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Research Ambassadors
Research Ambassadors
If you are an ambassador and need to report time worked, please click here: Biweekly Reporting page.-
Quinn Hopen
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador, Social media Specialist
Major/Minor: Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Graduation Year: 2021
Hometown: Sutton, WV
Student Organization Involvement:I currently act as the President of Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps (RAM), Vice President of American Association of University Women (AAUW), I am a member of SGA’s Health Committee, and of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).
Interest and Hobbies: I love marveling at my houseplants, reading, spending time outside, and drinking chai lattes!
Fun Fact: My favorite bacteria is Salmonella typhi!
Research Area: My area of research is in immunology, specifically focusing on gut immune health. I work with human and murine intestinal epithelial cells lines to determine the role they play in the leakage of pathogens out of the gut and how short-chain fatty acids can affect their barrier functionality. -
Annalisa Huckaby
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor: Chemistry and Biology
Graduation Year: 2020
Hometown: Morgantown, WV
Student Organization Involvement:American Chemical Society club and LSAMP club treasurer.
Interest and Hobbies: I enjoy playing cards, soccer, volleyball, and hanging out with my friends!
Fun Fact: I have two turtles!
Research Area:I currently do research in the Vaccine Development Center in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology over in health sciences. -
Janna Kleinsasser
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor: Biology; Chemistry/Microbiology
Graduation Year: 2021
H ometown: Rifton, New York
Student Organization Involvement:Plant and Soil Science Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau
Interest and Hobbies: Painting, hiking, discovering new music, reading, skating, and camping.
Fun Fact: I have such a long bucket list, I'd have to live 300 years to get through it.
Research Area: Plant molecular biology, soil microbiology, and biochemistry. -
Oriana Ovide
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor:Chemistry and Forensic Science
Graduation Year: 2020
Hometown: Columbia, Maryland
Student Organization Involvement:I am part of the Alpha Omega Epsilon Sorority, the forensic science club, and Student Government
Interest and Hobbies:I love running, swimming, and being outdoors.
Fun Fact: I can quote all of Johnny Depp's lines from the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie.
Research Area:I currently do research in the forensic science area. I specifically focus on studying gun-shot residue and glass. I started doing research as part of the SURE program and then spent a summer doing research in the NIST SURF program. -
Trinity Shaver
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor: Psychology and Multiple-Disciplinary Studies
Graduation Year: 2020
Hometown: Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
Student Organization Involvement: Service Chair of WVU's Psychology Club, Eberly College of Arts and S ciences Ambassador, member of the McNair Scholars Program, Secretary of WVU's Neuroscience Club, and Psi Chi Honorary scholar.
Interest and Hobbies: I enjoy playing guitar, traveling, learning Slovak, spending time with friends/family, watching game shows, and photography!
Fun Fact: During the Spring 2019 semester, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Bratislava, Slovakia! I was enrolled in cultural/sociological courses, made friends from all over the world, and traveled to 23 countries.
Research Area: My research investigates behavioral processes in rats and how they are affected by brain injury in order to better understand the injury and recovery process in humans. I serve as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Cole Vonder Haar's laboratory. -
Kayla Tokar
RAP Student facilitator, UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AMBASSADOR, Ugr Monthly Editor
Major: Music
Graduation Yea r: 2020
Hometown: Uniontown, PA
Student Organization Involvement: Secretary- Mountaineer Musicological Community
Interest and Hobbies: I like to cook, kayak, and play board games!
Fun Fact: I work at the Art Museum of WVU!
Research Area : I am currently working on two really exciting projects! In one, I am diversifying college-level music history curriculum, and in the other, I am studying saxophone pedagogy and creating a new method book and video guide to help beginner saxophonists who do not have access to lessons. I have also done research about enslaved African music in Colonial America. -
Colter Uscola
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor: Sociology/Statistics minor
Graduation Year: 2020
Hometown: Park Rapids, MN
Student Organization Involvement: Officer- WVU Global Medical and Dental Brigades, Phi Theta Kappa
Interest and Hobbies:I enjoy learning, cooking, reading, rock-climbing, biking, meditating, fishing, traveling, problem-solving, and helping others.
Fun Fact: I'm from the land of 10,000 lakes. However, Minnesota actually has 11,842.
Research Area: I am currently engaged in sociological research analyzing perceptions of occupational status, morality, power, and trust/trustworthiness and the degree to which individuals allocate positive/negative rewards based on these perceptions. -
Mya Vannoy
Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor: Immunology and Medical Microbiology
Graduation Year: 2020
Hometown: Cross Lanes, WV
Student Organization Involvement: LSAMP WVU Student Org and Minorities Aspiring to Health Professions (MAHPs)
Interest and Hobbies: I love to visit new places and to cook!
Fun Fact: My favorite Lana Del Rey song is Cherry.
Research Area:I work in a molecular genetics lab in the Health Sciences Center. My research focuses on extracellular vesicles, small membrane-enclosed particles released from various cell types, and how they can potentiate symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and their role in sepsis by carrying DNA methyltransferases, enzymes involved in epigenetics. -
Kaley Vestal
RAP Student facilitator, Undergraduate REsearch ambassador
Major/Minor: English/ Political Science minor
Graduation Year: 2020
Hometown: Rainelle, WV
Student Organization Involvement:I have completed RAP and am currently serving as an Ambassador for the office of undergraduate research.
Interest and Hobbies:My hobbies include cooking, watching Gordon Ramsey yell at others cooking, reading, and playing with my cats.
Fun Fact: My very first day on campus my freshman year my appendix ruptured and I spent my first night in Ruby Hospital instead of my dorm.
Research Area:I am researching commonplace books to help define our research identities and become experts on topics of interest or profession/education. Our group hopes that using this note taking technique from the Renaissance will once again become popular due to its practicality for students and professionals.
