About
The Inclusive Excellence Summer Research Experience, facilitated by the Office for Graduate Diversity, focuses on the current challenges and opportunities for diversity in graduate education while providing an enriching and rigorous summer research experience to undergraduate students from around the country. The Inclusive Excellence Summer Research Experience is a fully funded 8-week summer research experience, professional development, and leadership training opportunity to develop the next generation of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in graduate education. Our program pioneers in providing interdisciplinary and self-enrichment training to our Inclusive Excellence Summer Research participants to aid in changing the structure of higher education to be more inclusive and diverse.
This year, we are partnering with the following UC Berkeley departments:
- Vision Science/Optometry (ViSUR)
- Molecular and Cell Biology (specific to undergraduates at Howard University)
- Innovative Genomics Institute (specific to undergraduates at Hampton University)
Program Structure
- 8 weeks at UC Berkeley in the San Francisco Bay Area
- $5,000 stipend, paid housing, and travel expenses (up to $500 – to be coordinated by UC Berkeley).
- Guidance from a faculty mentor in the areas of Molecular and Cell Biology, Genome engineering, or Optometry and Vision Science.
- Access to a specialized series of workshops to learn interdisciplinary perspectives and their applications to understand the strength of diversity, storytelling, and critical perspectives on the future of graduate education.
- Professional development workshops from current graduate students and professionals from different underrepresented backgrounds at UC Berkeley. Workshops will help students:
- understand the statistics and current challenges being faced by minoritized students in graduate education from individuals leading efforts to change them.
- identify good mentors, become a good mentee, and create successful networks.
- Personalized workshops on successful strategies and career paths from current graduate students and professionals from different underrepresented backgrounds at UC Berkeley
2024-2025 Information Sessions
ViSUR Information Sessions
Thursday, December 12 from 5 – 6 pm PST
Monday, January 6 from 5 – 6 pm PST
RSVP
Molecular and Cell Biology
Check back for more information
Innovative Genomics Institute
Program Specifics
- Research presentations by UC Berkeley faculty
- Weekly seminars on issues directly related to the academic, personal, and professional growth of scholars
- Social outdoor activities in the Bay Area
- Preparation of materials for graduate school applications
- Research presentation at the conclusion of the program
- Summer program admission decisions made by early March 2025
Eligibility & Application
Applicants to the Inclusive Excellence Summer Research Experience must be
- a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
- currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate program at a four or two-year college in the U.S. with plans to return to their home institution in Fall 2025.
- a rising sophomore, junior or non-graduating senior. Sally Casanova Scholars are also eligible to apply as long as they are returning to their institution in the Fall of 2025.
- interested in one of the Ph.D. programs being currently offered at UC Berkeley.
Important Dates
- Program Duration: Sunday, June 1, 2025 – Thursday, July 31, 2025 (includes travels)
- Application Opens: Friday, November 15, 2024
- Information Sessions:
- Application Deadline: Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PDT
- Semifinalist Interviews and Admission Decisions: Begin February 2025 through March 2025