Undergraduate Research

Congratulations to the December Undergraduate Researcher of the Month, Theo Chapuis!  

Theo Chapuis is a junior double-majoring in biomedical sciences and philosophy. He currently works with Dr. Jonathan Matheson, Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy & Religious Studies, where they have investigated topics like the death penalty and the epistemology of lying and falsehoods. Theo has presented his work at five different conferences, including the UNF Undergraduate – Graduate Learning, Inquiry and Distinctive Experimentation (U-GLIDE) Symposium in 2023; the UNF Showcase of Osprey Advancements in Research and Scholarship (SOARS) in 2024; and the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference (FURC) in 2024. This past summer, Theo received an Undergraduate Research Scholarship and Creative Activities (U-RSCA) Training Grant from the Office of Undergraduate Research (O.U.R.) to support his research with Dr. Matheson on the definitions and uses of lying compared to falsehoods. When reflecting on his research journey, Theo has particularly enjoyed working under the mentorship of Dr. Matheson and Dr. Aaron Creller, Associate Professor of Philosophy, and flexing his critical thinking skills while engaging with philosophical works and topics. Outside of his research, Theo runs a Warhammer Club on campus.  

After he graduates in the summer of 2026, Theo is considering two career paths: Attending medical school to become a pediatrician, or pursuing a PhD in bioethics, which would combine his interests in philosophy and biomedical sciences. Theo’s advice to others seeking research experience is to “Just jump in! It will seem scary, and my first conference did, but then you'll realize that everyone there is there for the same reason you are, to talk with people about their work. You may even see fellow classmates there, and you almost ALWAYS learn something. Once the ball gets rolling and you start, the rest becomes easier.”