STEM Excellence through Equity & Diversity (SEED)
SEED Scholars program provides a diverse, holistic network that prepares outstanding undergraduates to become change-makers, scholars, and leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Preparing students to enter the world of STEM requires an acknowledgement that the field is ever changing. SEED works with scholars to develop their academic, research, and professional selves as they enter Berkeley, matriculate as an undergraduate, and go forth after graduation. We aim to support scholars by promoting a sense of belonging and providing mentoring by peers, graduate students, and faculty.
BSP challenges assumptions about who can and should do science. Its student members successfully bridge their passion for science with their unique identities and experiences to give back to their communities. The program has successfully served over 3800 undergraduates from low-income, first-to-college, and minoritized ethnic backgrounds. BSP works side-by-side with its members to help them express their untapped potential and to create blueprints for their academic, professional, and personal success.
A 10-week summer program, each scholar works directly with an in-lab mentor, a postdoctoral scholar or graduate student while actively engaged in a research endeavor within the laboratory of a faculty member. In addition to working full-time in the laboratory, scholars also attend weekly lab meetings. In general, the program at Berkeley provides undergraduates with the opportunity to engage in pioneering research and gain knowledge from eminent scientists in the fields of biological sciences, bioengineering, biophysics, chemical and biomolecular engineering, chemistry, chemical biology, computational biology/data science, and other STEM disciplines.
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF REU)
This program is designed to expose participating students to core Molecular, Cell, Developmental, Evolutionary, and Ecosystem Biology with a focus on how biotic and abiotic stressors shape biological processes. The participating faculty provide a broad range of research options in these areas. They also share a strong commitment to working with undergraduates and promoting diversity in the biosciences community at Berkeley.
Integrative Biology Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)
The IB SURE program supports scholars who demonstrate passion to engage in original, hands-on research and explore graduate school opportunities with IB faculty. The IB SURE is built around three pillars: (1) a sense of community among scholars; (2) engagement with original research; and (3) mentorship. This 10-week mentored summer research experience includes a retreat at the Hastings Natural History Reservation, a series of co-curricular research and professional development workshops and seminars, guidance about graduate school opportunities, networking, and presentation at the end of summer research symposium.
In coordination with the University of Nevada, Reno, UC Berkeley hosts a few UNR students from their Nevada ENDURE Program. During these summer sessions, these undergraduate students participate in intensive research training and mentorship to talented undergraduates, including students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in neuroscience, who plan to pursue a Ph.D. in neuroscience or a neuroscience-related field.
The UC-HBCU Rising Stars Program at the IGI
The IGI’s Rising Stars Program is a three-year program to bring talented undergraduate students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to IGI labs at UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, UC Davis, and UC Los Angeles for summer research experiences. This one-of-a-kind program builds off of the IGI’s three years of success with the UC-HBCU Initiative in the Doudna lab on the Berkeley campus, and is led by IGI Founder Jennifer Doudna and IGI Executive Director Brad Ringeisein. The Rising Stars Program is a wrap-around program, designed to ensure meaningful research experiences, professional development, and set up students for successful STEM careers.
Post-Baccalaureate Research Program
The PREP program provides hands-on lab research training opportunities to recent B.Sc. graduates with limited research experience. The goal of the program is to prepare scholars for successful Graduate School application within a year. This will strengthen their candidacy for admission to the nation’s strongest Ph.D. programs, and prepare them to earn Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.
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MCB's Master of Biotechnology program
The program is designed for people who want hands-on training in cutting-edge molecular biology techniques and highly-desired research experience in an industrial or academic lab. The aim is to cultivate a diverse and engaged student body who are driven to make the most of the program's unique position at a world-class research institution within the hub of U.S. biotech innovation.
Research Preparation Laboratory (RPL) Program in Developmental Biology
The Research Preparation Laboratory is a 4-week wet lab bootcamp that hopes to increase laboratory exposure for students in their Junior year.
In addition to these student programs, each year our students, faculty, and staff remain committed to participating in conferences such as SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), and Ivy Plus Puerto Rico.