Tony Barron

I’m a 20-year-old Michigan native, born and raised in Saginaw. During high school, I played soccer, baseball, and wrestled. I have also been competing in mixed martial arts for three years now, and won the 145 lb. championship belt of Mid-Michigan last August. Here at the university, I am a member of the Wrestling Club and a brother of the fraternity of Delta Kappa Epsilon. In my free time I like hanging out with my friends and traveling up north. My Hispanic background and love for science has lead me to major in Neuroscience and Spanish, and I hope to apply to medical schools next year.

Nilofar Behbahani-Nejad

I'm a senior at the University of Michigan and am majoring in Neuroscience.  I'm very interested in health care and plan on pursuing a career in medicine. When I was a UROP student, I worked in a research lab in the Rheumatology Department looking at the effects of CD13 on inflammation in joints.  I think that participating in a research project is an amazing experience and everyone should enjoy as much of it as they can.  During my free time, I love to hang out with my friends, spend time on pinterest, or watch my favorite TV shows. I love photography and I especially love Ann Arbor.

Kartik Bhatt

I am a Junior doing a neuroscience major. I did UROP last year and worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mott’s Children’s Hospital. I still work with the same doctor and am continuing with the same project. I am a co-founder of a student organization, Students for a Better Tomorrow. It is a volunteer organization focused on the local community. Some of my hobbies include tennis, basketball, soccer, and tailgating before football games. I am hoping to get into medical school after I finish undergrad. I am not sure what kind of medicine I want to study, but I am interested in cardiology. 

Brendan Burke

I'm a senior Neuroscience major applying to med school this year, and I'm involved with research in pediatric cardiology and psychology. My freshman year I went to MSU, and quickly transferred to Michigan my sophomore year. I enrolled in UROP my sophomore year, and got involved in research with Dr. Caren Goldberg on congenital heart defects. I've stayed on with that project, and now I'm first author of that manuscript!  Outside of school and research, I'm the music director of the Dicks and Janes, an acappella group on campus, and I volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in Mott Children's Hospital. Some fun facts about me: I play seven instruments, 5 of them well, and I have over 30 cousins.

Andrew Chimka

I am currently a junior at the Stephen M. Ross School of business with an emphasis in finance and accounting.  I am from the great state of Michigan and have a passion for research.  This past spring, I traveled to Utah to present my research covering public discourse surrounding the subprime crisis at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research.  I also traveled to Chicago and presented this research with my faculty sponsor at the Midwest Political Science Conference.  This past summer, I worked as a research assistant in the fields of political science, business economics, and finance.  I also am interning with Lazard Capital Markets, where I perform market research in the consumer/retail industry. My future career goals are to become an analyst at an investment bank in New York or Chicago.  When I have free time I enjoy running, hiking, and wrestling.

Deborah Daniel

I am a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering and minoring in German, planning to go into medicine, particularly pediatrics. I am currently studying for my MCAT and will be taking it in January! The last two years, I participated in the UROP program and Research Scholars. I also did the UROP Biomedical and Life Sciences Fellowship last summer. I also work as a physician scribe in hospitals around the area. For extracurricular activities, I am highly involved in music, sport, and missions work. I play the piano, sing with my 4 sisters in our group called The Daniel5, and play the French Horn in my church's orchestra. For sport, I swim regularly, play volleyball, play tennis, and am currently on the University of Michigan Equestrian Team. I am also involved in missions work in India. The last few summers, I have gone to help at a free diabetes care clinic for the poor in the southern part of India.

Molly Dobelle

My name is Molly Dobelle and I'm originally from New York City. I’m a junior on the pre-med track, and am planning to major in P.P.E. and minor in Russian.  In my free time, I love to travel, explore, read, and sleep. I did my UROP research on childhood obesity and hope to remain involved with that project in the future.

Allison Eitman

I am an LSA senior with a double major in Economics and Spanish and a minor in Writing. I hail from West Caldwell, New Jersey, a quiet suburb 16 miles west of New York City. I am a dedicated kickboxer, known statewide for my cinnamon chocolate chip cakes and red velvet black and white cookies, and I love to write in my free time. Over the past few summers, I have studied abroad in Spain, worked as a waitress at the Original Pancake House, and interned at Vanity Fair. I am fluent in Spanish, know how to flamenco, and consider myself a true dog whisperer. Most importantly, there are few things that I love more than Michigan football and being a Wolverine. Go Blue!

Josue Estrella

I am a senior majoring in Neuroscience who is also on the Pre-Medical track. I was born and raised in Queens, New York but then later moved to Beverly Hills, Florida (not as lavish or cool as it sounds).  Aside from being a Peer Advisor for UROP, I also work as a library assistant for the Hatcher Graduate Library and the Shapiro Undergraduate Library.  I love trying new things and putting myself into new environments and seeing where life takes me. One perfect example of this is my decision to attend the University of Michigan. I have no family in Michigan, zero connections to the school and had never stepped foot into the state but I decided to enroll anyways just for the heck of it. It is better to have a life full of “Oh well” than “What if” I always say. As a result, I’ve been diagnosed with what they call “Forever Go Blue syndrome”. It’s cool.  I love listening to music that isn’t main stream, I love to cook for myself and other people, I love travelling, and I have an obsession with eating at new restaurants.

Alexa Fedrigon

I am from Elk Rapids, a beautiful small town in Northern Michigan.  I'm a senior studying neuroscience and this summer I applied to pharmacy school!  My UROP experience began my freshman year as a member of the Michigan Research Community, the residential affiliate of UROP.  My sophomore year I was a Peer Advisor for MRC, last year I was a Peer Advisor for UROP and I'm very excited to be a UROP Peer Advisor again this year! Other groups I am a part of include Dance Marathon at the University of Michigan, PULSE and the Pre-Pharmacy Student Organization.  Some of my favorite things are hanging out with my family, traveling and spending time outside!  This year is going to be extra special since one of my brothers is going to be a freshman this year!  I spent this past summer traveling all around Europe including Ireland, Scotland, England and Spain. It was an amazing experience but I am super excited to start my senior year at UM!

Derek Fine

I am from Plymouth, Michigan. I am a junior in the college of LS&A, I am a neuroscience major, and I'm really excited to get a chance to serve as a PA with UROP this year. The last academic year was my first one in the program, and through UROP I found the lab where I currently work, doing research on the role of the PAI-1  protein in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, watching movies, spending time with friends, and watching sports (particularly baseball and college football)

Nicole Garcia

I am a senior this fall in LS&A, majoring in Latino Studies and finishing my last few Pre-Med requirements. I am currently in the process of applying to Graduate Schools for Public Health and later plan to pursue Medical School after I receive my Masters. This summer I had the honor of being a part of the American Cancer Society's National Collegiate Scout Team. For this position I was able to conduct research at a Relay in Seattle and worked all summer on putting together the National Relay For Life Summit in Nashville! I will continue my work with the ACS on the division/regional level this school year. Other than being a Peer Advisor for UROP, I am also a Biology 171 study group leader and an Academic Success Partner for the Leaders and Best Program. In my almost non-existent spare time, I am very involved with Latino organizations on campus and Relay For Life.

Joanna Gross

I'm a senior studying Psychology and minoring in Medical Anthropology. I'm from Westport, Connecticut which is about an hour north of New York City. I worked in a Pharmacology lab when I was in UROP and now do research in a psychology lab for my honors thesis. I hope to eventually get a PhD in clinical psychology so I can be a professor and do research on childhood trauma. This summer most of you freshman saw me during orientation, since I gave the "Smart Computing," presentations as part of my job. Aside from studying and doing research, I'm very involved in an organization here called Camp Kesem, which is a student run organization that plans, fundraises for, and puts on a free week long summer camp for children with parents who have or have had cancer. I love getting to be a kid again for a week!

Sean Hacker

I'm going to be a Junior studying Mathematics and Computer Science in LS&A. This past summer I worked as an intern in Ann Arbor for Logic Solutions working on iPad apps. I'm from Rochester, MI and went to De La Salle High School in Warren. I like to play lacrosse, ride my motorcycle, and go to concerts. This summer I was lucky enough to go see Foster the People, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Def Leppard and Poison, and go to Lollapalooza. I've had a great experience with UROP and I'm excited to remain a part of the program. 

Sarah Hilu

I am a senior concentrating in Movement Science. After graduation, I plan to apply to medical school. I entered UROP my sophomore year and worked on the project “Muscle Dysfunction Associated with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury” for the School of Kinesiology’s Neuromuscular Research Laboratory. The ultimate goal of this project is to determine if neuromuscular electrical stimulation restores quadriceps strength and prevents the adverse effects of osteoarthritis in ACL-injured patients. My experience working on this project has helped me confirm my interests in biomedical sciences, specifically clinical rehabilitation medicine. UROP proved to be a worthwhile experience for me, and I still work for this lab two years later.  On campus, I am a member of Dance Marathon and St. Mary’s Student Parish. Additionally, I am the Director of Health & Wellness for Delta Gamma Women’s Fraternity. I love staying physically active by running and playing team sports like soccer or field hockey. I also love music, playing piano, reading, camping, traveling, cooking, and, of course, the University of Michigan.

James Kehoe

I am entering my junior year and I have eagerly been anticipating this moment, becoming one of the Research Scholars’ Peer Advisors. I entered UROP my freshman year and then returned last year as a Research Scholar, working on a research project that studied political violence in Pakistan. Last year, I was a student manager on the project and learned many things about coordinating within a research project. This year, I look forward to sharing my experiences with you, as well as learning about you and the project that you are working on. Outside of UROP, I play intramural sports (I’ve played over 7 different sports here!), study Political Science and Spanish, drive the blue Michigan busses, and I am a summer camp coordinator here at Michigan.

Christine Luneack

I am a Senior in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business. I am studying accounting and am specifically interested in forensic accounting. In addition to Peer Advising, I also do research for a Management and Organization professor in the business school. I am also captain of the Ross Relay for Life team and was on the Women's Club Cheerleading team for the past three years. My favorite place on campus is The Big House -- football season is my favorite time of the year

Maureen McBride

I’m from Rochester Hills, MI and come from a University of Michigan family. My two older sisters are graduates of this great school, and I’m happy to say that I get to share campus with my younger brother who is an incoming freshman.  The past two summers I have been an intern at DuPont Qualicon in Wilmington, DE. I’ve been working on creating easy-to-use test kits to test food for food bacteria. It has been a great experience and has allowed me to further my career in research. I’m going into my senior year studying biology and looking into graduate programs in Public Health. I’ve been active in the program since Freshman year and was in Research scholars my sophomore year. I worked with the same sponsor throughout those two years and worked on characterizing a specific gene. I can honestly say that it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. 

Kingsley Okai

I was born and raised in a city called Kumasi, Ghana, located on the west coast of Africa. I am a senior majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology. I work with a team of researchers at the internal medicine department of University of Michigan Medical School. Our research focuses on studying the function of a lysosomal lipid-metabolizing enzyme in autoimmunity, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). My contribution towards this research has been mainly tailored in the characterization of antibodies to the enzyme, now used as a tool in measuring the enzymes activity. Currently, I am investigating the ligand-receptor pathway underlying the extracellular secretion of the enzyme during certain fungi infections. It is personally fulfilling to be part of this team, because the mutation that leads to lupus is mostly common among individuals of African descent. In my spare time when I’m not occupied with research and school work, I enjoy playing soccer, spending time with friends, and watching movies.   

Katie O'Kane

I am a Senior here at the University of Michigan, working toward a major in History and a minor in Biology through the College of LSA.  New Jersey is where I call home, but Ann Arbor is my home away from home for most of the year.  My siblings are my best friends; I have a twin sister, who lives in Texas, and an older brother, who is working on his Chemistry Ph.D at Northwestern University.  I am currently exploring future careers with land conservation and policy, either through working in law or in urban planning.  Besides being a Peer Advisor with UROP, I was a member of the Women’s Varsity Rowing team from Freshman-Junior year, and last summer I interned with the Recycling office on campus.  I love playing any sports, and am a huge New York Yankees and Giants fan.

Devon Oosting

I am a third year Social Science PRI and a Psychology major with a pre-medicine focus. I plan to take a year or two off after undergrad and do research, hopefully in autism in New York. Afterwards, I want to go to medical school and eventually specialize in developmental behavior pediatrics, focusing specifically on diagnosing and treating autism spectrum disorder. I love to write, read, sing, and paint, and I watch Glee only for the music (I swear).

Corey Peterson

I am a senior in chemical engineering. During my freshman year I worked in a biomedical lab and I have spent 3 summers working on a material science project. I am an eagle scout, so it should be no surprise I love the outdoors. My troop and I climbed the third highest mountain in new Mexico, Mt. Baldy. Little known fact about myself is that I am a squirrel whisperer. I have had 3 as pets and raised them with my mom. I also really enjoy good dance music. I am a Electronic DJ and have played at Necto night club. When I'm not listening to the latest tunes I'm relaxing at the arb.

Lauren Phillips

I am a Junior studying Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology.  Because I’ve moved 8 times in my life, I’ve grown from being afraid of change to loving new experiences!  My summers have been busy with activities ranging from working with people with cerebral palsy in my research lab to zip lining in Costa Rica.  During the school year, you can usually find me behind a pile of books in the Taubman Library or on the diag giving tours of our amazing University to prospective students.  

Eric Pillado

I am a senior majoring in microbiology. This year, I’m applying to medical school, which will be an exciting time. This summer, I went to Ghana to help digitize VHS tapes in the Mahyia Palace and had fun dancing in front of the king of the Asanti Kingdom. Entering my senior year, I’ve reflected on how amazing my time at the University of Michigan has been. From experiencing everything new freshmen year to continuously building some of my greatest friends throughout the years, college has been a blast. One of my favorite things that I took advantage of was the various trips throughout the world and the nation for spring and summer breaks and experienced different cultures. I cherish the classes I took because they had a cool course name. I cherish the extracurricular activities I did to keep a healthy academic balance.

Nina Randorf

I am senior majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering and was the 2011-2012 interdisciplinary peer advisor for the Michigan Research Community, UROP’s residential affiliate. I also enjoyed working with the Michigan Research Community’s recruitment team for the last 2 years.  My hobbies include running, kickboxing, hiking, camping, reading, language study, and movie nights with my roommates. I was also part of the Michigan Taekwondo team as a middle weight fighter and worked at the Big House during home football games as part of the stadium’s recycling program for the last 2 years.  I love sitting in on research seminars and believe they are a great way to get a taste of difference academic and research fields; I really encourage seminar requests and feedback from students, so don’t feel shy!  I also took a gap year before coming to Michigan to study and volunteer abroad, so please feel free to ask questions about study abroad, volunteer, language, and general interdisciplinary studies at Michigan.

Susie Robinson

I will be a junior this fall. I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia with my younger sister, two older brothers, and parents. I love animals, nature, baking, traveling, my family, the arts, being active, and meeting new people. Yoga and singing are two of my favorite activities. They allow me to express myself, be reflective, and feel free. Freshman year, I was involved in the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program. I also joined Kol HaKavod, one of the many acappella groups around campus. Down the road, I plan to attend graduate school for clinical psychology.

Roxy Shoshanni

I graduated from the University of Michigan in April, 2012 with a double-major in psychology and creative writing, plus a minor in German. Research played a major role in my undergraduate experience. I started UROP in my first year, did Research Scholars as a sophomore, and continued with my research until graduation. I was a lab manager for a Social Psychology lab that studied prayer, aggression, embodied cognition, morality, self-distancing, and depression.  I am currently pursuing a career in creative writing.

Kyle Small

I am a Senior studying Economics here at the University of Michigan. I enjoy the outdoors and love pushing myself to the limit. I also enjoy the company of family and friends because in the end I believe they are what matter the most. I consider myself a leader and a hard worker, but also enjoy the little things in life.

Connie Truong

I am a senior in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. I am majoring in neuroscience with a minor in Asian languages and cultures, focusing on the Vietnamese language. After undergrad, I will be taking a gap year to work and travel before attending medical school. I am interested in pursuing the field of surgery and strive to help medically underserved areas of the world in the future through participating in global service programs.  Aside from academics, I am involved in research, Dance Marathon, and Alpha Epsilon Delta. Being an Ann Arbor native, I love exploring new cultures and traveling to different countries. This past summer, I studied abroad in Italy and experienced the indefinite highlight of undergraduate career. I lived Rome for 6 weeks and completely fell in love with the city. After the program, I highly encourage everybody to do the same and experience living abroad.  When I finds some spare time, I enjoy the tastes and delicacies that all types of food offer, getting lost in a good book, and adrenaline rushes on roller coasters.

Ciara Turner

I’m a Political Science and Philosophy dual concentrator with a minor in Interdisciplinary Astronomy. While my ultimate career aspirations are currently undecided, I hope to go to law school after I graduate from Michigan. My goal is to attend the University of Michigan Law School, and practice law in or near Ann Arbor. I am a sister in Delta Gamma Phi, the University of Michigan’s only pre-law sorority. When I’m not doing homework, working at UROP, or at my job as a data processor at ICPSR, I’m usually found with a book in my hand. Apart from reading, my favorite hobby is traveling. I have a long list of places I can’t wait to go and a short one of places I’ve been, an imbalance I’m working to rectify. I have also discovered a passion for cars, particularly Shelby Mustangs, though I’d rather spend time cleaning, detailing, and learning about a car than ride in it.

Sam Williams

I'm a junior studying BCN (Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience) here at U of M and I'm working toward a career in medicine. The pre-med track can be stressful at times, so to keep my balance (and sanity, it seems) I'm a part of the U of M waterski team and am involved in the Greek Life community. When I'm not at school, I love travelling with my sister, a sophomore here, and my parents; I'm always eager to meet new people and to learn firsthand about new places and cultures.

Alban Xhaferlari

I'm a senior studying Chemical Engineering. Enjoy most competitive team sports. I'm originally from Albania which is where i visited this summer. I love the University of Michigan and the campus life here. Go Blue for life.

Judith Zatkin

This year, I will be a Senior, and I am majoring in Psychology and Women’s Studies.  I started UROP as a Sophomore and worked in a social psychology lab that specialized in morality research.  As a Junior, I switched to another lab that specializes in studying stigmatized identities under Dr. Terri Conley, and will serve as her lab manager this year.  I also work for the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center as the Men’s Activism Program Volunteer Co-Coordinator.  After I graduate, I aspire to obtain my Masters in Public Administration.  In my spare time, I like to spend time with my friends, explore Ann Arbor, take boxing lessons, attempt to cook, watch Superhero movies, and read books.