UROP Leader Information Submission: Submission #273 | Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement

Submission information

Submission Number: 273

Submission ID: 22274

Submission UUID: a6fc5b9a-be9c-4a9f-8f86-70ea3f2464c9

Submission URI: /urop-leader-information-submission

Submission Update: /urop-leader-information-submission?token=uSDFECOX2QdLpNc_o8iByqWfV93ziVk2WC7qoUi6QnI

Created: Thu, 04/09/2026 - 09:43 PM

Completed: Fri, 04/10/2026 - 02:53 PM

Changed: Fri, 04/10/2026 - 02:53 PM

Remote IP address: 144.174.212.44

Submitted by: Anonymous

Language: English

Is draft: No

Webform: UROP Leaders Information

Submitted to: UROP Leader Information Submission

First Name Shannon

Last Name Smekle

Full name as you would like it to appear on the website Shannon Smekle

Preferred Pronouns She/Her

Hometown, State, and Country (ex: Tallahassee, FL, USA) West Palm Beach, FL, USA

FSU email sks23e@fsu.edu

Please check this box if you are willing to be contacted by students interested in UROP Yes

LinkedIn URL (optional) {Empty}

Major(s) Cell and Molecular Neuroscience

Minor(s) Chemistry

Graduation Semester and Year (ex: Fall, 2022) Spring 2027

What is your current research focus? I am currently conducting research on health outcomes in patients with chronic medical conditions and digestive disease disorders, along with interactions between disease outcomes, biological roots, and the social determinants of health among rural and underserved populations.

Are there any other research related activities you participate(d) in? During UROP, I conducted research assessing how race and socioeconomic status influence disease severity in patients diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis. I examined how race, income, and insurance could predict major EoE severity (while also examining covariates such as sex, admission type, and complications) to identify any disparities in EoE and outcomes and contribute to efforts to improve access to care and to develop targeted interventions for underserved populations.

Answer one of the following two questions about being a UROP Leader or your UROP background. How has UROP impacted your time at FSU?

Please answer the question you selected above in the area provided. UROP has had a significant impact on my time at FSU by giving me the opportunity to get involved in research early in my academic career. Through UROP, I was able to connect with a mentor who shares my research interests and values and who is genuinely invested in my well-being and success. The program has taught me so much about conducting research, presenting findings, and working as part of a research team. It has also strengthened my passion for research and helped me feel more confident in my academic and career aspirations. Overall, UROP has been an amazing experience, and I would recommend it to any student interested in getting involved in research.

Please list any other hobbies or interests you would like to share I love to crochet, read, paint, compose music, study history, and watch Harry Potter.

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2026Year2026 2026

Approved No

Update URL UROP Leaders https://cre.fsu.edu/urop-leader-information-submission?token=uSDFECOX2QdLpNc_o8iByqWfV93ziVk2WC7qoUi6QnI

Years as a UROP Leader 2024-2025 and 2025-2026