2024/2025
Executive Board
Derek Song, President
Derek Song (he/him) is a senior majoring in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and a scholar in the Global Health Studies program from Hinsdale, Illinois. As President of YURA, Derek coordinates and advises the Committee Chairs, oversees the development of new initiatives, and maintains YURA's correspondence with administrative partners, departments, and organizations. Outside of YURA, Derek plays viola in the Yale Symphony Orchestra, tutors for Bridges ESL, and floats around with the club swim team.
Contact: d.song@yale.edu
Dinesh Bojja, Vice President
Dinesh Bojja (he/him) is a junior double majoring in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and Statistics and Data Science and a scholar in the Global Health Studies program. He is from Dublin, Ohio. As Vice President, Dinesh helps oversee YURA's committees, organize finances, and collaborate with donors, partners, and departments to support YURA initiatives. Outside of YURA, Dinesh sings for Yale Avaaz, volunteers in Pediatric Cardiology at Yale New Haven Hospital, and spars with the Yale Taekwondo Team.
Contact: dinesh.bojja@yale.edu
Jae-Hee Bae, COCO Chair
Jae-Hee Bae (she/they) is a junior majoring in MB&B & Climate Science and Solutions. Hailing from the verdant pastures of Dayton, Ohio, she serves as Chair of the Committee of Community Outreach. Jae-Hee helps YURA connect with youths and newbies to help realize their potential research-related dreams. Beyond YURA, Jae-Hee loves biking, making music with the Orange Street Trio, and doing taxes with Yale VITA!
Contact: jae-hee.bae@yale.edu
Lana Zheng, GUMI Chair
Lana Zheng (she/her) is a Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry major from New York. As GUMI Chair, she oversees all GUMI endeavors like the mentorship program and panels, with a special interest in outreach for minority communities in STEM. In her free time, she enjoys conducting research, battling an online shopping addiction, and eating fries at the Ivy.
Contact: lana.zheng@yale.edu
TBD, Publicity & Design
Julian Lee, RDB Chair
Julian Lee (he/him) is a senior pursuing a combined BS/MS in Computer Science. As the RDB chair, he is leading the deployment of a new research database to connect students with professors who share similar research interests. Outside of YURA, he runs Yale Splash (come teach if you’re a Yale undergrad looking to share your passion for any topic with middle or high schoolers!), enjoys trying new restaurants, and plays guitar.
Contact: julian.lee@yale.edu
Zihan Yang, YURC Chair
Zihan Yang (he/him) is a junior majoring in MCDB. He is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As the chair of the Yale Undergraduate Research Conference, Zihan oversees the logistics and planning of the annual research conference. Together with his team, he focuses on bridging research departments at Yale and other colleges. He hopes to foster the interdisciplinary research and collaboration that drives scientific/societal advancements in the 21st century. Outside of YURA, Zihan is a project manager in the Yale Undergraduate Consulting Group and dabbles in ballroom dance.
Contact: zihan.yang.zy284@yale.edu
Meenakshi Ambati, YURJ Chair
Meenakshi Ambati is a junior majoring in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and is a Hahn and Global Health Studies scholar. She hails from Charlottesville, Virginia. As Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Undergraduate Research Journal, Meenakshi oversees all aspects of the journal including the editorial process, student outreach, finances, and final publication/distribution. Together with the YURJ team, she hopes to expand the platform for undergraduate researchers at Yale and beyond to share their work and engage in meaningful scholarly activities. In her free time, she enjoys making pottery, painting landscapes, performing research in immunology and corporate sustainability, and encouraging scientific curiosity and engagement among young students.
Contact: meena.ambati@yale.edu
Advisory Board Members
Milton Young
Alumni Advisor, YURA
website designed by Lea Kim (‘24)
Previous Executive Boards
To be added