Meagan Esbin founded and leads the biannual Cal Women in Imaging & Industry Applications Bootcamp, garnering support from across campus to fundraise $10K per year and allow graduate students to attend for free. This program aims to build community and professional skills for women across campus interested in optics and microscopy and has already trained 23 attendees, engaged 19 mentors across 8 departments (including MCB), and connected students with industry scientists at 6 biotech companies. Meagan also started and leads a monthly Diversity Journal club within the Tjian-Darzacq lab where they discuss primary research and strategies for improving diversity, inclusion, and belonging in STEM. Finally, Meagan participates in the BSP COMPASS program as a mentor and co-leads monthly mentoring meetings within the Tjian-Darzacq lab to further develop and share inclusive pedagogy and mentorship skills with lab mates.  

Erin pioneered and directed a University of California-Historically Black Colleges and Universities (UC-HBCU) program sponsored by the UC Office of the President. The program provides summer interns from HBCU partner Hampton University with mentored research opportunities, professional development activities, and ongoing support to help students achieve their post-degree goals. She continues to manage the program both administratively and as a direct mentor, building relationships with HBCUs and supporting the next generation of researchers to ensure that the STEM community reflects the diversity of our society.

Drawing from my experiences as a first-generation Filipino-American scientist, I created and led multiple initiatives to build inclusive scientific communities at UC Berkeley, including a structured feedback program through SACNAS that connects graduate student mentors with undergraduate applicants to STEM Ph.D. programs, and organizing meaningful events through Grad Gatherings that foster cross-program collaboration and support. Complementing my work with SACNAS and Grad Gatherings, I have cultivated inclusive spaces across multiple platforms by organizing UC Berkeley's Pride 2024 celebration, act as a mentor through the POWER-Bay Area community college program, connecting Filipino researchers through the GradMap Philippines career panel, and developing the "Vibe Check" feedback system to strengthen community engagement across programs. These efforts reflect my commitment to building the kind of inclusive scientific community that has been essential to my own growth as a first-generation PhD candidate.

Through my time as a graduate student I have been delighted to work with great initiatives and caring people, such as the planning committees of the iBio conference, the Graduate Gatherings program, contributing to the Expanding Your Horizons conference, and acting as a wellness ambassador for the MCB Wellness Committee. I hope to also continue mentorship for both incoming graduate students as an MBAS Advisor, and undergraduates who are interested in research through outstanding programs like REP Neuro.