The CUR Ambassador program provides a platform for undergraduate leaders who are passionate about research and outreach to play a direct role in enhancing the undergraduate research experience on and off campus.
Our diverse group of ambassadors serves as official representatives of the Center for Undergraduate Research. We offer myriad services to spread information and resources to University of Florida faculty, administration, and student organizations interested in undergraduate research.
CUR Ambassadors serve to connect UF undergraduates to researchers in every field. Through one-on-one peer advising, research-centered workshops, targeted faculty outreach, and educational outreach at schools in the community, our ambassadors are unified under the common cause of improving the undergraduate research experience for everyone. We are committed to maintaining our university’s place as the top research institution in Florida, and we work every day to advance UF’s and CUR’s mission to go even further.
Our organization and its ambassadors are divided into committees that each specialize in one of our primary initiatives. Committees are led by members of the executive board.
Learn more about our committees and committee leaders below.
The Campus Outreach committee promotes involvement in the undergraduate research environment. We aim to serve all UF students and faculty members and jumpstart their research involvement through classroom and general body presentations, speaking to incoming students at Preview, and tabling in Turlington and in front of Newell Hall.
The Educational Outreach committee works with local students to foster an excitement for discovery and experimentation. Serving children from various backgrounds across four elementary and middle schools, our weekly science clubs inspire and encourage learning for all students, and our high school mentorship initiative connects local high school students to current UF undergraduate researchers. Our interactive experiments, lessons, and programs promote the synergy between the arts and sciences and a holistic, experiential approach to learning.
Through one-on-one peer advising, CURBS aims to guide undergraduate students find and be successful in research. Peer advisors are experiences undergraduate researchers trained to work with students to help students find enriching research opportunities, apply to research scholarships and programs, create outstanding oral and poster presentations, and develop effective resumes.
The Public Relations committee is responsible for managing CUR’s interactions with the University of Florida community. Ambassadors work with our other committees to maintain social media accounts, document CURBS events through photography and videography, and design promotional flyers.
The Undergraduate Liaison Council is comprised of student representatives who collaborate with colleges at UF to uniquely address their needs and increase the quality of undergraduate research within each college. Liaisons work directly with college faculty to create research initiatives, further student outreach, and support underrepresented areas within research.
The Workshops Committee is responsible for planning and executing weekly events during the Fall and Spring semesters. Aiming to provide in-depth information and guidance on all aspects of research, these events can come in many forms, including lectures, discussions, and panels.
Being on the CURBS e-board allowed me to provide leadership to other students seeking to find research experience. I was able to use these skills to present during workshops on how to find research positions and the benefits of doing undergraduate research.