Staff
Meet the Office of Undergraduate Research staff
Karen Rodriguez'G, Director
Karen Rodriguez’G is Director of the Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research. As Director, she leads several campus-wide innovations and initiatives designed to foster, support, and enhance undergraduate research within the larger educational and research mission of the university, including: building best practice models in support of undergraduate research; recognition of faculty mentors in tenure and promotion; large-scale assessment of the impact/benefits of research; and pedagogical initiatives fostering access to the research process for underserved student populations. She is currently a Fiddler Faculty Fellow as part of a grant-funded year-long interdisciplinary research community and pedagogical initiative foregrounding the importance of the arts & humanities in global innovations. Earning her PhD in History (Modern Britain and Empire) from the U of I, her research interests include imperial/global networks of knowledge and exchange, space, place and identity, and the science of teaching and learning, particularly in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts.
Chris Holmes, Associate Director
Chris Holmes is the Associate Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research as well as the co-director of the AAP Summer Research Fellowship in Integrative Biology (AAP-SRF). He received his MS (2014) and PhD (2019), both in Biology, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chris' research interests include evolutionary ecology and the maintenance of biodiversity in natural and semi-natural habitats. As a professional, Chris aims to promote students' intrinsic motivation so as to drive self-exploration and the pursuit of knowledge. Chris' responsibilities at OUR include 1) the supervision of the day to day operational activities of the office including the oversight of office staff, programs, and budget, 2) assisting the director with the development of OUR’s strategic plan, 3) coordinating the office's outreach efforts, 4) oversight of office- and campus-level assessment efforts, 5) supporting undergraduates throughout their research journeys, and 6) serving as a liaison to the Big Ten Academic Alliance Directors of Undergraduate Research.
Max Tetrick, Coordinator of Research Programs
Max Tetrick is the Coordinator of Research Programs in the Office of Undergraduate Research. He earned his BA from Grinnell College (2019) and PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2024), both in chemistry. During his PhD, Max had the opportunity to mentor several undergraduate researchers while exploring the impact of nanoparticle exposure on cell migratory behavior. Max is passionate about demystifying the research process to increase undergraduate engagement; he strives to promote equitable access to undergraduate research and university support systems to bolster the success of students from all backgrounds in higher education. Within OUR, Max leads the undergraduate research workshop series, oversees the Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassadors Program, and supports students in all aspects of their research journey. He is dedicated to making UIUC a welcoming, supportive, and successful environment for all students..
Lisa Surber-Cunningham, Programs Specialist
Lisa Surber-Cunningham is a programs specialist in the Office of Undergraduate Research, as well as a program coordinator for the AAP Summer Research Fellowship in Integrative Biology (AAP-SRF), and PhD candidate in the department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mills College (2015) and a Master of Science in Biology at Sonoma State University (2019). She currently researches environmental effects on development and behavior in poison frog tadpoles. Lisa is passionate about mentoring undergraduate students and getting them involved in research. She has mentored several undergraduate students at UIUC, working with the Phenotypic Plasticity Research Experience for Community College Students (PRECS) program and AAP-SRF. Within OUR, she leads the Illinois Undergraduate Research Ambassadors Program and is involved in campus-wide efforts to get undergraduates prepared and involved in research. In the lab and the office, Lisa is deeply committed to fostering a community that embraces and celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Paul Un, Graduate Assistant
Paul Un is a Graduate Assistant in the Office of Undergraduate Research and a PhD student in the Department of Political Science. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government from the University of Puget Sound (2020) and a Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Chicago (2021). He currently researches the politics of foreign aid, with an emphasis on how to get health aid to the people who need it most. Paul is passionate about teaching and helping undergraduate students engage in research. He has mentored undergraduate students at UIUC and elsewhere, including leading sessions on research methods. Within OUR, he primarily helps support the Undergraduate Research Week & Symposium. In the classroom and in the field, Paul is working to grow our community’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.