UNF: Undergraduate Research

Welcome to the Office of Undergraduate Research

The Office of Undergraduate Research (O.U.R.) at the University of North Florida (UNF) is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or email us anytime at OUR@unf.edu.

The O.U.R. provides services and support to UNF undergraduates who are interested in conducting research or creative research projects in any discipline and across all colleges, departments, and majors. Studies and experience show that actively engaging in undergraduate research or special projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor will expand your intellect, strengthen your resume or curriculum vitae (CV), and enhance your marketable skills.

O.U.R. SUMMER 2026 EVENTS

Other Undergraduate Research-Related Events

Congratulations to the May Undergraduate Researcher of the Month, Cameron Hartmoyer!

Cameron is in a lab coat and is using lab equipment. He has dark curly hair and glasses. Cameron Hartmoyer is a senior Biomedical Sciences major graduating in Spring 2026. He was a trainee in the UNF Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) program and has worked in the laboratory of Dr. DeLisa Fairweather at the Mayo Clinic Florida for the last two and a half years. During that time, he investigated how and why extracellular vesicles containing virus and mitochondria can cause myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. Cameron presented that work on campus, as well as at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference in 2025 (held in Tampa, Florida) and 2026 (held in Jacksonville, Florida), and the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students (ABRCMS) in 2024 (held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and 2025 (held in San Antonio, Texas). He is a coauthor on two published papers and is a coauthor on one manuscript and the first author on a second manuscript, both of which are being prepared for publication. In addition, during Summer 2025, Cameron was selected to participate in a 10-week internship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Hernandez Moura-Silva lab at the Ragon Institute in Cambridge. There, he investigated the division of labor between vasculature-associated macrophage subpopulations. Through these endeavors, he gained a myriad of laboratory skills, as well as organizational and problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Cameron enjoys contributing to meaningful scientific research and intends to work as a laboratory technician for a few years before pursuing a PhD in immunology or microbiology. His advice for students looking to get involved in research is to “not underestimate yourself and aim high.”

The 2026 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year

Dr. Kahanda is standing in front of a blue photo back drop with the UNF OUR logo on it. He is wearing a gray hat with sunglasses on his head, and a blue and tan checkered shirt. He is holding a certificate and award plaque alongside 3 women. Congratulations to Dr. Indika Kahanda, associate professor of computing at the University of North Florida, on being named the 2026 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year! Kahanda was nominated by Ella Luedeke, who wrote in her nomination letter that he played a tremendous role in her success. When asked to describe his mentoring philosophy, Kahanda said that he “balances structure with freedom, guidance with independence, and rigor with encouragement. By creating inclusive, scaffolded, and authentic research experiences, I aim to help undergraduates not only acquire technical skills but also develop confidence, curiosity, and a lasting identity as researchers.”

The Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year award, which consists of a plaque and monetary prize, was presented as part of the Spring 2026 UNF Student Research Symposium on Friday, April 24, in the John A. Delaney Student Union.

Congratulations, Dr. Kahanda, on this well-deserved honor and achievement!