URA STEM Ambassadors Program

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Building Leaders. Expanding Opportunity. Connecting STEM Communities.

The URA STEM Ambassadors Program is a collaborative initiative designed to empower undergraduate and graduate students across our member universities to serve as leaders, advocates, and connectors for undergraduate and graduate research and STEM opportunities. Through this program, ambassadors learn about the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, URA-sponsored workforce development initiatives, and national science policy priorities, all while gaining valuable professional development, leadership experience, and career exposure.

Program Overview

The URA STEM Ambassadors Program establishes a network of student ambassadors at each member university who act as champions for STEM initiatives. Ambassadors play a key role in promoting research opportunities, events, and programs while also benefiting from a structured monthly virtual seminar series and professional development experience that prepares them for a variety of STEM careers. By connecting ambassadors across institutions, the program fosters a vibrant, multi-campus community focused on leadership, collaboration, and expanding access to research and career pathways in STEM.

What Do STEM Ambassadors Do?

URA STEM Ambassadors serve as liaisons between URA and their campus communities. Their responsibilities include:

  • Promoting URA and STEM programs, opportunities, and events to students on their campuses and beyond
  • Serving as peer advocates for research and engagement
  • Participating in quarterly leadership calls and professional development activities

Ambassadors gain hands-on experience in science communication, leadership, and networking while making a meaningful impact at their institutions.

Professional Development & Community

A core component of the program is ambassador development. The STEM Ambassadors network brings students together across institutions to participate in:

  • Seminar talks featuring professionals from a wide range of STEM fields at national labs
  • Professional development projects that allow students to engage with national labs
  • Peer networking opportunities

These activities are designed to help ambassadors explore options, build confidence, and prepare for next steps after graduation.

URA STEM Ambassadors Challenge

Ambassadors will work in teams to develop a product in coordination with the Department of Energy. We encourage teamwork across the network and will award scientific conference registration to the championship team.

​Interested in becoming an ambassador? Eligibility for applicants:

  • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student in a STEM field
  • Must attend a URA member institution
  • Must be enrolled in the Fall 2026 semester

 

Contact: stemambassadors@ura-hq.org

2026 STEM AMBASSADORS

Ansh Desai – University of Oregon
Daphne Lewis – Princeton University
Eric Pabón Cancel – Purdue University
Gabi Hamilton – University of Virginia
Idowu Ijaodoro – University of Alabama
Jason Roblero – Wayne State University
Juan Duarte Quiros – Purdue University
Maren Hui – University of Texas at Arlington
Maribel Sanchez – Brown University
Rosalyn Beckwith – Northeastern University
Syed Afrin Jahan – Wayne State University
Tamta Burduli – Arizona State University
Tausif E Elahi – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Violet McCullough – Carnegie Mellon University
Zachary Alton – University of Maryland, College Park