About

Meet the Office of Undergraduate Research and Explore our Foundations from Mission, Vision, and Values to our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Meet the Team Mission, Vision, and Values Our Commitment Pillars

Meet the Team

Access team bios and contact information

Sophie Pierszalowski

Sophie Pierszalowski

Director

sophpier@uw.edu

Sophie Pierszalowski

Director

Sophie Pierszalowski (she/her)

Sophie (she/her) serves as Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. She received her Ph.D. in Science Education from Oregon State University (OSU), where her dissertation examined potential barriers to accessing undergraduate research experiences, including systemic and structural inequities that perpetuate opportunity gaps. Before joining the Office of Undergraduate Research, Sophie worked at OSU, first coordinating the OSU STEM Leaders Program and then later serving as Associate Director of OSU’s Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and the Arts. Prior to pivoting to a career in student success, Sophie studied marine ecology and used molecular genetics and demographics to investigate long-standing questions regarding the ecology and population structure of humpback whales in the North Pacific. She received her M.Sc. in Wildlife Science from OSU. Her passion for marine mammals and molecular genetics began with an undergraduate research experience while completing her B.S. in Biology and Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at UW.

sophpier@uw.edu

sophiepubs

Pierszalowski, S., Hong S., Kenney, J., & Vignos, S. (2024). Mentoring for Equity and Inclusion: Strategies for Balancing Student Advocacy and Empowerment. Perspectives on Undergraduate Research & Mentoring, 12.1.

Pierszalowski, S., Steel, D. J., Gabriele, C. M., Neilson, J. L., Vanselow, P. B., Cedarleaf, J. A., … & Baker, C. S. (2023). mtDNA heteroplasmy gives rise to a new maternal lineage in North Pacific humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Journal of Heredity, 114(1), 14-21.

Pierszalowski, S., Bouwma-Gearhart, J., & Marlow, L. (2021). A Systematic Review of Barriers to Accessing Undergraduate Research for STEM Students: Problematizing Under-Researched Factors for Students of Color. Social Sciences, 10(9), 328.

Pierszalowski S, James G, Fetherstonhaugh G, Cheung I, Chappell P, Engels J, Plaza D, Ramos S, & López-Cevallos D. (2021). Communities of practice in academic administration: An example from managing undergraduate research at a research-intensive university. Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education, 4(1), 81-90.

Pierszalowski S., Smith F., & López-Cevallos D. (2020). Research experiences for all undergraduate students? Building a more equitable and inclusive office of undergraduate research at a land-grant institution. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 52(6), 38-47.

Pierszalowski S., Heinonen G., Ulman B., & López-Cevallos D. (2020). Developing a virtual undergraduate research symposium in response to COVID-19 disruptions: Building a Canvas-based shared platform and pondering lessons learned. Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research, 4(1), 75.

Haddad B., Pierszalowski S., & Velez J. (2020). Access to leadership efficacy: Those who start early finish ahead. Journal of Leadership Education, 4, 4-40.

Pierszalowski, S. P., Vue, R., & Bouwma-Gearhart, J. (2018). Overcoming barriers in access to high quality education after matriculation: Promoting strategies and tactics for engagement of underrepresented groups in undergraduate research via institutional diversity action plans. Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, 19(1).

Pierszalowski, S. P., Gabriele, C. M., Steel, D. J., Neilson, J. L., Vanselow, P. B., Cedarleaf, J. A., & Baker, C. S. (2016). Local recruitment of humpback whales in Glacier Bay and Icy Strait, Alaska, over 30 years. Endangered Species Research, 31, 177-189.

Pierszalowski, S. P., Ferrari, M., Glockner‐Ferrari, D., Mizroch, S., Clapham, P. J., & Dickerson, B.R. (2013). Investigating the feasibility of using DNA from sloughed skin for individual identification and kinship analysis in humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Marine Mammal Science, 29(3), 533-541.
Chelsea Navarro

Chelsea Navarro

Assistant Director

crmn@uw.edu

Chelsea Navarro

Assistant Director

Chelsea Navarro (she/her)

Chelsea (she/her) is the Assistant Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. She received her M.Ed. in Student Affairs from the University of California Los Angeles and completed her B.A. in Sociology from San Diego State University. She is a proud first-generation college student, community college transfer student, and Chicana educator. Prior to joining the Office of Undergraduate Research, Chelsea held leadership positions in Residence Life at Cal Poly Pomona and worked as an academic adviser at the Foster School of Business and Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington-Seattle. Throughout her career in higher education, she has remained committed to her passion for student success by providing resources, mentorship, and opportunities for students to engage in transformative educational experiences.

crmn@uw.edu
Allison Perez

Allison Perez

Program Manager

allperez@uw.edu

Allison Perez

Program Manager

Allison Perez (she/her)

Allison (she/her) is the Program Manager of the Office of Undergraduate Research. She received her B.S. in BioResource Research with a focus in Toxicology and Chemistry at Oregon State University (OSU). She discovered her interest in environmental toxicology through a summer undergraduate research program where she studied the health effects of air pollution. At OSU, Allison worked as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and the Arts, where she became passionate about the importance of mentorship and creating equitable access to research opportunities. Her commitments to educational equity and decolonization drive her work here and in her personal life. Prior to joining the Office of Undergraduate Research, she served as an Americorps member with College Possible in Portland, OR, where she mentored low-income and first generation high school students through the college application process.

allperez@uw.edu
Jenny Kim

Jenny Kim

Program Manager

jkjenny@uw.edu

Jenny Kim

Program Manager

Jenny Kim (she/her)

Jenny (she/her) is the Research Pathways Program Manager for the Office of Undergraduate Research. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Whitman College and her Master of Public Health at the University of Washington. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research on how racial diversity impacts social cognition, attitudes, and categorization. In her Master’s program, she worked to devise and evaluate health promotion programs to advance health equity among immigrant populations. She served as the office’s GSA for two years and is excited to bring her experiences in program development, building partnerships, and supporting students into this new role.

jkjenny@uw.edu
Ruby Barone

Ruby Barone

Advisor & Coordinator

rkb27@uw.edu

Ruby Barone

Advisor & Coordinator

Ruby Barone (she/her)

Ruby (she/her) is an Advisor & Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Research. She received her B.A. in Art History and Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington. Her research as an undergraduate was sparked by her participation in the Summer Institute in the Arts & Humanities (SIAH), where she completed a formal project which investigated the intersection between art and language through an interdisciplinary and accessibility-focused lens. This project informed her undergraduate thesis on conceptualizing new ways to interact and coexist with art. She is excited to bring these experiences to her position with the Office of Undergraduate Research as she continues to advocate for diversity and accessibility in UW’s research community. Prior to joining the Office of Undergraduate Research, she served as the program assistant to the UW’s Mary Gates Endowment for Students (MGE), where she gained valuable insight on funding and supporting undergraduate research and leadership endeavors.

rkb27@uw.edu
Ethan R. Ankrum

Ethan R. Ankrum

Advisor & Coordinator

ankrum@uw.edu

Ethan R. Ankrum

Advisor & Coordinator

Ethan R. Ankrum (he/him)

Ethan (he/him) is an Advisor & Coordinator for the Office of Undergraduate Research. He received his B.A. in Business, Marketing, and Communication Studies from Buena Vista University (BVU). During his undergraduate experience, Ethan was exposed to a first-of-its-kind lab at BVU focused on middle grade knowledge and literacy of rural, non-English speaking students, with a focus on inference-making. The research is funded by a 2R15 grant through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). This has resulted in multiple co-authorships and presentations both nationally and internationally. This experience fueled Ethan to step into an IRB and IBC reviewer role with Creighton University in Omaha, NE, where he spent time reviewing human subject and biohazardous material usage applications for quality improvement and minimal risk. He then moved into a role with the university’s center for undergraduate research and scholarship as a program manager.

ankrum@uw.edu

knowledge availability in forming inferences with rural middle grade English learners. Learning and Individual Differences, 88.

Barth, A., Ankrum, E. R., Thomas, C. (2023). Inference instruction for students with reading disabilities. Rural Special Education Quarterly. (in production).

Barth, A., Thomas, C., Kincaid, H., Ankrum, E. R. (2022). Error patterns in the knowledge-based inference-making of less skilled middle-grade readers: An exploratory study. International Journal of Research in Learning Disabilities, 5(2): 18-35.

Daniel, J., Barth, A., Ankrum, E. R. (2023). Multicomponent reading intervention: A practitioner’s guide. The Reading Teacher. DOI: 10.1002/trtr.2265 (in production).

Barth, A., Daniel, J., Vaughn, S. R., Ankrum, E. R. The role of knowledge availability and accessibility in forming inferences among rural, at-risk, English learners. (in production).
Deborah Oladipo

Deborah Oladipo

Graduate Student Assistant

edo26@uw.edu

Deborah Oladipo

Graduate Student Assistant

Deborah Oladipo (she/her)

Deborah (she/her) is the Graduate Staff Assistant for the Office of Undergraduate Research and an MPH candidate in the Department of Global Health. She earned her B.S. in Human Biology, Health, and Society with a minor in Global Health from Cornell University. Deborah began her research journey in the Division of Plant Microbe Biology, gaining valuable wet lab experience in various molecular techniques. As an undergraduate immunology research intern at the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT, and Harvard, she utilized her skills to elucidate degradation patterns of viral HIV proteins.

Driven by a passion for improving population health in resource-limited settings, Deborah has led multiple community-based research projects. Notably, she was awarded a grant from Cornell University to investigate emergency preparedness behaviors in South-West Nigeria. Before starting her graduate studies at UW, Deborah worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Stanford Medicine, where she collaborated with translational research laboratories. These experiences have equipped her with extensive knowledge in basic science, clinical, and social science research methods. Deborah is enthusiastic about advising undergraduate students and creating a supportive environment for aspiring researchers.

edo26@uw.edu

Mission

The Office of Undergraduate Research advocates for inclusive and meaningful research experiences, promotes student engagement in research, and provides centralized support for undergraduate research at the University of Washington.

Vision

We envision a future where undergraduate research exists as an accessible and empowering opportunity for all students. As such, our office strives to foster a supportive and inclusive research culture in which undergraduate students from all identities, lived experiences, and disciplines feel empowered to engage in meaningful research experiences. We see ourselves having a role as changemakers and leaders, driving innovation and progress in undergraduate research by inspiring students, supporting faculty, and shaping the future of academic inquiry at the University of Washington.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

The Office of Undergraduate Research is Committed to the Advancement of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.

Diversity is deeply connected to research innovation and excellence. Students from diverse backgrounds bring new ideas and perspectives, and ask questions that reflect diverse values and life experiences. For this reason, it is widely recognized that diverse groups perform better.

However, at the Office of Undergraduate Research, we acknowledge that systemic and structural exclusion from research spaces has created disproportionate challenges in research advancement for students from minoritized backgrounds.

For example, BIPOC students contend with underrepresentation within the research enterprise and may experience negative psychosocial side effects that impact their ability to access and thrive in research opportunities. Students with high financial need may be excluded from volunteer research opportunities, which often serve as gatekeepers to more in-depth, paid research opportunities. While research happens in all academic disciplines, most STEM fields are deeply rooted in white, male, heterosexual, cis-gendered, able bodied, Western norms. This historical and contextual reality within STEM can be unwelcoming to individuals that do not share these privileged identities.

We also acknowledge the inextricable ties that the term “research” has to colonialism and the abuse of indigenous peoples by Western “researchers”.

At the Office of Undergraduate Research, we commit to the process of decolonizing research and to promoting research frameworks that respect indigenous peoples and their sovereignty, and uplift their knowledge. The Office of Undergraduate Research acknowledges the Coast Salish peoples of this land on which we live and work, the land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Suquamish, Tulalip and Muckleshoot nations.

As UW’s central unit for connecting undergraduates with opportunities for research, we recognize that we can play a critical role in closing opportunity gaps for students historically excluded from the research enterprise.

In our work, we aim to promote social justice and advance equity by 1) developing and offering programs, practices, and resources that amplify marginalized voices, 2) promoting more equitable access to research experiences, and 3) supporting research mentors in creating spaces that are welcoming and inclusive. A few of our equity initiatives include:

Designing and facilitating programs that promote the examination of structural and systemic inequities and advance research in the arts and humanities, which are historically underfunded research disciplines.
Building welcoming, inclusive spaces for those with an interest in research to come together to connect and build community.
Providing research mentors with workshops and resources to promote more equitable and inclusive mentorship practices.

While we are excited about these initiatives, we recognize that we have more work to do. We look forward to learning how to continue to advance our equity goals from others who are engaging in this important work and from the students who are brave enough to share their lived experiences as they navigate undergraduate research spaces.

Values

Our values fuel our work and support our mission and vision.

Student-Centered

Student-Centered

Student-Centered

We value students’ lived experiences and unique strengths, offering empathy, critical listening, and holistic support for students. We work to deeply understand the barriers and challenges students face in accessing and engaging in research so that we can better support and advocate for them.
Community Focus

Community Focus

Community Focus

We prioritize community, connection, and collaboration and find strength in partnerships. We recognize the value of collective efforts and diverse teams. We emphasize creating positive, supportive work environments for our team.
Holistic Impact

Holistic Impact

Holistic Impact

We view research as more than an academic pursuit; it is an opportunity to build confidence and belonging, establish meaningful relationships, take ownership of a topic, build collaborations, and find clarity in a path after graduation.
Adaptability

Adaptability

Adaptability

We value being open, flexible, and adaptive, continuously assessing our impact and welcoming innovation and feedback to better understand our reach and improve access for all students. We normalize mistake-making as part of the learning process and welcome feedback with curiosity.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We acknowledge that systemic and structural exclusion from research spaces has created disproportionate challenges in research advancement for students from minoritized backgrounds. As UW’s central unit for connecting undergraduates with opportunities for research, we recognize that we play a critical role in closing opportunity gaps for students historically excluded from the research enterprise. Thus, we actively work to create a research culture that centers access, equity, and inclusion.

About

Meet the Team

Meet the Team

Access team bios and contact information

Sophie Pierszalowski

Chelsea Navarro

Allison Perez

Jenny Kim

Ruby Barone

Ethan R. Ankrum

Deborah Oladipo

Mission

Vision

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Values

Values

Our values fuel our work and support our mission and vision.

Student-Centered

Community Focus

Holistic Impact

Adaptability

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Pillars

The building blocks for our mission, vision, values and guiding stars to our team.