About CAURS

The Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS) is one of the largest annual undergraduate research conferences in the country, bringing together hundreds of undergraduate students in the Chicagoland area from all academic disciplines to present their research. Through poster presentations, oral presentations, and roundtable discussions, attendees experience the impressive breadth and depth of research being conducted by their peers and have the opportunity to network with other undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and representatives from industry and graduate and professional schools. CAURS 2025 will be the 21st anniversary of our symposium!

Inter-School Board 2024-2025

One of the most unique aspects of CAURS, and one that we pride ourselves on, is that the Symposium is planned and run almost entirely by undergraduates. The CAURS Inter-School Board (ISB) is comprised of 10 dedicated students from 5 Chicago area institutions who work year-round to organize and arrange the Symposium. We encourage you to reach out to the ISB representatives from your school if you have any questions or comments!

Scroll down for the 2024-2025 Inter-School Board application details!

Sophia Bonfigli

Director

Sophia is a senior at Northwestern University majoring in Biology and minoring in Anthropology. She is a researcher in the Stupp Lab, developing and testing bioactive dynamic nanomaterials for applications in regenerative medicine. She has won multiple grants for her research, presented at conferences, and is currently working on her honors thesis. On campus, Sophia is the Co-Vice President of the Undergraduate Premedical Society and the treasurer for the Art Union and The Set Up, a stand-up comedy club. After graduation, she will be attending Feinberg Medical School. In her free time, she loves hands-on activities like painting, crocheting, and cooking.

Sanjay Ganesh

Deputy Director

Sanjay is in his last year at the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in biochemistry and minoring in computer science. He currently works with a retina specialist at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary where he has been awarded multiple grants to study the role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of ocular tumors. Additionally, he conducts research in UICOM’s Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine studying novel therapies for various retinal diseases. At UIC, he is a co-president of the Honors College Advisory Board, the vice-president of Blood Drive at UIC, and on the board for Sparkathon. Following graduation this Spring, he will be matriculating to the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Most of his free time now goes to photography and travel, but he also enjoys hanging out with his friends and sleeping.

Eva Min

Deputy Director

Eva is a third year at DePaul University majoring in Neuroscience. She currently conducts research at the Cudaback Lab investigating the innate inflammatory signaling pathway of the APOE gene in Alzheimer's disease. She is also involved in joint research with the IDeA Lab at the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience with a focus in neurodegenerative imaging biomarkers. At DePaul, she serves as Student Ambassador of the College of Science & Health, Vice President of Neuroscience Club, and Co-President of the nonprofit Advocacy for Goodness & Equity. She plans to pursue an MD upon graduation. In her free time she enjoys volunteering as an ESL tutor, running, and cooking for her friends and family. 

Sophia Rankin

Sophia Rankin is a senior in Loyola University of Chicago’s Forensic Sciences program, pursuing a minor in chemistry. As a Mulcahy Scholar in surface chemistry with the Ciszek Group, Sophia currently investigates the regioselectivity of Diels-Alder reactions in the vapor phase. Her previous research experiences include internships at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and with Eurofins Agroscience. Sophia plans to pursue a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology applying proteomics analysis to biomarkers of addiction susceptibility and identification of effective treatments for substance abuse. In her free time, Sophia loves to run, read, play video games, and spend time with her cat, Ethyl.

Akshay Dalvi

Akshay is a junior at the University of Illinois Chicago majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Biological Sciences. He currently conducts research in the Jung Lab at UICOM, studying the protective effects of the HEN1 gene on zebrafish microRNAs for applications in lymphatic regeneration. He also works with an oncologist at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, investigating diagnosis disclosure patterns in patients with plasma cell disorders. On campus, Akshay is the president of Blood Drive at UIC, the president of ChemER, the director of internal affairs of Delta Epsilon Mu, and the secretary of the Society of Future Physicians. After graduation, he plans to pursue a degree in medicine. In his free time, you can find Akshay playing ping-pong, watching football and horror movies, reading, or spending time with his dog, Winnie.

Eduardo Andrade

Eduardo is a senior at Northwestern University majoring in Biology with a minor in Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering. He works in the Prindle Lab researching group dynamics and metabolism in bacteria. Additionally, he is president of the Effective Altruism Club, the Biology Team Leader for AutoAquaponics, and on the board of the Rock Climbing Club. Following graduation, Eduardo hopes to pursue a career in biosecurity. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, traveling, and playing basketball.

Jayannah Herdrich

Jayannah is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in Chemistry and English Literature. She is a researcher in the Oldfield research group, working on SQ109 drug discovery and statin/azole synergies to treat harmful fungal pathogens. Jayannah is also a Merit TA for the UIUC Chemistry Department, where she teaches General Chemistry I. Additionally, Jayannah is the President of the UIUC Cosmetic Chemistry Club and Writing Chair of the CU Knowledge Sprout Initiative, a nonprofit that writes chapter books for underserved students in Champaign. In her free time, Jayannah enjoys playing the violin in the Illini Strings Orchestra, reading classic novels, and watching movies with her family.

Jameson Walker

Jameson Walker is a senior at Loyola University Chicago with a major in Environmental Policy and minors in Global Studies and European Studies. Jameson’s research interests include environmental justice, energy security and its intersections with international relations, and the inter-relatedness of climate change, public health, and disability. He has conducted two years of research under the Provost Undergraduate Fellowship, with his first project in 2023 focusing on blame misattribution in US media when covering the causes of environmental degradation in the Global South. This year, Jameson has conducted research on the enduring consequences of the energy crisis in the EU resulting from the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Outside of research, Jameson engages with his community as the Founder and President of Loyola’s Students with Disabilities Coalition, the secretary for the Iota Lambda Chapter of Delta Alpha Phi, the Community Engagement Chair for Loyola’s Honors Mentorship Program, and as a volunteer for Edgewater Mutual Aid Network. In his free time, you’d find Jameson playing Dungeons and Dragons, going hiking, and hanging out with his cats.

Eunice Oluwafisoye

Eunice is a freshman at Loyola University Chicago majoring in History with a minor in Bioethics, and potentially an additional minor in healthcare administration. She is passionate about exploring the connection between history, advocacy, and healthcare, and plans on going into research within those fields in the near future. Outside of the classroom, she is an active member of the Loyola University Chicago Mock Trial Team, as well as the Philanthropy Chair of the LUC Political Discourse Club. In her free time, you can find her outside, going on long hikes, exploring nature, and painting.

Wafa Choubkha

Wafa is a junior at DePaul University majoring in Health Sciences with a biomedical concentration. She is a research coordinator at Northwestern University in the HeartShare Study, which specializes in heart failure, particularly focusing on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Her previous research was in the American College of Cardiology Young Scholars Program, exploring innovative approaches to cardiovascular health. On campus, Wafa is the co-founder and president of Kappa Gamma Delta, a pre-health sorority that brings women, philanthropy, and health professionals together. In her free time, she likes going to the gym, spending time with family, and playing with her pet rabbit.

Sujia Guo

Sujia is a sophomore at Illinois Institute of Technology majoring in Computer Science. She has completed a virtual internship at a green environmental company in South Africa where she contributed to innovative ecological development initiatives. She has also worked at the Beijing Union University's Intelligent Transportation and Robotics Research Institute, developing vehicle recognition systems for enhanced traffic safety applications. On campus, Sujia serves as an Engagement Peer Mentor where she guides incoming students through their academic transition and cultural adjustment. She is also an active board member of the Chinese Students Association, organizing cultural events and fostering community connections. In her free time, she loves experimenting with new baking recipes and is a huge J-pop fan, always excited to discover and share new music with friends.

Alicia Jimmar

Alicia is a fourth year at the University of Chicago studying Anthropology and Race, Diaspora, and Indigeneity. They are currently working with the National Opinion Research Center and Chicago Public Schools on a research democratization project aimed to increase CPS parents’ and students’ active participation in the education research process and policy-making processes. They are also conducting ethnographic research for their BA thesis, investigating the role of student activists within broader social movements in Chicago, both historically and today. Alicia is also a manager at a cafe on the University of Chicago’s campus, as well as an active member of numerous social justice-focused organizations. After graduation, they plan to pursue a Master’s of Social Work in order to work with folks experiencing homelessness, substance abuse-related issues, and psychosis-based mental illnesses.

Kristen Castelino

Kristen is a junior at Northwestern University majoring in Neuroscience and Computer Science on the premedical track. Currently, she is a member of the Pinto Lab at Feinberg Medical School where she studies the neural activity patterns underlying decision making in mice. At Northwestern, she is an Advising Fellow in Matriculate – a nonprofit providing college advising to FGLI high school students – as well as a Senior General Chemistry tutor and active member of the Archery club. Following graduation, Kristen plans to pursue an MD/MBA. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, visiting coffee shops, and discovering new artists on Spotify!