Meet with an OUR Advisor

Schedule an Appointment

OUR advisors are available to talk with you about OUR programs and funding opportunities, as well as assist you with finding opportunities on and off campus that fit with your goals and interests.

Undergraduate research advising appointments can help you take the next steps in your search for research opportunities or project funding. If you are looking for advising on how to get started in undergraduate research, we strongly encourage you to attend an OUR Getting Started workshop and/or review the Students/Get Started section of the OUR website prior to meeting with an OUR staff member for a 1:1 advising appointment. By doing some initial exploration and reflection prior to your advising appointment, you’ll be better prepared for the advising conversation and maximize its benefit to you.

All OUR Advisors are currently working on hybrid schedules. Both in-person and virtual advising appointments are available. Advising appointments can be made on this page in the Nexus System.

  • If you would like to schedule an in-person appointment, select Undergraduate Research Advising (All Modalities). When you book the appointment, select the advisor’s office in Rowe as the appointment location.
  • If you would like to schedule a virtual or phone appointment, you can choose any of the appointments in Undergraduate Research Advising (Remote Modality) OR Undergraduate Research Advising (All Modalities). When you book the appointment, select either WebEx or phone for the appointment location.

Staff Profiles

Melissa Berkey, M.A.Ed. is the Assistant Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. Ms. Berkey is available to advise undergraduates interested in the UConn IDEA Grant Program, UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Program – Change Grants, the SHARE Award Program, SHARE Virtual Summer Apprenticeships, and other OUR programs. Melissa received a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs from UConn and a bachelor’s degree in Social Services from Clark University. Prior to joining the Office of Undergraduate Research, Melissa worked as a career counselor in Undergraduate Career Services at Yale University. During the spring 2023 semester, you can find Melissa in Rowe 409 (on Tuesdays and Fridays) or contact her at melissa.berkey@uconn.edu.
Key contact for: UConn Co-op Legacy Fellowship Program – Change Grants, UConn IDEA Grant Program, SHARE Awards, SHARE Virtual Summer Apprenticeships
Offers general undergraduate research advising

Jodi Eskin, M.A. is a program administrator and advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Research. Mrs. Eskin manages many of OUR’s award programs (see list below) and coordinates the two annual Frontiers in Undergraduate Research exhibitions. Jodi graduated with a BS in biology from Cornell University and obtained her master’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Maryland. During the spring 2023 semester, you can find her in Rowe 110 (on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays) or contact her at jodi.eskin@uconn.edu or our@uconn.edu with questions about how the Office of Undergraduate Research can help fund your research!
Key contact for: Frontiers exhibitions, OUR Conference Presentation Awards, OUR Supply Awards, OUR Research Travel Awards, SURF Awards, Work-Study Research Assistant Program
Offers general undergraduate research advising

Caroline McGuire, Ph.D. is the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Executive Director of Enrichment Programs. Dr. McGuire is available to talk with faculty members and undergraduates about anything to do with undergraduate research and/or OUR’s programs and services. Caroline majored in French as an undergraduate at Princeton University and completed her PhD in Education (Reading/Writing/Literacy) at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focused on the nature of young children’s discussion of the visual and verbal elements of picturebooks and the influence of these experiences on their development as readers and writers. She managed several academic departments and graduate programs at the University of California, Irvine before coming to UConn. During the spring 2023 semester, you can find her in Rowe 401 (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) or contact her at caroline.mcguire@uconn.edu.
Key contact for: BOLD Women’s Leadership Network, Health Research Program
Offers general undergraduate research advising