#  Connect 

 



##  Connect 

 

 

       ![The URAF Office building at 77 Dunster Street.](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2025-09/URAF_WEBSITE_HERO_Connect_0.jpg?itok=BZcnYr1a) 

 

 



 

 



 

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##  Mission 

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URAF) guides our learners through the processes of asking and answering today’s – and tomorrow’s – most important questions. URAF helps students identify high-impact research and creative endeavor opportunities, secure the necessary academic and financial support to undertake them, and prepare for lives of leadership and service anchored in expertise. Conducting research guided by Harvard’s world-class faculty members, our undergraduates cultivate the theoretical and practical skills necessary to extend their learning beyond the boundaries of the classroom, becoming themselves creators of new knowledge and practice across and at the forefront of their disciplines. We support, oversee, and administer, in collaboration with colleagues from across the College, both internal award processes, as well as distinguished fellowship competition processes.



 

##  Staff 

 



  [### Jonna Iacono, PhD

 ](/people/jonna-iacono)Director, Research and Fellowships

 

 

 

      ![Jonna Iacono](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Iacono_Jonna.jpg?itok=FTeCnkud) 

 

 

 

   [### Tom Hamel

 ](/people/tom-hamel) <thamel@fas.harvard.edu>Associate Director, Research and Fellowships

 

 

 

      ![Tom Hamel](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Hamel_Tom.jpg?itok=5kjftn53) 

 

 

 

   [### Pamela Gaddi

 ](/people/pamela-gaddi) <pjgaddi@fas.harvard.edu>Assistant Director, Research and Fellowships

 

 

 

      ![Pamela Jean Gaddi](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Gaddi_Pamela_Jean.jpg?itok=lOhKhThv) 

 

 

 

   [### Elizabeth Perten 

 ](/people/elizabeth-perten) <eperten@fas.harvard.edu>Assistant Director, Research and Fellowships

 

 

 

      ![Elizabeth Perten](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Perten_Elizabeth.jpg?itok=cBZJoAen) 

 

 

 

   [### Jasmine Stecker 

 ](/people/jasmine-stecker) [jasmine\_stecker@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:jasmine_stecker@fas.harvard.edu)Assistant Director, Research and Fellowships

 

 

 

      ![Jasmine Stecker](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Stecker_Jasmine.jpg?itok=T_02ZCOf) 

 

 

 

   [### Matthew DelSesto, PhD

 ](/people/matthew-delsesto-phd) [matthew\_delsesto@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:matthew_delsesto@fas.harvard.edu)Assistant Director, Research and Fellowships

 

 

 

      ![Matt DelSesto](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-03/MD.jpeg?h=9c8be033&itok=pNCqe7QI) 

 

 

 

   [### Toni Trainor

 ](/people/toni-trainor) <atrainor@fas.harvard.edu>Assistant Director, Administration

 

 

 

      ![Toni Trainor](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/_DSC8106.jpg?h=9a993ed7&itok=Ou5tdXs0) 

 

 

 

   [### Ariel Lepito 

 ](/people/ariel-lepito) [ariel\_lepito@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:ariel_lepito@fas.harvard.edu)Administrative Coordinator

 

 

 

      ![Ariel Lepito](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Lepito_Ariel.jpg?itok=tFTXpyQY) 

 

 

 

   [### Courtney Ehrenhofler

 ](/people/courtney-ehrenhofler) <cehrenhofler@fas.harvard.edu>Staff Assistant

 

 

 

      ![Courtney Ehrenhofler](/sites/g/files/omnuum10426/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2025-09/URAF_Website_Staff_Ehrenhofler_Courtney.jpg?itok=1MNoL8Es) 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

##  URAF Newsletter 

For Harvard undergraduates interested in learning about research or postgraduate and national fellowships, join our mailing list.

 

 [ Sign up for the URAF student newsletter arrow\_circle\_right ](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_72hDGlxRFa321wy)