I hope that as the last days of Fall, 2024 wind down, you will take a moment to take in all that you accomplished and learned this semester and to feel some pride about successfully navigating another semester at Berkeley. 

To recognize both our faculty and our graduate students who provide important mentorship, the Graduate Division and the Graduate Assembly sponsor three awards that recognize outstanding mentoring of graduate students by faculty members, as well as one award to recognize the outstanding peer mentorship of current graduate and professional students.

Last spring, Victoria Chevée, a final year Ph.D. candidate in molecular and cell biology, now a postdoctoral fellow at the Pasteur Institute in Paris (France), became Berkeley’s 2024 Grad Slam Champion for her presentation, “A Bacterium’s Journey: From Guts to Brain.”  Victoria went on to compete against the nine other campus champions across the UC system. In this Q&A, Victoria talks about her experience with Grad Slam and her recommendations to other graduate students who might want to participate in the competition this year or in the future.

Winter break is finally here—a chance to take a breather after a hectic semester. But it can also be a strategic moment to invest in your professional growth. Without the usual demands of classes, research, or teaching, you have the space to think about your next steps, build new skills, and refocus on your career goals. Here’s how to make the most of your time off.

Knowledge of the funding disbursement process is key to managing finances as a graduate student at UC Berkeley. Understanding when and how your funds are released ensures you have the resources needed to succeed. Here’s what you need to know about UC Berkeley’s graduate student funding disbursements.