Peer Mentor Scholars

Attention Faculty – NEW for 2024-25! Peer Mentor Class Visits

URECA Peer Mentors are available to visit classrooms and share information about the URECA program. To request a URECA representative to provide details on this undergraduate research opportunity, please complete and submit this form.

Introducing the 2024-25 URC Peer Mentor Scholars

The role of the Peer Mentor Scholar is to mentor students interested in getting involved with undergraduate research, provide guidance related to URECA grants (proposal, budget, timeline) and the dissemination process.

Meet your Creative Activity and Projects Peer Mentor: Connor Prim

Connor Prim

Connor is a senior Instrumental Music Education major with minors in Secondary Education and University Honors. He is a Peer Mentor Scholar with the Student Organization for the Advancement of Research (SOAR). His research experience includes presentations in six states and the International Conference on Undergraduate Research. He has received two URECA grants to fund his projects on music education (an Assistant level award and a Silver Scholar level award).

“The Undergraduate Research Center has been an invaluable resource to me in my time at MTSU. It has opened the door to so many opportunities I never could have imagined, and I am so excited to help others reach their true potential. The research process can be intimidating at first, but I am happy to help you overcome those hurdles that we all face when getting started. You don’t have to face this journey alone!”       

 -Connor

Contact Connor at cap8d@mtmail.mtsu.edu for your Creative Activity and Project related URECA inquires and mentoring.

Meet your STEM Peer Mentors: Michaela Harrison and Emily Callison

Michaela Harrison

I have sought to increase my community outreach at MTSU by serving as a Woman in STEM Student Mentor and as a Peer Mentor & Research Ambassador for SOAR (Student Organization for the Advancement of Research). I seek to help students progress by utilizing the insights that I have gained from my personal experiences as a STEM major and undergraduate research assistant. There are many different paths that a student can take in their academic career path and there is not a clearly defined one-size-fits-all. I found that my time at MTSU has provided me with the opportunity to create a path that is unique to me. I am committed to helping students create their own path by identifying their strengths, strengthening any weaknesses that may be present and developing a path that fosters their intellectual and academic growth.

“By comparing one student’s performance and pathway to another, you dismiss the uniqueness of the experiences that college has to offer. Each journey is different and unique to the student. These differences provide diversity in the enrichment of our community”       

 -Michaela

Contact Michaela at mlh2cj@mtmail.mtsu.edu for your STEM related URECA inquires and mentoring.

Emily Callison

Emily is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a pre-medical concentration and minors in Biology and Chemistry. She is a Peer Mentor Scholar and a READY to SOAR Coordinator for the Student Organization for the Advancement of Research (SOAR). Emily has conducted research for the past two years, involving two different projects. Her research experience includes multiple poster presentations, as well as a publication for her research in genomic annotation. She has also received an assistant-level URECA grant for her research in the biological sciences field.

“Every great discovery begins with a spark of curiosity, a desire to bridge the gap between the known and unknown, and the mind of a dreamer. Though, I have found that on the path to discovery, the guidance and support of those who have walked the path before me are one of the greatest keys to success. As you embark on your research journey, remember that you are not alone. I am here to offer my support and mentorship to you as a fellow researcher, undergraduate student, and, above all else, as a friend. Together, we will overcome whatever challenges you may face, celebrate each milestone, and turn your dreams into a reality. Let’s embrace the unknown with the confidence that there is no limit to what you can achieve with a bit of guidance and a whole lot of determination.”

-Emily

Contact Emily at enc3m@mtmail.mtsu.edu for your STEM related URECA inquires and mentoring.