About CAURS

The Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS) is one of the largest annual undergraduate research conferences in the country, bringing together hundreds of undergraduate students in the Chicagoland area from all academic disciplines to present their research. Through poster presentations, oral presentations, and roundtable discussions, attendees experience the impressive breadth and depth of research being conducted by their peers and have the opportunity to network with other undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and representatives from industry and graduate and professional schools.

Inter-School Board 2023-2024

One of the most unique aspects of CAURS, and one that we pride ourselves on, is that the Symposium is planned and run almost entirely by undergraduates. The CAURS Inter-School Board (ISB) is comprised of 10 dedicated students from 5 Chicago area institutions who work year-round to organize and arrange the Symposium. We encourage you to reach out to the ISB representatives from your school if you have any questions or comments!

Scroll down for the 2024-2025 Inter-School Board application details!

Josh Jerisha

Co-Director

Josh Jerisha (JJ) is a junior at Northwestern University majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Science in Human Culture. He served on the Inter-School Board for CAURS 2023 and currently serves as Co-Director for CAURS 2024. He has conducted research on antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa at the Feinberg School of Medicine and collaborated with the Journal of Medical Internet Research for a publication on COVID-19, social media, and mental health. He currently works in a neurobiology lab investigating the structural basis of therapeutic antibodies for Alzheimer’s Disease. As a 3rd Degree Black Belt in karate, JJ practices martial arts in his free time. He also enjoys keeping up with the NBA, biking, playing video games, and spending time with his family (especially his dog, Appa).

Joshua Grube

Co-Director

Josh Grube (JG) is a senior at the Ilinois Institute of Technology from Honolulu, HI. He is majoring in Biology and Psychological Science with a minor in Pre-Medical Studies. He is Co-Director for CAURS 2024 and has previously served on the ISB in addition to presenting his own research. Josh is also the Northern Lieutenant Governor of the Illinois-Eastern Iowa district of Circle K International, Co-President of IIT’s American Medical Student Association chapter, and a member of Illinois Tech’s improvisational comedy troupe. Currently, he is working as a research assistant on a project he began last summer related to substance abuse in Hawaii. In his free time, he likes going to concerts and live shows, hiking, and reading. He recommends checking out “What If?” by Randall Munroe!

Eva Min

Eva is a sophomore at DePaul University majoring in Neuroscience. She currently conducts research at her college's neuropathology lab concentrating on the innate inflammatory signaling pathway of the APOE gene in Alzheimer's disease. She is also involved in joint research with the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience focusing on the ethnic APOE e4 effect on neurodegeneration using imaging biomarkers. She hopes to further her experience in clinical research, and has thus interned with the University of Chicago Hospitalist Project and the UC Davis Medical Center Emergency Medicine Department. On campus and in the city, Eva is passionate about service work; she serves as the co-president of the DePaul Parish Executive Board, the community outreach chair of NeuroClub, and a medical advocate for sexual violence survivors. In her free time, she loves to be active, travel, and check things off her never-ending bucket list (skydiving is next!).

Vicky Chung

Vicky is a senior at Northwestern University majoring in Biology and minoring in Creative Nonfiction. She is currently an RA at the Foundations of Health Research Center, working specifically on the SPAH Study, which looks at the effects of stress on pregnant women and the possibility of adverse gestational environments. On campus, Vicky is the President of the Biology Students Association, the Biology Major Representative for the Student Advisory Board, a student representative for the Curricular Policies Committee, and a Peer Academic Coach. In her free time, you can catch Vicky making Spotify playlists, trying new restaurants with her family, or watching 2010's sitcoms. 

Sanjay Ganesh

Sanjay is a sophomore at the University of Illinois at Chicago majoring in biochemistry and minoring in computer science. He currently works with an ocular oncologist at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary where he has been awarded multiple grants to study the role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of ocular tumors. Additionally, he conducts research in UICOM’s Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine studying novel therapies for various retinal diseases. At UIC, he serves on the executive board for the Honors College Advisory Board, Blood Drive at UIC, and Sparkathon. Following graduation, Sanjay hopes to pursue an MD. In his free time, you can catch him playing his guitar, playing board games with his family, or watching movies!  

Sophia Bonfigli

Sophia is a junior at Northwestern University majoring in Biology with a minor in Anthropology. She is a researcher in the Stupp Lab, developing and testing bioactive dynamic nanomaterials for applications in regenerative medicine. On campus, Sophia is the Residential College Board President, a co-social chair for the Undergraduate Premedical Society, and involved in Art Union. After graduation, she plans to pursue a medical degree and become a surgeon. In her free time, she loves hands-on activities like painting, crocheting, and cooking.

Nina Sharma

Nina Sharma is a senior at Loyola University Chicago from Kalamazoo, MI. She is majoring in molecular biology and minoring in global studies. She is involved with research on campus where her focuses are experimental evolution and antibiotic resistance. Nina is a chemistry and calculus tutor and belongs to the Training and Professional Development Committee. Her other extracurriculars include coaching for Girls on the Run and volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. After graduation, Nina intends to take a gap year to work on a clinical research project before applying to medical school. In her free time, she enjoys running, baking, and spending time with her family.

Kristen Castelino

Kristen is a sophomore at Northwestern University majoring in Neuroscience and Computer Science on the premedical track. Currently, she is a member of the Pinto Lab at Feinberg Medical School where she studies the neural activity patterns underlying decision making in mice. At Northwestern, she is an Advising Fellow in Matriculate – a nonprofit providing college advising to FGLI high school students – as well as a chemistry peer tutor, and an active member of the Archery club. Following graduation, Kristen hopes to pursue an MD. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, visiting coffee shops, and discovering new artists on Spotify! 

Haydn Notario

Haydn is a junior from the suburbs of Detroit, MI studying molecular biology at Loyola University Chicago. At Loyola he is the president of the Loyola Chicago Herpetology club, is a tutor for cell biology, and works as a research assistant studying the electron transport chain in lichen endosymbionts. Beyond Loyola, Haydn works as a lab technician at the Field Museum, studying lichen genetics. Besides academic activities, Haydn plays the banjo, loves to cook, go to the gym and go backpacking. After graduation, Haydn intends to pursue a PhD and eventually enter academia as a tenure track professor.

Sylvia Li

Sylvia is a sophomore at Northwestern University majoring in Religious Studies, Statistics, and Sociology. She worked on ethnographic research in Shanghai on religious revival over the past summer and she is also currently working on other two Religious Studies independent research projects on Eschatology in Buddhism and the Soul and Body Dualism in Animations. After graduation, she plans on pursuing a PhD in Religious Studies. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and playing poker cards. 

Inter-School Board Application

All students who wish to be on the Inter-School Board, including previous board members, should submit an application.

As a member of the Inter-School Board, you will be expected to do the following:

1. Attend monthly meetings (twice monthly as the event approaches), usually on Saturdays or Sundays

2. Attend the 2025 symposium and attend the preparation meeting on the preceding Friday night.

3. Complete all assigned tasks effectively and in a timely manner, and volunteer for other tasks as needed.

4. Respond to emails promptly and professionally.

Organizing a symposium of this magnitude and scope requires a coordinated effort from dedicated individuals. As such, board members will be held to a high standard and will be asked to step down if they are unable to complete tasks on time or are chronically absent from meetings.

You may expect to spend about one hour a week completing tasks, and 2-4 hours or more a week (depending on your position) as the symposium approaches. Please consider your availability and personal interest in the organization before joining CAURS as a board member.

Please note that members of the Inter-School Board may not present at the annual conference, as it presents a conflict of interest.

The 2024-2025 inter-school board Application is live!

https://forms.gle/hDbBvUhkVCTPeqzt9