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Undergraduate Research Center

Featured Mentors

According to the Council on Undergraduate Research (https://www.cur.org/), one of the key characteristics of excellence in undergraduate research is faculty commitment.  The success of the Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) grant program is dependent upon our faculty mentors who are highly committed to providing students with a hands-on research experience that includes instruction, guidance and direct modeling.  They support student learning in a manner that allows students to develop greater responsibility for his or her own work, develop and demonstrate valuable teamwork skills, and gain experience in critical inquiry. 

Below are some of our featured faculty mentors who continuously engage in mentored research through the URECA program.   

Mark
Abolins,
Ph.D.

Geology

Erin
Anfinson

Art and Design

Elizabeth
Barnes,
Ph.D. 

Biology

Claudia
Barnett,

Ph.D.

English

Kevin
Bicker,
Ph.D.

Chemistry

Kathryn
Blankenship,
Ph.D.

Health and Human Performance

Jessica
Carter,
Ph.D.

Agriculture

Warner Cribb,
Ph.D.

Geology

Cole Easson, Ph.D.

Biology

Daniel Erenso, Ph.D.

Physics & Astronomy

Jessica
Gaby,
Ph.D.

Psychology

Grant Gardner,
Ph.D.

Biology

Katie
Goodwin

Theatre

Scott
Handy,
Ph.D.

Chemistry

Samuel
Haruna,
Ph.D.

Agriculture

Alisa
Hass,
Ph.D.

Geosciences

James
Houston,
Ph.D.

Psychology

Ryan Seth
Jones,
Ph.D.

Educational Leadership

Rebekka
King,
Ph.D.

Philosophy and Religious Studies

David
Nelson,
Ph.D.

Biology

Timothy
Odegard,
Ph.D.

Psychology

Kiel
Ormerod,
Ph.D.

Biology

Josh
Phillips,
Ph.D.

Computer Science

Bill
Robertson,
Ph.D.

Physics & Astronomy

Tiffany
Rogers,
Ph.D.

Psychology

Elizabeth
Smith,
Ph.D.

Human Sciences

Ben
Stickle,
Ph.D.

Criminal Justice Administration

Hanna
Terletska,
Ph.D.

Physics and Astronomy

Jorge
Vargas,
Ph.D.

Engineering Technology

Donald
Walker,
Ph.D.

Biology

April
Weissmiller,
Ph.D.

Biology

Lu
Xiong,
Ph.D.

Mathematical Science

Dong Ye,
Ph.D.

Mathematical Science

William
Yelverton,
Ph.D.

Music

Hongbo
Zhang,
Ph.D.

Mechatronics Engineering


Thursday, January 30th at 4:30 pm


Contact us

Jamie Burriss, Ph.D., Director
(615) 494-7669 
Jamie.Burriss@mtsu.edu

Casey Penston, Coordinator
(615) 809-4588 
Casey.Penston@mtsu.edu