Embedded Files
We believe in the importance of building community both on and off campus.
We believe in the importance of building community both on and off campus.
We've highlighted a few student organizations and outreach opportunities at UCSD and Salk that many of our students participate in below. Additional opportunities can be found on the official UCSD website.
* Join the slack channel #8-grad-student-organization to find introductions from organizations, and come meet members to learn more at the Thursday interest session, 3:30-4 pm!
* The Peer Mentoring Program offered by the Biological Sciences department is a student-run program to help incoming students make the transition into graduate school. 1st year students are paired with a current student and meet once a month to check in. We understand that graduate school can be overwhelming at times and mentors are there to answer any questions, give advice based on their own experiences, and help new students connect with their community.
Contact: Zachary Goldberg
Christina Liem
* BUMMP (Biology Undergraduate and Master's Mentorship Program) is a new program at UCSD that provides mentorship and advocacy to underrepresented minority undergraduate and master's students. Mentees will meet with graduate student, postdoc or faculty mentors at least twice a quarter to discuss academic and career goals and navigating life as a student. BUMMP's goal is to help students develop a sense of belonging in science and the strength to pursue their goals.
Contact: Tara Spencer (t2spence@ucsd.edu)
Sumedha Ravishankar (sravisha@ucsd.edu)
* Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) is a national organization that supports and celebrates LGBTQIA+ students in their pursuit of personal and professional development in STEM. At our UCSD chapter, we provide students with an accepting and uplifting community through social, educational, professional and philanthropic programs and events. This includes our peer mentorship program, Qtorship and our weekly community study sessions, Quoffee!
Contact: Saroj Gourkanti (sgourkan@ucsd.edu)
* Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) is a national organization that supports scientists at all stages in their career, from students to professors. The UCSD SACNAS Chapter offers a community for marginalized scientists on campus, as well as opportunities to conduct year-round on-campus research, attend conferences, and participate in outreach. Current outreach efforts include high schools, community colleges, and other universities in the San Diego and SoCal areas.
Contact: Analine Aguayo (aaguayo@ucsd.edu)
Andres Jose Nevarez (ajnevare@ucsd.edu)
The Diversity and Science Lecture Series (DASL) is a weekly Zoom Seminar. Each session will feature exciting scientific advancements from two trainees from our community or a faculty member, followed by an open-ended Q&A session. DASL aspires to be a vibrant hub for young scientists to access resources, build community, and collaborate with each other. UCSD faculty are committed to supporting DASL organizers to achieve the broadest possible reach to show undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds that a career in science is exciting and attainable.
Contact: Hannah Grunwald (hgrunwal@ucsd.edu)
Girls Who Code is a national organization that works with K-12 students to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. There are multiple GWC clubs in San Diego that graduate students can volunteer with or jointly facilitate, such as UC San Diego, SD Miramar College, Kearny High School, Canyon Crest Academy, and Wegeforth Elementary. While a solid understanding of coding is required for more intensive tutoring and event facilitator roles, anyone can volunteer to support students in the pursuit of their academic and career goals.
Contact: Livia Songster (osongste@ucsd.edu)
Bio Education and Art for Science Innovation (BioEASI ) is a group of graduate students in the UCSD Division of Biological Sciences and the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences. BioEASI engages and educates the public on current scientific innovations and questions, whether in the classroom or in a more informal setting. Events include La Jolla Library Workshops, a Jail Outreach Program, and quarterly Paint Your Research nights for grad students.
Contact: Beverly Naigles (bnaigles@ucsd.edu)
* Women Organization for Research Mentoring (WORM) aims to foster mentorship experiences for women in STEM at UCSD at all levels. To give both mentors and mentees the most meaningful mentoring relationship, mentees can search through potential mentor profiles to find a mentor that matches her needs and interests. We welcome all students, postdocs, staff, faculty, emeriti, alumni, and friends from industry who identify as female or non-binary.
Contact: Delaney Pagliuso (dpaglius@ucsd.edu)
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) @ UCSD is a student-led organization focused on friendship, professional development, and student success through a shared appreciation for indigeneity and science. The American Indian Science and Engineering Society is a National organization with connections to the academic and professional landscape and thus allows university chapters to interface with a vast network of Indigenous leaders, mentors, students, and supporters.
Contact: Matthew Maxwell (mmaxwell@ucsd.edu)
Ivan Vikram Rajen
Delta Alpha Pi (DAPI) is an academic honor society founded to recognize high-achieving students with disabilities who are attending colleges (including community colleges) and universities as undergraduate or graduate students. This dynamic organization celebrates and supports academic achievement, leadership and advocacy for post-secondary students with disabilities.
Contact: Andres Jose Nevarez (ajnevare@ucsd.edu)
SALK INSTITUTE ORGS & OUTREACH
SALK INSTITUTE ORGS & OUTREACH
*The Black Association at Salk was created to maintain a space of unity for the existing Black members of Salk and to ensure a voice for those to come. The main function of this group is for those in the Black community to comfortably and confidently embrace their culture, heritage, and experiences with each other. With a multifaceted approach, this affinity group serves as a social group, a professional development group, and a service group. Supporters are welcome!
Contact: Austin Coley (acoley@salk.edu)
Jasmin Revanna (jrevanna@ucsd.edu)
*URMase aims to empower its members to fulfill their academic and professional potential by building a sense of community for underrepresented minority (URM) trainees in STEM at Salk. URMase's goals are to support the unique experiences and professional development of its membership by identifying and advocating for funding opportunities, participating in outreach, and creating opportunities for increased engagement with URM faculty.
Contact: Thomas Martinez (tmartinez@salk.edu)
*The Salk Society of Research Fellows (SRF) is a group comprised of graduate and postdoctoral trainees. The goal of the SRF is to foster a sense of community among the research community at the Salk Institute. SRF activities, organized by a volunteer committee of postdoctoral and student representatives, include the Salk Ambassador Program and SalkFEST.
Contact: Jasmin Revanna (jrevanna@ucsd.edu)
Nicholas Nelson (nanelson@ucsd.edu)
*SciChats@Salk is a video-chat-based science outreach program that pairs a group of students with a volunteer scientist for interactive conversations about what it’s like to be a scientist. SciChats@Salk give students a clearer picture of how science progresses, encourage them to imagine a future for themselves as scientists, and illustrate the contributions that science makes to society.
Contact: education@salk.edu
*The Salk Mobile Science Lab is a free program that travels all over San Diego County bringing biotechnology to middle school students. In its 3-day curriculum, students look at mutated fruit flies, isolate DNA, and run gels. By bringing volunteers from the local science community into the classroom, this program gives young students a chance to interact with real people who are doing or supporting the science they would otherwise just read about in their textbooks.
Contact: education@salk.edu
*The March of Dimes High School Science Day is half-day community outreach event designed to get high school students interested in considering an exciting career in science and research. The day’s events include interactions with some of the Salk Institute’s world-renowned researchers (YOU!) via lab tours, and a keynote by one of our faculty. Each year, over 250 students and their teachers sign up. This program has been a Salk tradition since 1990!
Contact: education@salk.edu
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