Announcements
AV and ME Housing RA Application
UCI Housing is now accepting Resident Advisor applications for the CAMP STEM House in Arroyo Vista and CAMP STEM Hall in Middle Earth! For more information, and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: January 26, 2024
Updates
GRE Prep Course
The application for the GRE Prep Course is now closed. Students will be notified about the outcome of the review in the coming weeks. The virtual GRE Preparatory Course will begin on Friday, January 19, 2024.
Leadership Spotlight
Meet Patricia Anderson!
Patricia Anderson is the Assistant Director at the Center for Educational Partnerships. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of California, Riverside and holds a Master of Public Administration from the California State University, Fullerton. She applies her accounting skills to support and manage the various resources for all the programs at the UCI Center for Educational Partnerships. Patricia finds education fulfilling as a lifelong learner and continues to learn for fun. She has taken lessons to learn Vietnamese, enjoys outdoor activities, and travels to amazing places.
In what capacity do you work for UC Irvine?
I am a staff member at UC Irvine, and I have been with the UC system for 34 years. Currently, I am the Assistant Director at the UCI Center for Educational Partnerships. I have been there for 12 years, and I am primarily responsible for managing the financial, human, and physical resources. I am also involved in the strategic planning for the center.
How did you become involved with the CAMP program?
CAMP is one of the programs at the center that has been part of the center for decades. It is through my work in helping manage their resources that I became involved with CAMP. More recently, we do a philanthropy project every winter and for the past two years, I thought, “would it not be great if we could support the students in our own program that live and study at CAMP STEM House and now the CAMP STEM Hall?” I have led the philanthropy project and raised funds to buy a ping-pong table, something they identified as a want. We also purchased a printer for the house, and the students really appreciated it so much that when we learned that there was a new CAMP STEM Hall, we got another printer as part of our philanthropic project.
What is your educational philosophy?
I am a lifelong learner. Growing up, my parents always instilled in me that I would go to college. I was in a pre-med program, but I took a macroeconomics class, and I just loved it. I immediately switched majors and got my bachelor’s degree in business administration. At the end of my first educational journey, I thought the next logical step was to become a CPA, but I did not want to work for corporations. I saw that I could apply my accounting skills to work in public service and higher education. I received my master’s in public administration and am now a professional staff, but even now there are still opportunities to be a lifelong learner. I recently learned Vietnamese because I was going to Vietnam. I get to learn for fun. So, make education a lifelong process and have fun with it. You never know what direction it is going to take you. Fortunately, when you are done with the formal part of your education, you get to learn about other things you have always wanted to study.
Why do you believe that undergraduate research is an important component of the student experience?
My first job after I graduated was in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley, and I worked alongside researchers, faculty, students, and Postdocs who were heavily research focused, and I loved supporting their missions. I learned about study design, what makes for good and not so great research, and recognized that being inquisitive is an important skill. That is how you grow. That is how you find the things that you want to do. I think if you can find a lab and a mentor that will allow you to conduct research alongside them, grab that opportunity. It will really benefit when applying to graduate school and jobs. Participating in research looks fantastic on a resume.
What advice would you give students that may be afraid to communicate with faculty?
I would say that faculty and staff are just people. We are here to help. Students may be apprehensive to talk to faculty because they are intimidated. Faculty hold power over students, but you can turn it around. They work for you. Their job is to educate you. My job as a staff member is to help you and connect you to resources. Think of it this way and it will help you be less afraid to communicate with them. Also, step out of your comfort zone to make yourself known. Give an elevator pitch if you have one so they can understand, in 20 seconds or less, who you are and what you would like to accomplish. You may be surprised to find a connection with faculty. That is how people become mentors. There is a lot to be gained by putting yourself out there.
What do you do for fun?
I do everything I can for fun. Anything outdoors appeals to me. Hiking is how I met my husband and my closest friends. Cycling. I rode my bike once from central Portugal to central coastal Spain. Camping. Kayaking. Snorkeling. I love to be outdoors.
What is your favorite movie and why?
I do not have a favorite movie but a movie that comes to mind is Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. It is based on a true story about a Japanese dog, an Akita. The movie is about loyalty. No other movie has made me want to watch it five times.
What is your favorite song and why?
A song that instantly comes to mind is Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. It does not matter where I hear it, I just start belting it at the top of my lungs. It reminds me of free summer concerts, watching cover bands and going out with my tribe. It’s the song that makes me want to sing and dance.
What advice would you give students with respect to successfully navigating their STEM degree program?
A couple different things. Find your people, your support system, and your study buddies. Find mentors and that means putting yourself out there to find people who will mentor you. STEM programs are tough. I think you need that balance between school and social connections to deal with stress, and this will help you focus and succeed. In addition to having balance in your life, find the reason you are in your major. Is it really who you are? Is it really where your passion, your time, energy, and life can go? You will naturally navigate to that educational path in which you are passionate about.
Mentor Way
Bailee Valenzuela
“The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.” – Plutarch
Tony Martinez
“There is no failure, just a lesson learned.” – Brad Turnbull
Viviann Vargas
It doesn’t matter how long it takes to learn a subject or reach your goal. What matters the most is that you enjoy the educational journey and believe that you will get there with hard work and determination.
Graduate Fellowships/Assistantships/Scholarships
Research Opportunities
Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP)
The Broad Summer Research Program (BSRP) is an intensive nine-week summer research opportunity designed for undergraduates with a commitment to biomedical research and an interest in genomics. Students spend the summer performing original computational or experimental-based research in labs across the Broad’s research areas, from cancer to infectious disease to computational biology. At the program’s conclusion, students deliver oral and poster presentations on their research projects. For more information and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: January 10, 2024 at 11:59PM ET
Canary Cancer Research Education Summer Training Program (Canary CREST Program)
The Canary Center at Stanford is a world-class research center dedicated to early cancer detection. Funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the program offers a 10-week research experience in one of their state-of-the art labs. Each participant will be matched with a faculty mentor who will help them craft a research project. Senior scientists and postdoctoral fellows will assist the faculty in supervising and mentoring the students in the lab. The successful applicant can expect to work in a dynamic lab environment on challenging projects that involve a broad range of research techniques. Click here for more information and to apply.
Application Deadline: January 15, 2024
MIT Summer Research Program
The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) seeks to promote the value of graduate education; to improve the research enterprise through increased diversity; and to prepare and recruit the best and brightest for graduate education at MIT. Students who participate in this program will be better prepared and motivated to pursue advanced degrees, thereby helping to sustain a rich talent pool in critical areas of research and innovation. Click here to learn more and apply.
Application Deadline: January 16, 2024
Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering Program
The Sustainability Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) program provides undergraduates a mentored research experience at Stanford University. Students from any U.S. institution interested in Earth and environmental sciences, energy, ocean sciences, or civil and environmental engineering are invited to the Stanford campus to gain skills in research, science communication, and professional and personal development for eight-weeks in the summer. The SURGE 2024 program dates are June 21 to August 17. To learn more and apply, click here.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
REU Finder
REUFinder.com is a quick and easy way for students to find research opportunities. The site is divided into pages that list REU opportunities by year (freshmen, sophomore, junior and seniors as well as specific populations such as community college, international students, and undocumented students). REU Finder seeks to minimize extensive google searches to make it easy for students to identify programs that might be a good fit for.
NSF-Funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates
The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. The search page is meant to help scholars search for an REU site throughout the country. Click here.
Pathways to Science Summer Research Tool
Deadlines are fast approaching for paid summer research programs! PathwaysToScience.org has a searchable database of 700+ summer research programs in all STEM disciplines. These are all FULLY FUNDED opportunities including programs sponsored by NSF, NASA, NIH, etc. We also have a selection of resources to help you strengthen your applications. Please contact The Institute for Broadening Participation Senior Advisor, Liv Detrick, at ldetrick@ibparticipation.org for assistance in finding a program that is a good fit for you. Click here to find research programs and learn more.
Scholarships
EPP / MSI Undergraduate Scholarship Program
The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship provides funds for two years of undergraduate study to rising junior undergraduate students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields that directly support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) mission. Participants conduct research at a NOAA facility during two paid summer internships. For more information and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2024 at 11:59PM EST
CBCF The Tracking Foundation Multi-Year Scholarship Program
The Tracking Foundation Scholarship Program awards academically talented and highly motivated African-American or Black students pursuing an undergraduate degree in all discipline areas. This scholarship is renewed on a yearly basis up to 4 years, upon meeting the renewal requirements. Click here for more information and to apply.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2024
Internships
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI)
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is a world-renowned laboratory with research opportunities in physics, chemistry, materials and environmental sciences, astrophysics, scientific computing, and many engineering fields. SLAC’s summer internship program offers exciting opportunities for undergraduate students majoring in science or engineering to conduct research. SLAC offers 20-25 undergraduates an 8-9 week paid internship at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) in Menlo Park, California. SULI interns receive a stipend, travel expenses and free housing on Stanford campus. For more information and to apply, click here.
Application Deadline: January 9, 2024 at 5:00PM EST
The Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP)
The Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP) is a fully paid summer internship that provides undergraduates with training and mentoring in the principles underlying the conduct of research and prepares them to pursue competitive applications to PhD or MD-PhD programs. The SR-EIP offers closely mentored research experiences in the life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at 20 research institutions across the country. Click here for more information about the program and the research sites, and to apply.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
Amtrak Summer 2024 Electrical Engineering Internship
The purpose of this position is to attract new engineers and to promote careers in Electrical/Mechanical Rolling Stock Equipment by providing an entry point for engineers in training. Accepted candidates for the position will have the opportunity to apply their engineering skills in both the office and field, and to gain firsthand work experience in the various aspects of Rolling Stock Equipment. To learn more about this internship and to apply, click here.
General Atomics Mechanical Engineering Internship
General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world’s leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies. There is an exciting opportunity for an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Intern to join the Inertial Fusion Technology (IFT) team in San Diego, California! The IFT Group is a lead fabricator of precision components in support of fusion ignition experiments at the National Laboratories. Undergraduate students studying Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, or related major from an accredited university are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more and apply.
Blizzard Entertainment Cyber Security & Game Security Summer 2024 Internship
Learn what it takes to protect games. If you have experience or interest in security and cryptography, then this is the team for you. All internships will be conducted in-person. Hosting managers will determine when and how often interns work in the office Monday-Friday (relocation services and living stipend provided to all interns). Click here to learn more and apply.
Fellowships
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) provides outstanding benefits and opportunities to students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems. The program fosters a community of energetic and committed Ph.D. students, alumni, DOE laboratory staff and other scientists who want to have an impact on the nation while advancing their research. Fellows come from diverse scientific and engineering disciplines but share a common interest in using computing in their research. To learn more and apply, click here.
Application Deadline: January 17, 2024
Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program
The Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program is a research-intensive summer training program in biomedical research for undergraduate students who plan to obtain a PhD or MD-PhD in the biomedical sciences. The aims of Yale BioMed Amgen Scholars Program are: to identify applicants interested in biomedical research careers; to provide them with an intensive research and didactic experience in biomedicine during a 9-week residency at Yale School of Medicine; and to provide faculty and peer mentoring resources that extend throughout and beyond the program. Click here to learn more and apply.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
CalTech AMGEN Scholars Program
Caltech is a world leader in research and education, and involving undergraduates in the research enterprise has long been an integral part of the undergraduate experience. The Caltech Amgen Scholars Program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and biotechnology related areas under the mentorship of faculty who work at the frontier of their fields. Click here to learn more and apply.
Application Deadline: February 1, 2024
Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF)
SURF students have had the opportunity to conduct research under the guidance of experienced mentors working at the frontier of their fields. Students collaborate with a potential mentor to define and develop a project. Students carry out the work over a 10-week period during the summer. Click here for more information and to apply.
Application Deadline: February 22, 2024
Pathways to Science Tool
Search paid summer research programs for graduate students, travel grants, and fellowships through the Graduate Students Pathways to Science Tool – many deadlines fast approaching! Also, search and view tips on applying for postdoc positions.
STEM Student Org. Corner
American Medical Women’s Association Undergraduate Division (AMWAUCI)
Biomedical Engineering Society
MAES Latinos in Science and Engineering
Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Pre-Veterinary and Animal Wellness Association (PAWA)
Public Health Association (PHA)
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Women in Information and Computer Sciences (WICS)
Did You Know…
Did you know that the UCI Department of Chemistry offers FREE peer tutoring via Zoom to students taking General Chemistry courses such as Chem 1A or Chem 1B. The department also has another set of peer tutors that can assist with Organic Chemistry (Chem 51B). It is important to utilize these resources as they are meant to help you be successful in the course! The Department of Physics also has free tutoring for Physics 2, 7 series, and 3 series. The tutors are the teaching assistants (TAs) for the courses. Additionally, the Department of Mathematics also has TAs and graduate students offering free virtual tutoring for Math 1A/1B and Math 2A/2B.
Upcoming Events
2024 Community Lecture Series: Ocular Oncology
January 9, 2024
7:00PM -8:00PM PT
Virtual Event
Drs. Lilangi Ediriwickrema, Olivia Lee, and Kapil Mishra
University of California, Irvine Gavin Herbert Eye Institute
Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of eye-related conditions. The goal is to further educate the public on eye health and related topics to help improve our community’s overall health and well-being. Register here to receive the Zoom link for this event.
Understanding and Controlling Crystal Growth and Structure-Function Relationship of Nanomaterials via in situ TEM Techniques
January 11, 2024
2:00PM – 3:20PM
McDonnell Douglas Engineering Auditorium (MDEA)
Dr. Dongsheng Li
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Nanomaterial properties such as morphology, size, strain, defect, etc. are tied to their structures at micro-, nano- and atomic scales. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of crystal growth, formation of heterogeneous structures, and factors that control them enables the lab to design materials with tailored properties. In this work, they study mechanisms of crystal growth via particle assembly (a common pathway) and formation of heterogeneous structures by integrating in-situ techniques, such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), with theoretical simulations.
Advancing Carbon Neutrality in Construction: The Transformative Potential of CO2 Curing Technologies
January 12, 2024
1:30PM – 2:50PM
McDonnell Douglas Engineering Auditorium (MDEA)
Dr. Qi Luo
Chongqing Jiaotong University, Aarhus University
Reminiscent of the transformation of Prometheus in Greek mythology, who went from a mere Titan to humanity’s benefactor, CO2’s role in concrete technology is experiencing a similar metamorphosis – once perceived as a harmful environmental agent causing degradation in concrete, it is now being reevaluated as a promising element in enhancing the material’s property and sustainability. This report provides a comprehensive overview of this revolutionary technology, detailing its background, mechanisms, and the challenges it faces. Specifically, it delves into new insights regarding the maturation pathways of cementitious materials under CO2 curing, where hydration and carbonation reactions coexist.
Organic Semiconductors for Emerging Optoelectronic Devices
January 18, 2024
2:00PM – 3:20PM
McDonnell Douglas Engineering Auditorium (MDEA)
Dr. Thuc-Quyen Nguyen
University of California, Santa Barbara
Organic semiconductors (OSCs) are a class of carbon-based materials comprising of alternate single and double bonds (conjugated pi-bonds). They can be synthesized to have band gaps from the UV to the near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this talk, the development of OSCs processed from green solvents for applications in electrochemical transistors and wearable self-powered devices to monitor heart rate and blood oxygen saturation will be discussed.
Variations in the Chilling Effect of the 2019 Public Charge Rule: Legal Status, Ethnicity, and Family Composition
January 18, 2024
3:30PM – 4:30PM
1321 SBSG
Dr. Alein Haro-Ramos
University of California, Irvine
The expansion of the 2019 Public Charge rule poses a continuous threat to the health of immigrants, leading to avoidance of safety-net programs by them and their families due to concerns over immigration. While ecological studies have used the “chilling effect” hypothesis to explain changes in safety-net program enrollment, there has been little examination of Asian and Latinx individuals’ self-reported experiences following the rule’s expansion. Data collected in September 2021 (after the rule’s reversal) from Latinx and Asian individuals close to immigrants is used. The hypothesis is that individuals with more precarious legal status, such as undocumented or those under the DACA program, living in mixed-status households and all-noncitizen households, would be more likely to report that they or a family member forewent needed assistance due to immigration concerns.
Task Allocation in Teams of Autonomous Ground Vehicles and Humans
January 25, 2024
2:00PM – 3:20PM
McDonnell Douglas Engineering Auditorium (MDEA)
Dr. Bogdan I. Epureanu
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Autonomous vehicles are increasingly thought of as team members alongside humans in both military and civilian applications. Such autonomous agents are capable of handling dangerous tasks but are limited in their reactions to unforeseen events. At the same time, humans have more adaptive and creative problem-solving skills but are limited in terms of handling some specific tasks and managing cognitive loads. This presentation will discuss modeling tools for autonomous vehicles with focus on artificial intelligence algorithms for heterogeneous agents to learn dynamically task distributions in teams with humans and other autonomous agents through reinforcement learning in synthetic environments.