The URS Student Advisory Council (SAC) is a committee of undergraduate students that are currently participating in research. Together, they provide critical student perspectives and feedback to the URS Office.
2024–2025 Student Advisors
Curious about research at Duke? Each SAC member can be reached via their Duke emails below with any questions.
Ishaan Brar
Major(s): Biology and Global Health
Minor: Chemistry
Class Year: 2025
Duke email: ishaan.brar@duke.edu
Pronouns: he/him
Current research project: I am interested in researching antimicrobial resistance and health innovation and access. I've explored this through wet-lab research as a member of the Jones Lab, where I have studied nano-particle accumulation in biofilm to understand how drug resistance occurs and am currently working on a project to improve biofilm imaging under confocal microscopy. I have also conducted global health research and policy analysis on antimicrobial resistance and health innovation and access issues as a summer assistant at the John's Hopkins IDEA Initiative and the Duke Center for Policy Impact in Global Health. I seek to bridge the gap between wet lab research and global health on solving the multidimensional, complex issues of antimicrobial resistance, and that broadly, develop and implement health care interventions to ensure everyone can receive access to healthcare.
How he got involved in research: I conducted a science research project in high school focused on designing, developing, and testing a novel urinary catheter design to eliminate a bacterial biofilm issue called Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs). I really enjoyed my time working on that project and wanted to continue to pursue the issue of bacterial infections. This led me to the Jones Lab, where I applied for an open position and joined the lab my freshman spring.
Post-Duke plans: After graduation, I will spend another year getting my Masters in Global Health as part of the Accelerated Masters in Global Health Program. After that, I plan to enter med school, and continue to build on my passion for research! I would be interested in entering the global health or health policy fields, and continuing to help support translational, equitable interventions.
Allie Brown
Major(s): Visual and Media Studies and Global Cultural Studies in Literature
Minor: Sociology
Class Year: 2025
Duke email: allie.brown@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I am fascinated by the intersection of media, technology, and education in addressing social and environmental concerns. This has led me to pursue research at Duke, with my collaboration on Bass Connections’ Revaluing Care in the Global Economy team. There, I worked with students in environmental, economic, and policy-based disciplines to research and produce a mixed-media simulation game. Our research created a game prototype that allows players to experience the difficult questions and trade-offs involved in climate action. I have since continued academic research with the goal of developing innovative educational approaches to combatting social inequality and global climate change today.
Post-Duke plans: I hope to continue learning about media in whatever capacity, with the aim of contributing to positive social and environmental action.
Rani Jones
Major: Psychology
Minor: Cultural Anthropology
Class Year: 2025
Duke email: raj29@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I work at the identity and diversity lab with Dr. Gaither! Our projects look at how children and young adults perceive and express their cultural identies as well as how children are impacted by cultural expressions/contexts. I've grown to be quite fascinated in the ways sociocultural identies develop among children! I would like to conduct further research on these developments and the ways children express their identities.
How she got involved in research: I always knew I had an interest in psychology, so when I had the opportunity to participate in a study run by Dr. Gaither's lab, I immediately conducted some research on her work and emailed the lab to inquire about any potential openings. Even though I didn't have any research experience prior to the Gaither lab, my interests and previous work experience aligned perfectly, thus I was able to join the Identity and Diversity Lab the following semester!
Emily McReynolds
Major: Public Policy & Markets and Management Studies
Class Year: 2025
Duke email: lauren.mcreynolds@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I worked as a data analyst on the Data+ "Visualizing Durham Public Schools" team, where I helped to expand and translate a website outlining available resources within DPS schools and the surrounding community. Presently, I am a research fellow on the continuation of my Data+ work through the Bass Connections "Strengthening Partnerships between DPS and Local Universities" team. Through both experiences, I've had the joy of working alongside my amazing peers, learning from impressive faculty/mentors, and expanding my knowledge about my surrounding community.
I am passionate about education policy, data analysis, and the intersection between government and businesses.
Post-Duke plans: I hope to work as a consultant and experience various industries and business cases. Beyond this, I aspire to obtain a Master’s in Business Administration!
Sasha Bacot
Majors: Computer Science BS, Biology BS
Class Year: Class of 2025
Duke email: sasha.bacot@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I am broadly interested in bioinformatics and computational omics. At Duke, I investigate the mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA quality control and cellular responses to mitochondrial DNA damage. My research at Duke combines wet-lab experimentation (in C. elegans) with computational methods. I have also spent two summers conducting purely computational research at Boston University and Los Alamos National Laboratory; these summer projects focused on transcriptomic and epigenomic data processing.
How she got involved in research: I became involved in research at Duke during my freshman year; I cold-emailed a few PIs that I was interested in working with, and chose to work under Dr. Joel Meyer (who is still my PI!). I spent the summer after my freshman year taking classes on campus and building my research project.
Thang Lian
Majors: History and International Comparative Studies
Minor: Asian American Diaspora Studies
Class Year: Class of 2025
Duke email: thang.lian@duke.edu
Pronouns: he/him
Current research project: By examining the intimate transnational intersections between displacement and resettlement, this project (a) investigates and records how Chin refugees form(ed) communities in Michigan, Indiana, and California through oral history, (b) situates the Chin people's history within Myanmar’s historical contexts "post-independence" (post-1948), (c) uses various archives to delineate the Chin people's history before and after 1948, and (d) interprets community history via frameworks of class, race, and religion.
How he got involved in research: I became involved in research at Duke through the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship because I wanted to investigate my family's history of forced displacement from Myanmar and resettlement in the United States. I was moved by questions about why refugees were seen as pitiful, problematic objects. I wanted to learn more about how critical refugee studies can be a tool for transforming how refugees are understood and rendered legible in media, academia, and elsewhere. Finally, conducting oral histories and archival research have been pivotal toward understanding the Chin people's history and making sense of my family's journey as refugees.
Abby Cortez
Major: Biology
Minors: Theatre Studies and Computational Biology/Bioinformatics
Class Year: Class of 2025
Duke email: abby.cortez@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I currently work in a cancer biology lab at Duke where I study understudies protein kinases. I'm interested in better understanding their role in prostate cancer and how it may impact tumor development.
How she got involved in research: I got involved in research at Duke my second semester freshman year through cold emailing. An upperclassman mentor guided me through the process. I have moved labs since then and am in my current lab thanks to participate in the Summer Research Opportunity Program run through the Duke Graduate School.
Reed Lessing
Majors: Neuroscience
Minor: Biology, Certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Class Year: 2025
Duke email: reed.lessing@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I am fascinated by the molecular drivers of neuroplasticity, learning, and neurological disease and the translation of scientific discoveries into therapeutics that improve lives. At Duke, these interests led me to the Eroglu Lab, where I currently investigate how neonatal protein malnutrition impacts neuroimmune development with Dr. Carina Block. I have also spent a summer researching novel drug targets as a Biology Intern at MOMA Therapeutics, a next-generation precision medicine company dedicated to targeting highly dynamic proteins that underlie human disease.
How she got involved in research: I became involved with research at Duke as a Huang Fellow during the summer after my first year. Through the program, I joined the Eroglu Lab and have been working there ever since!
Grace Davis
Major: Undeclared
Class Year: 2026
Duke email: gfd6@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I am involved in Bass Connection's Trauma-Informed Courts Project where we look into how improving the level of trauma-informedness towards juveniles during court proceedings results in better outcomes. My role includes observing juvenile court cases in varies North Carolina courts to asses the level of trauma-informedness.
I also have been involved in a MUSER project throughout my time at Duke, exploring factors that encourage or harm the political involvement of women, people of color, and others historically excluded from politics.
Post-Duke plans: I am interested in pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology after Duke. My long-term goals are to engage in research that promotes an understanding the way that trauma impacts individual's well-being and how to recover from it. In addition, I hope to be a clinical therapist that helps those who've suffered from traumatic experiences.
Mariana Meza
Major: Undeclared
Class Year: 2026
Duke email: mm973@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Current research project: I hope to explore qualitative research opportunities in the liberal arts and humanities. Previously, I conducted research on the immigration detention Credible Fear Interview process with a focus on detention centers in El Paso, Texas and New Mexico. I seek to develop my research on immigration and its intersections through community-based projects that center authentic migrant narratives. Additionally, I hope to pursue an expansion of the research opportunities available to marginalized communities on Duke's campus, as well as broaden the scope of research projects in Latin America.
Post-Duke plans: While I continue to develop my career interests, I hope to incorporate my passion for social justice and community organizing in my future plans. Additionally, I seek to continue my education by pursuing a graduate degree.
Margarita Krylova
Major: Neuroscience
Minor(s): Chemistry and Russian
Class Year: 2026
Duke email: mk591@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: I am currently involved in two research projects affiliated with Duke Neurosurgery. My basic science research and independent study, conducted in the Waitkus Lab at The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, focus on targeting DNA replication stress in glioblastoma cells by utilizing an atypical telomere-lengthening mechanism. My clinical research, under the mentorship of Dr. Hauck, investigates spontaneous and traumatic intra-orbital arteriovenous fistulas—an extremely rare occurrence with fewer than 30 reported cases worldwide. These immersive research experiences enhance my understanding of neuro-complexities and how to effectively address them using a patient-centered approach.
Post-Duke plans: After graduating, I aim to pursue either an MD-MBA or an MD-PhD. My specific interests in medicine include neuro- and transplant surgery, and I aspire to contribute to surgical research, either basic science or clinical, throughout my career.
Trisha Santanam
Major: English
Minor(s): Music
Class Year: 2026
Duke email: trisha.santanam@duke.edu
Pronouns: she/her
Current research project: My current research project aims to disrupt the traditional ways we understand something like a “map.” I have been trying to reconcile the idea of the sonic-- something auditory, intangible, easily embodied—with the traditional definition of cartography—something visual, constricting, definitive. I'm interested in how music, literature, and mapping are used to re-member and preserve things related to memory, as well as how these ideas can be used to warp our traditional sense of time.
How she got involved with research: I began doing research at Duke in my sophomore year by participating in the "Rosetta Reitz Musical Archive of Care" Bass Connections Team, because I wanted to know more about archival memory and gaps. Being a part of that research team made me interested in the relationship between music and literature, so I enrolled in an Independent Study in the Fall to further explore literature's musical roots. I spent the summer after my sophomore year pursuing a personal research project on sound and mapping through the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship.