Meet our 2019-2020 Peer Mentors!

The Peer Mentoring Program is designed to provide support to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing research and inquiry.  Our peer mentors are wonderful undergraduate and graduate students who represent active researchers and role models from FAU's colleges and partner campuses. If you are interested in participating in undergraduate research or have questions related to how you can get started in research please email one of the mentors in your college to set up a time to meet.  Mentors are available to meet on the Boca Raton and Jupiter Campuses! The Peer Mentor page can tell you more about how YOU can become a mentor too! 

Come visit a Peer Mentor in OURI during their Summer Office Hours

Peer Mentors are available to meet in person by appointment or during their office hours.  Spring 2019 office hours will begin January 14th!

Mondays:

• Amrita:                 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.  & 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Alexis:                  10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Tuesdays:

• Amrita:               8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Skylar:               1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Caralin:              2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Wednesdays:

• Giselle:                9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Amrita:               11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Sydney:              3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursdays:

• Kelly:                 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
• Caralin:              2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Fridays:

• Amrita:               1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

2019-2020 Peer Mentors

	Email:	College & Major:	Research Interest:	Hobbies:
Alexis Base	abase2015@fau.edu	College of Engineering and Computer Science, majoring in Ocean Engineering	Underwater Exploration, Identification of Species, and Protecting Reefs from Invasive Species.	Fishing and 3D Print ing
Caralin Branscum	Cbranscum2013@fau.edu	College of Design and Social Inquiry, Graduate Student majoring in Criminal Justice	I’m currently a student in the Master of Science in Criminology & Criminal Justice program. I participated in undergraduate research starting my sophomore year of college and I graduated from FAU with my Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice and my Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in Spring 2018. My research focuses on legal studies, specifically involving the analysis of state legislation for various criminal justice topics. I’ve studied how state legislation addresses sexual assault, stalking, and most recently, human trafficking.	I’m extremely passionate about my research, being a peer mentor, and encouraging other students to see out academic and creative opportunities through our office and FAU.
Sydney Elney	selney@my.fau.edu	College of Business, majoring in Finance	My research focuses on gender equality, behavioral finance, banks and banking, business strategy, disruptive innovation, forecasting and prediction, operations, performance effectiveness, product positioning and social entrepreneurship.	Fun Fact: Glitter is my favorite color
Amrita Ghaness	Aghaness2013@fau.edu	College of Education, Graduate Student majoring in Clinical Mental Health Counseling	My current research focuses on the therapeutic relationship, or the relationship between a therapist and a client. Specifically, we are looking at how verbal and nonverbal behaviors influence the therapeutic relationship and how the therapeutic relationship affects client outcomes.	My hobbies include swimming, listening to music, and spending time outside.
Giselle Shim	gshim2017@fau.edu	College of Science, majoring in Biology	Cancer and neurological research, and how different drugs effect neurological functions.	My hobbies include photography, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Jessica Young	youngjessica2015@fau.edu	Wilkes Honors College, majoring in Geoscience, Environmental Science, Writing	3D and 2D modeling, data visualizations, visual narratives, snails	Art, gardening
Toluleke Famuyiwa	tfamuyiwa2014@fau.edu	Ph.D. candidate in the College of Science majoring in Biology	My ongoing Ph.D. research is on overcoming ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters mediated multidrug resistance in prostate cancer cells. The combination of 3-Bromopyruvate and SC-514 will potentially inhibit multidrug resistance, and block survival pathways such as NF-KB (Nuclear Factor Kappa-Light-Chain-Enhancer of Activated B cells) pathway. Overall goals of this study are to: (I) reduce efflux of drugs from the prostate cancer cells; (II) reduce the toxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs to healthy cells, and (III) prevent prostate cancer metastasis to tissues in the body.	I like playing chess and watching comedy shows and movies. I like having an interesting conversation with people (even people that don't think or look like me).
Kelly Thomas	kellythomas2018@fau.edu	College of Education majoring in Exceptional  student  education	Research interests: Emotional & Behavioral Disorders (EBD) in education.    Current research: How culture affects the disproportionatality of students identified with or at risk of developing EBD.	Running, reading, the beach, spending time with my family, football (New Orleans Saints), and watching my son play baseball (coach pitch - Little League).
Skylar Hooler	shooler@my.fau.edu	College of Science, majoring in Geoscience	My research focuses on using water chemistry to delineate water flow paths and characterize surface water-groundwater interactions through a combination of field, laboratory, and modeling techniques. We explore relationships between factors that influence water chemistry such as biogeochemistry, geologic setting, and human activities.	Surfing, playing beach volleyball, gardening, cooking and traveling.
Olivia Curtis	ocurtis2017@fau.edu	Wilkes Honors College, majoring in Liberal Arts and Science	I enjoy researching about dementia. My research interests include ways of preventing dementia through lifestyle changes, such as diet and physical activity. I also enjoy researching about non-pharmaceutical interventions that could improve dementia symptoms, such as ballroom dancing.	Weight-lifting and trying new foods.