, PhD |
| Jack Potter | Biochemistry | Ross Larue, PhD |
| Jewelyonna Ferkel | Chemistry | Christine Thomas, PhD |
| Jingran (Cecilia) Luo | Biological Science | Daniel Spakowicz, PhD |
| Jordan Shafer | Biology | Gunjan Agarwal, PhD |
| Justin Yao | Neuroscience | Harry Fu, PhD |
| Katya Schmidt | Psychology | Xin Feng, PhD |
| Lana Kanaan | Arabic | Leah Pyter, PhD |
| Lauren Rolda | Biology | Sameek Roychowdhury, MD, PhD |
| Linxun Li | Biomedical Engineering | Yi Zhao, PhD |
| Logan Bien | Biomedial Science | Jerry Lio, PhD |
| Madeline Arbuckle | Molecular Genetics | Hazem Ghoneim, PhD |
| Maia Jones | Health Sciences | Andrew Jerome, hD |
| Mary Anne Johnson | Biochemistry | Kristine Yoder, PhD |
| McKenna Mack | Neuroscience | Jasmeet Hayes, PhD |
| Mia Strohecker | Speech and Hearing Sciences | Rebecca Dore, PhD |
| Mireille Gendi | Zoology | Rachelle Adams, PhD |
| Navya Garg | Medical Anthropology | Ruth Barrientos, PhD |
| Nika Duff | Biology | Renee Bouley, PhD |
| Oli Wood | Evolution Ecology and Organismal Biology | James Pease, PhD |
| Olyvia Marshall | Mechanical Engineering | Gunjan Agarwal, PhD |
| Owen Hart | Biology | Renee Bouley, PhD |
| Prisha Parekh | Neuroscience | Ruth Barrientos, PhD |
| Reagan Quigley | Speech and Hearing Science | Jennifer Lundine, PhD |
| Saloni Sachdeva | Neuroscience | Jill Rafael-Fortney, PhD |
| Sam Giles | Mechanical Engineering | Nathan Webb, PhD |
| Sarah Bales | Zoology | Robin Bagley, PhD |
| Shwetan Varanasi | Neuroscience | Michelle A. Wedemeyer, PhD |
| Tiyasa Chakraborty | Neuroscience | Jewel Crasta, PhD |
| Tyler Martin | Exercise Science | Carmen Swain, PhD |
| Vincent Kojo | Mollecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Andrea Tedeschi, PhD |
| Yasmin Soliman | Biology | Rachelle Adams, PhD |
| Yasmine Alshathir | Biomedial Science | Jessica Winter, PhD and Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, PhD |
| Ye Deng | Statistics | Weichen Gu, PhD |
| Zachary Fogt | Economics | Paul Healy, PhD |
| Zaid Mustafa | Exercise Science | Sumaya Hamadmad, PhD |
| Zi Mo (Danny) Fu | Neuroscience | Hillary Schiff, PhD |