Undergraduate Research Ambassadors (URA) is a student organization dedicated to making research more accessible and approachable for students. We aim to aid interested individuals in the research process and connect them with faculty and staff who have similar research interests. Are you curious about how to get involved in research or URA itself? Feel free to contact any leadership team member with questions or inquiries about URA and our initiatives!
URA’s 2024-25 Executive Board
Presley Nichols – President
Hi, I am an upcoming junior with an Honors Neuroscience major planning to attend medical school post-graduation. My previous research involvement focused on psychology, but I am soon moving into research under the Department of Surgery at UT Medical Center. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and relaxing with my favorite shows. One fun fact about me is that I will be studying abroad in Italy this summer to finish my Italian language courses. I am very excited to be involved in this organization, as URA is a leading, student-focused operation with ample opportunities!
Email: pnichol8@vols.utk.edu
Jai Mehta – Vice President
Hello. I’m a rising sophomore from Mount Juliet, TN. My current research work at Oak Ridge National Lab delves into the realm of machine learning applied to cancer research, particularly focusing on predicting the binding interactions between cancer epitope sequences and T-cell receptors. This work holds promise in contributing to the development of a cure for cancer, which is a cause I’m deeply passionate about. I’m further interested in computational biology and bioinformatics, and am excited to continue exploring this field and making strides towards advancements in immune therapeutics throughout my undergraduate journey. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.
Email: jmehta2@vols.utk.edu
Sarah Lawrence – Secretary Treasurer
Hi, I am a sophomore Reformative Medicine in Geriatric Populations major in the College Scholars Honors Program. My research interests encompass clinical research involving cancer cells and therapeutics, as well as community-based studies on the living conditions of elderly populations in care facilities. Currently, I’m engaged in a research project at the University of Tennessee Medical Center Knoxville (UTMCK). Specifically, we are investigating how inflammation-associated changes impact pancreatic islets, with a keen emphasis on discovering novel drug therapeutics for both type I and type II diabetes within the Department of Surgery.
Email: slawre19@vols.utk.edu
Jason Bowers – Event Coordinator
Hi, I am a sophomore, soon to be junior, with a Major in Kinesiology. I am currently involved in research with Dr. Tatarski about the effects of acute plantar flexion stretching on ankle biomechanics during pickleball maneuvers. After graduation, I plan to attend the graduate school of my choice because I want to open my own Chiropractic office. When I am not focused on my studies, I enjoy cooking, going to the gym, taking care of my fish, and occasionally participating in pickup soccer.
Email: jbower32@vols.utk.edu