Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, a distinguished organization that applauds scholars whose commitment to diversity, leadership and academic excellence pushes the boundaries of doctoral education. As remarkable student leaders in their fields, Bouchet Scholars truly embody the values of Edward Alexander Bouchet, the first self-identified Black American to earn a doctorate degree in the United States and the sixth person ever to earn a doctorate in physics in the Western Hemisphere.  

These scholars are deeply committed to creating change and have led a wide array of teaching, outreach, service and advocacy efforts aimed at broadening participation in their fields, both on campus and beyond. For some scholars, this also includes using their research topic as an arena to uncover and address inequities.

Maya Rowell

Maya Rowell has a passion for bioengineering, healthcare and accessible, inclusive education. A Ph.D. candidate in bioengineering with a concentration in cancer cell migration, Rowell’s research focuses on understanding cancer behavior and metastasis by developing a model system of metastatic cancer. She originally chose to work on cancer research after having loved ones diagnosed with the disease as a child; she’s stayed in the field to play a role in finding a cure.  

Rowell was recently awarded the Institute of Engineering in Medicine’s Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine Inclusion Initiative (GEMINI) Fellowship and became the first GEMINI Fellow at UC San Diego. During the first year of her Ph.D., Rowell received a Quantitative Integrative Biology training grant from the National Institute of Health. She is thoroughly involved with UC San Diego’s engineering community and hopes to bring together more engineers of diverse backgrounds. 

“I find the connections that I have made with students, faculty and staff the most rewarding part of my work,” Rowell said. “The conversations that we’ve had about being a minority in the field, feelings of not belonging, and our research motivate me to work harder toward my Ph.D. and continue advocating for underrepresented students.” 

Before coming to UC San Diego, Rowell obtained a bachelor of science in chemical and biomolecular engineering from New York University. There, Rowell received the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering and University Honors Scholarships. 

GEMINI Program

The Galvanizing Engineering in Medicine Inclusion Initiative aims to provide mentoring and career development to improve diversity and inclusion in the Institute of Engineering in Medicine. GEMINI provides mentoring and support for increased access and success of early-career researchers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. 

Besides supporting early-career faculty, GEMINI also aims to increase outreach to the San Diego community at large. GEMINI encourages undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral researchers to participate in outreach activities at K-12 schools in San Diego. By exposing younger students to bioengineering and its numerous medical applications, GEMINI aims to increase diversity and inclusion in the bioengineering field. 

GEMINI has been met with great success at the Institute of Engineering in Medicine, where many new bioengineering faculty have been supported through the program. IEM is currently working with the dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering in order to create a similar program for all engineering faculty. 

GEMINI offers two major programs, the GEMINI Fellowship Program and the GEMINI Faculty Mentor Award. The GEMINI Fellowship is intended to increase diversity and inclusion in research at the interfaces of engineering and health sciences. The GEMINI Faculty Mentor Award is intended to recognize, encourage, and support individuals who demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in research training at the interfaces of engineering and biomedical sciences.