{"id":317,"date":"2017-09-11T18:46:25","date_gmt":"2017-09-11T18:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/undergraduate-excellence\/2017\/09\/11\/student-profile-benji-whitmore-20\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T06:23:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:23:35","slug":"student-profile-benji-whitmore-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/2017\/09\/11\/student-profile-benji-whitmore-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Profile: Benji Whitmore (&#039;20)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-358 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/cropped-image-59.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"170\" height=\"201\" \/>As a Pre-Pharmacy (3+3) student at Chapman University, Benji Whitmore (&#8217;20) has been actively involved with research for most of his undergraduate career. In 2016, for example, he was selected to participate in the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/index.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity\u2019s<\/span><\/a><\/span> <span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/funding-opportunities\/surf-program.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">SURF<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> program, a highly competitive, paid, on-campus summer fellowship that allows students to pursue research and creative activity under the guidance of full-time faculty mentors during the summer. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">As a participant in the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/funding-opportunities\/surf-program.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">SURF<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> program, Benji worked under the guidance of Dr. Miao Zhang, to conduct his independent research project entitled \u201cStructural Study for Ca (2+) Hypersensitivity of Mutant SK Ion Channel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">Having thoroughly enjoyed <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/index.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">OURCA<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">\u2019s summer fellowship program, Benji decided to continue working with the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/index.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> as an <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/resources-for-undergraduates\/become-an-ambassador%20.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">OURCA Ambassador<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/resources-for-undergraduates\/become-an-ambassador%20.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">OURCA Ambassadors<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> are a group of highly\u00a0motivated students who have a passion for research and\/or creative activities. They serve as liaisons for <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/resources-for-undergraduates\/become-an-ambassador%20.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">OURCA<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> at various events, discussing and highlighting all <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/index.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">OURCA<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> has to offer with faculty, students, and more. \u201cI have really enjoyed being an <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/resources-for-undergraduates\/become-an-ambassador%20.aspx\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1\">OURCA Ambassador<\/span><\/a>,&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">\u00a0Benji said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-359 alignright\" style=\"color: #000000;font-size: 14.6667px\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/IMG_62872.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"260\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/IMG_62872.jpg 1717w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/IMG_62872-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/IMG_62872-1024x657.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/IMG_62872-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/IMG_62872-1536x986.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 260px) 100vw, 260px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">\u201cWhen I began to do research I had no knowledge of all of the grants, workshops, and other events that we [at OURCA] facilitate.&#8221; Once he found out, he took full advantage of opportunities that fostered his goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">&#8220;I was fortunate enough to apply and receive a <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/funding-opportunities\/surf-program.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">SURF<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> fellowship as a sophomore and this research project was a pivotal step in my academic career.\u201d\u00a0Working as an <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/resources-for-undergraduates\/become-an-ambassador%20.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">OURCA Ambassador<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> and participating in the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 10.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/funding-opportunities\/surf-program.aspx\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: #1155cc\">SURF<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> program have had a lasting impact on Benji\u2019s life and career. \u201cWorking with OURCA\u201d he says, \u201chas allowed me to guide and mentor other students in my program and I have created many valuable relationships with other students I would have never otherwise crossed paths with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">Not surprisingly, Benji would encourage all students to consider undergraduate research. \u201cIt has provided me with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of my chosen career path.\u201d Benji is finishing up his undergraduate degree this May and will begin a Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Chapman University\u2019s new Rinker campus in the Fall.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-319 alignleft\" style=\"color: #000000;font-size: 14.6667px\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/benji.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"191\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/benji.jpg 1532w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/benji-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/benji-1024x868.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/undergraduate-excellence\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/78\/2017\/05\/benji-768x651.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">Want to get involved in one of the many awesome research and creative opportunities available through the <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/index.aspx\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc\">Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\">? Visit\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.chapman.edu\/research-and-institutions\/office-undergraduate-research-creative-activity\/index.aspx\"><span style=\"color: #1155cc\">OURCA\u2019s website<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 11.0pt;color: black\"> to get more information about the many opportunities available to Chapman University undergraduate students.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Benji Whitmore talks research, the SURF Program, and volunteering as an OURCA 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