20 students selected for undergraduate research ambassador program
The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) has selected 20 outstanding undergraduates for the 2026-27 Research Ambassador program.
The program’s mission is to increase awareness and create opportunities for students to engage in research. Ambassadors must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and involvement in mentored research. This year’s ambassadors represent eight colleges, 14 disciplines and 15 research areas.
The student leaders’ goal is to make undergraduate research more accessible. Ambassadors promote undergraduate research involvement through student outreach and program events, such as tabling, drop-in advising sessions, information sessions, student workshops, speaking engagements, class and student organization presentations and OUR-sponsored events including the 5-Minute Fast Track Competition and Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars.
The 2026-27 Undergraduate Research Ambassadors include:
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Benitaah Basse, agricultural and medical biotechnology senior; mentor: Pradeep Kachroo, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
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Gabrielle Beacham, biology and Lewis Honors College junior; mentors: Jake Ferguson, College of Arts and Sciences and Zachary Hackworth, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
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Bella Donaldson, psychology and leadership for Community Education and Human Learning (LCE) junior; mentor: Joanne Rojas, College of Education
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Omar Hamid, agricultural and medical biotechnology and Lewis Honors College junior; mentor: Lance Johnson, College of Medicine
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Rehan Hamid, public health and neuroscience sophomore; mentor: Martha Tillson, College of Medicine
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Adarsh Khullar, neuroscience, mathematics, and Lewis Honors College junior; mentor: Kathryn Saatman, College of Medicine
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Nathan Kirk III, agricultural and medical biotechnology senior; mentor: Lorri Morford, College of Dentistry
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Mazie Knight, animal science senior; mentor: Kimberly Tumlin, College of Health Sciences
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Nikhil Kumar, chemistry and Lewis Honors College senior; mentor: Jakub Famulski, College of Arts and Sciences
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Katie Neglia, human health sciences and Lewis Honors College junior; mentor: Robin Cooper, College of Arts and Sciences
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Mohit Patel, neuroscience and psychology Lewis Honors College senior; mentor: Warren Alilain, College of Medicine
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Harper Ritchey, natural resources and environmental science & agricultural economics, Lewis Honors sophomore; mentor: John H. Grove, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
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Liam Sassay de Medeiros, biology, neuroscience, and Lewis Honors College junior; mentor: Weikang Cai, College of Medicine
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Mani Shahzad, kinesiology and Lewis Honors College senior; mentor: Chris Fry, College of Health Sciences
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Lily Smith, neuroscience, chemistry, biology and Lewis Honors junior; mentor: Lance Johnson, College of Medicine
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Evan Stover, agricultural and medical biotechnology and Lewis Honors senior; mentor: Lorri Morford, College of Dentistry
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Benjamin Velez, history and international studies and Lewis Honors senior; mentor: Tammy Whitlock, College of Arts and Sciences
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Owen Walker, agricultural and medical biotechnology and Lewis Honors College senior; mentor: Carlos Rodriguez Lopez, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
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Addison Witucki, neuroscience and psychology senior; mentor: Martha Tillson, College of Medicine
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Sophia Zhao, agricultural and medical biotechnology senior; mentors: Nicholas Teets, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Rosana Zenil-Ferguson, College of Arts and Sciences
The Research Ambassadors are available upon request for class and organization presentations, college and university research events, and campus outreach efforts. Requests must be sent two weeks in advance and approved by the UK Office of Undergraduate Research staff.