Distinguished Undergraduate Researcher Certificate
Distinguished Researchers are trailblazers shaping tomorrow's discoveries.
In Fall 2013, the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) introduced the Undergraduate Research Certificate program to recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and achievement in rigorous research endeavors during their undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
In Fall 2023, OUR reimagined the certificate to reflect the evolution of the office and expansion of undergraduate research at Illinois. This new certificate elevated the standards, amplifying the impact on our certificate holders' experiences. Our vision was clear: to equip the next generation of researchers with a diverse array of high-impact and immersive opportunities and to provide extensive exposure to the dynamic world of research.
While at Illinois, Distinguished Undergraduate Researchers engaged in authentic and often original research experiences under the guidance of faculty mentors, explored their chosen disciplines in greater depth, and contributed to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields. The Distinguished Undergraduate Researcher Certificate serves as an acknowledgment of the acquired proficiencies in critical thinking, problem-solving, evaluation and analysis, and effective communication.
Below you will find a list of certificate awardees:
Academic Year 2022/23
Ilya Ahmad, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2023Neha Arun, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Arushi Bharel, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2023
Anna Blair, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Noeleen Brown, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Judy Hsin-Hui Chiang, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Rujuta Chikodikar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Heiley Choi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Yoobeen Choi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Yuhe Cui, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Class of 2023
Andrea Czart, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Claire Fleming, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Arianna Fritz, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Emma Henderson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Husna Hussaini, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Michael Jacobson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Jie Ji, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Chenghao Jiang, Gies College of Business, Class of 2023
Rushdan Jimoh, School of Information Sciences, Class of 2023
Alanna Kaminsky, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2023
Abigail Keck, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2023
Rachel Liu, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Zhengde Liu, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Austin Lu, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2023
Erin Markowitz, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Ruiqi Pan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2025
Nicolas Patino, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Aydan Pirani, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2024
Max Polanek, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Walker Rickord, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2024
Eve Rubovits, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2023
Quinn Searsmith, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Sonja Shirkevich, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Brandon Snipe, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2024
Ann Steephen, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Anastasiya Sushkova, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Tyler Swanson, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2023
Aparajita Vemuri, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Holly Wingren, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Ainslee Wong, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Norah Yao, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Benedict Yeoh Keng Aik, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Academic Year 2021/22
Semira Abera, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021Saumya Agrawal, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Emily Albert-Stauning, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Tathagata Banerjee, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2023
Connor Barnes, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Jared Angel Canty, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Ellie Cho, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Ian Flueck, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2022
Nimisha Goenka, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Eleanor Humphreys, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Edward Kim, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Maddie Lamphear, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2024
Katherine Lim, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2021
Elisabeth Martin, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2022
Alastair Merrett, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Class of 2022
Edward Neves, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Carolyn Oh, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Bhavya Pardasani, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Stephanie Petrov, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Farah Mohammed Rafee, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2023
Jacob Reed, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Dale Robbennolt, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2022
Tyler Roberson, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2022
Alexander Romanov, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2023
Ayman Roslend, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Royal Shrestha, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2023
Alexandra Simon, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Srishti Tiwari, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Kayla Marie Vittore, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2022
Clay Ward, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Madisyn Welsh, School of Social Work, Class of 2022
Grace Westphal, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Ananya Yammanuru, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2022
Amanda Yeazel, School of Social Work, Class of 2020
Xiaoye Zhang, College of Media, Class of 2022
Academic Year 2020/21
Autumn Brandenburg, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021Mary Buchheit, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2021
Annie Cheung, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Brendon Culloton, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Class of 2021
Brooke Dykstra, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Francis Fang, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Pranav Gulukota, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Jack Hamman, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2020
Kenna Hansen, College of Media, Class of 2021
Olivia Kupiec, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2021
Topaz Lavi, School of Social Work, Class of 2021
Sophie Luijten, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Sean MacAllister, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Diana Morales, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2022
Michelle Nutlis, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Milena Nutrobkina, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Natalia Ozymko, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2021
Cheyenne Petersen, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2022
Vincent Prayugo, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Roli Sharma, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Gauransh Tandon, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Emily Terrill, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Grace Tessitore, College of Media, Class of 2021
Bansari Upadhyay, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Sanjana Venkataraman, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Ying Yang, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2021
Fahren Zackery, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Jennifer Zeng, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2021
Academic Year 2019/20
Veronica Boron, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020Jack Brown, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Lamia Chatriwala, College of Media, Class of 2019
Denzel Ryan Cruz, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2020
Aditi Doshi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Kathleen Dowling, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2020
Jemima Elsherbini, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Diana Greiner, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Alan Hsieh, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
John Ito, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Taskeen Khan, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Alexandra Kontos, School of Social Work, Class of 2020
Sarah Leary, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Matias Morales, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Tamara Nelson-Fromm, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2020
Haley Penkala, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Kagen Quiballo, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Janell Ross, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2018
Lauren Todorov, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Jacqueline Trujillo, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Zhuohun Wang, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Claire Williams, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Elena Wilson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Academic Year 2018/19
Faisal Aldukhi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019Rose Aubery, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Jordan Barry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Cara Braasch, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Jose Bucio, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2018
Tredayne Cabanlit, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Demeisha Carlton, School of Social Work, Class of 2018
Lauren Castaneda, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Sergi Castells, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2020
Miranda Gurra, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Emmy Hallett, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Allisa Hastie, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2020
Than Huynh, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2019
Alayna Johnson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Xiaomin Li, Grainger College of Engineering, Class of 2020
Grace Moran, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Elizabeth Murphy, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2020
Samantha Noehre, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2019
Charlie Nudelman, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2019
Melissa Pietrowicz, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2018
Selena Wang, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2020
Julianne Yang, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Academic Year 2017/18
Kareem Al-Qadi, College of Engineering, Class of 2018Kelsey Barnett, School of Social Work, Class of 2018
Stephen Duginger, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Taylor Jansen, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Shawn Kim, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Joseph Mike Mayer, College of Engineering, Class of 2018
Sahana Moodabagil, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Aishwarya Raj, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Amber Rose, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Aparna Sivasankaran, College of Media, Class of 2018
Chi Tran, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Taylor Walker, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Rebecca Wipfler, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Academic Year 2016/17
Carissa Ernat, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2017Emily Forbes, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Kahlia Roe Halpern, School of Social Work, Class of 2017
Shuyang Jin, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Malik Lee, Gies College of Business, Class of 2017
Ruth Londono, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2021
Ahrianna Mitchell-Sodipe, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2017
Sahana Manju Moodabagil, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Michelle Patino, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2019
Aparna Sivasankaran, College of Media, Class of 2018
Stephanie Smolen, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2018
Krisa Ye, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2017
Yixin Zou, College of Media, Class of 2017
Academic Year 2015/16
Srushti Acharekar, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2018Oludemilade Akinrotimi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Elizabeth Baehl, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2016
Brandon Boston, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Dallas DeMartini, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Caitlin Dingwall, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Alexander Duman, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2017
Lauren Emerson, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Sandra Franco, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Osazomon Imarenezor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Arianna Jenkins, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Shuyang Jin, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Joo Hoon Kim, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Hung Lang, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2017
Malik Lee, Gies College of Business, Class of 2017
Michael Leventhal, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Ruiting Liang, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2016
Viridiana Luna, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Ahrianna Mitchell-Sodipe, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2017
Miguel A. Moscoso, College of Engineering, Class of 2016
Xorla S. Ocloo, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Caroline R. Quintanilla, School of Social Work, Class of 2016
Madeline G. Reinecke, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2017
Samantha J. Shah, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Peter Shyu, College of Engineering, Class of 2016
Stephanie Smolen, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2017
Andrew Xuan Vinh Tran, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2018
Gabriel Velarde, College of Engineering, Class of 2016
Jiarui Xu, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Krisa Ye, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2017
James Yoo, College of Media, Class of 2015
Yixin Zhou, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2024
Academic Year 2014/15
Matthew Boyce, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015Jasmine Brown, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2015
Noelle Bruce, School of Social Work, Class of 2019
Emilie N. Butt, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Jacob Calvert, College of Engineering, Class of 2015
Beatrice Chen, School of Social Work, Class of 2014
Angela Chen, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Karen Lee Ann Chen, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2015
Lauren Delaney, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2014
Patricia Fleming, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Samantha Joan Fuchs, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Carly Graham, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Nicole Hakim, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Heidi Heim, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Jayan Hewaparakrama, College of Engineering, Class of 2016
Molly Imgruet, College of Engineering, Class of 2015
Jiwon Kim, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Jonas Kurniawan, College of Engineering, Class of 2015
Samantha Labus, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2015
Megan Lindgren, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Stephanie Meyers, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Nicholas Millman, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Ashley Moy, College of Engineering, Class of 2016
Sylvia Nunez, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Taylor Person, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2015
Krish W. Ramadurai, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Kylie Ritter, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2015
Clare Rogers, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2015
Amanda Rohde, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2015
Vivian Shen, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Andrew Sheriff, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Leila Shinn, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2018
Joy Sugihara, School of Social Work, Class of 2015
Stephanie Svarz, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Katharine Tyndall, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Richard Vachula, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Melina Zavala, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Han Zhu, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Yihui Zhu, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Academic Year 2013/14
David D. Adeleye, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014Brandon P. Boyce, College of Engineering, Class of 2014
Matthew R. Boyce, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
William J. Bruce, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Nicholas M. Dietrich, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Kathryn Dorhout, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Blake A. Flood, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Lauren A. Fritzsche, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2016
Natali Gracia, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2015
Jayan S. Hewaparakrama, College of Engineering, Class of 2016
Naomi S. Hill, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Daniel J. Hirsbrunner, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Rachel J. Hopman, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Alexandra M. Karigan, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2014
Aya Kobeissi, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Samantha R. Labus, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2015
Anastashia Lesmana, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, Class of 2013
Matthew K. Macomber, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Lilli Melero, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2015
Jennifer R. Merritt, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2013
ManoLasya Perepa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Xavier Ramirez, School of Social Work, Class of 2015
Clare Rankhorn, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Sarah M. Richards, College of Applied Health Sciences, Class of 2014
Alexander J. Senetar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014
Gina K. Wojnar, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Class of 2014
Chun Yip, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Class of 2014