Meet the Ambassador Team

Our ambassadors are experienced undergraduate researchers here to help you navigate through your own research journey. 

Feel free to reach out through their emails below or find them in Strand 300 on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1:00pm-2:55pm (only during weeks 1-10)!

Can't make these times? Email [email protected] to schedule a one-on-one meeting with our team. 

Kabyanjali Amatya

Contact: [email protected]

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Kabyanjali Amatya

Studying: BioHealth Science

Research experience: Studied the effects of Empagliflozin (EMPA) on GLUT4 translocation in order to increase glucose uptake within cells, targeted towards helping insulin resistant patients.  

Things I'm passionate about: Women Empowerment, Dance, Baking, and Spending time with my family and friends. 

Riley Bellows

Contact:  [email protected]

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Riley Bellows

Studying: Biology with a concentration of Marine Biology and Ecology

Research experience: Currently studying the interplay of aggression and population dynamics in an aggregating sea anemone, Anthopleura elegantissima, found on the Oregon coast through both pairwise aggression assays and image analysis. 

Things I'm passionate about: Conservation, rock climbing, tide pooling, equal access in the sciences, hiking, pottery

Jessica Etter (B.S, Chemistry)

Contact: [email protected]

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Jessica Etter Office of URSA

Studying: Her graduate research involves studying oxylipins as a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.  

Research experience: Her undergraduate research focused on the potential chemopreventive properties of cruciferous vegetables

What I'm passionate about:  I am an avid crocheter, I also love weightlifting and hanging out with my dog Buddy!

Megan Erskine

Contact: [email protected]

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Megan Erskine

Studying: Climate Science

Research experience:
Her research experience is in curation, education, and outreach within ice core science. She's spent the past two summers working at the National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility in Lakewood, CO. Last summer, she conducted an outreach project bringing ice core samples to Colorado community colleges to educate about polar science and Research Experiences for Undergraduates.

Things I’m passionate about:
Live music, physical media, backpacking, climate justice.

Chelsea Chao

Contact: [email protected] 

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Chelsea Chao

Studying: Bioengineering

Research experience: Explored how bacteriophages can be used to treat Mycobacterium abscessus infections, an antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogen. Her project involved propagating phages and spotting assays to find the specific phages that killed M. abscessus.

Things I'm passionate about: Empowering others, and making a difference in the world