Graduate Division and Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry hosted LSAMP & Bridges students from Cal State Long Beach to promote STEM education.
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program ’s primary goals are aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of students successfully completing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degree programs, and increasing the number of students matriculating into graduate programs. The focus of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program (LB3) is to enchance students’ academic competitiveness with hands-on research experience. These experiences also provide a unique opportunity to take advantage of the latest scientific information through special seminars and field trips with industry partners.
Chemistry & Biochemistry Graduate Programs and Initiatives Director Tom Cahoon greeted the students and gave them an overview of the Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate admissions and application requirements.
Professor Hosea Nelson spoke to the LSAMP and Bridges students about his experiences before joining UCLA.
Professor Hosea Nelson then joined the group and shared his experiences as a graduate student and postdoctoral fellow. Departmental tours were also provided during the visit. Alexandra Mendoza (P. Weiss group) and Tejas Shah (Garg group) led students through the Biochemistry Shared Instrumentation facility and the Molecular Instrumentation Center (MIC). These two continued their involvement by participating in a panel presentation as co-presidents of the Organization for Cultural Diversity in Science (OCDS). The LSAMP and Bridges students were very interested to learn about Alexandra’s NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Undergraduate students from Cal State Long Beach’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) and Bridges to the Baccalaureate (LB3) Programs with Professor Hosea Nelson.
Our visitors were eager to learn about the department and the Graduate Student Affairs Office looks forward to receiving their graduate applications!
Story by Tom Cahoon, Graduate Student Affairs Office; photos by Penny Jennings, Communications (UCLA Chemistry & Biochemistry).