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Riverside City College students explore research through RISE

owenw — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:55:07 +0000

Riverside City College students explore research through RISE owenw Mon, 08/19/2024 - 07:55 More Blog Posts August 27, 2024

When asked how she's enjoying UC Riverside's Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) program this summer, Riverside City College student Kat McVeigh doesn't hold back.

"It's been a great experience!" she says. "Being in an actual lab [and] getting to know the other people in the lab has been pretty cool. Meeting new people is always really nice!"

RISE is a summer research program designed for rising sophomores, juniors, incoming transfers, and seniors at UC Riverside. Participants work under the supervision of a faculty mentor on a cutting-edge research project, and the program also features faculty mentoring, professional development opportunities and immersive experience in the UC Riverside science community.

The program culminates with an undergraduate research symposium, where participants share their work with the greater UC Riverside community:

This year, the program featured several students from nearby Riverside City College (RCC), students who grew their STEM interests by engaging in RISE's mentored projects and learning more about academic research. RCC students were given the opportunity to participate in RISE programs lasting one or eight weeks.

Jordan Moreno

"It's taught me what goes into research at an academic institution," said Jordan Moreno, a Computer Science major at Riverside City College. "Coming into it, I didn't have any research experience. The biggest skill is learning the entire process of research and learning what goes into exploring the results you get. Results that contradict what you might think should be explained."

Moreno adds, "That explanation is very important because, regardless of the results you get, you can't jump to conclusions."

"We don't have research facilities at Riverside City College, so these research experiences are often the first time these students will be in a research facility," says Dr. Virginia White, Professor and Principal Investigator, STEM Connect Grants at Riverside City College. "RCC students [also] have the opportunity to meet their counterparts at UC Riverside and learn about the student experience."

According to Dr. White, the fact that Riverside City College students also get to interact with graduate students is an important component of the RISE program. "Learning that college isn't necessarily the end point of their education is very eye-opening for some of our students," explains Dr. White. "It is especially beneficial to hear the stories of the graduate students and post docs, particularly at a school as diverse as UC Riverside."

Moreno's RISE project involved working with Professor Jia Gou in the Department of Mathematics on computational models of cell migrations, and studying how different parameters affect the morphology and movement patterns of a cell computationally. "My lab was a little bit different since I'm working with computer models," Moreno explained. "The majority of it is working with simulations, changing parameters, looking at the data, explaining the results and then tweaking and re-doing the process. Throughout the week, I'll meet with my Principal Investigator (PI), and we'll go over my results and what I could do better."

Principal investigators and faculty mentorship played a huge role in the RISE program for Emmatrice Fomumbud, a Riverside City College STEM major who worked with Professor Jim Burnette on DNA barcoding during the one week program. "The [DNA extraction] didn't work on the first day, and we were kind of demoralized," remembers Fomumbud. "But Dr. Burnette wanted us to taste the sweetness of having a good result. He taught us a different method to analyze the DNA, had us do the process again, and it worked!"

Emmatrice Fomumbud

The DNA barcoding program allowed participants to investigate whether retail cuts of fish were labeled correctly. "Some of the fish we analyzed were actually mislabeled," explains Fomumbud. "You can read the DNA sequence and be able to tell what type of fish it is...it might look like one kind of fish, but it's actually a different kind."

McVeigh spent her time in RISE in the lab of Professor Ying-Hsuan Lin of the Department of Environmental Sciences, looking at per- and polyfluralkyl substances (PFAs), otherwise known as "forever chemicals," and pyrolyzing them in soil to see how they broke down. "Right now, remediation efforts are the current focus of research for that group of chemicals, because they don't degrade naturally," says McVeigh. "We want to see if thermal treatment is a good course of action for breaking down contamination."

McVeigh credits RISE with teaching her how to perform experiments while simultaneously reviewing her work for mistakes. "One part of [the research project] was gas bag analysis...we would take the soil which we had previously spiked, put it into the furnace, collect it with the gas bag, take it back upstairs and inject it into our machine," McVeigh explains. "We'd be looking at the data we collected to start to understand what we're looking at. That's so we don't get too far without realizing we made a mistake. Reviewing your work at multiple points while you're experimenting is also necessary."

McVeigh also says that her participation in RISE taught her to use "new-to-me" instrumentation and processes she'll likely encounter in other labs during future research projects, like gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS). "I was learning gas sampling, solid extraction, data analysis, how to make calibration curves and scientific figures, use a fluoride probe, make a poster, and learning how to present that information," she says. "[I was also] learning how to look at previous research to understand current research."

"When Riverside City College students participate in research at UC Riverside, they are doing research at one of the best institutions in the world," says Dr. White. "And UC Riverside is such a diverse university with faculty, post docs and graduate students from all over the world. Some of our RCC students haven't traveled outside of Southern California...to do research alongside a student, post doc, or faculty member who has come to UC Riverside from another country is such an awesome experience."

Dr. White adds, "We really want to showcase to our students that they don't have to be limited by geography. Not to mention that UC Riverside is such a welcoming campus for our students. That's one of the best features of UC Riverside - it's a premiere research institutions that has a small community feel to it."

Both McVeigh and Fomumbud were also surprised by the social aspects of RISE. "I don't think I was expecting everyone in the labs to be so close," admits McVeigh. "There's a lot of camaraderie in the labs. [Once] we were trying to fix a piece of instrumentation...we got a professor to come in and help us. It was really cool to see how, if you're struggling with something, someone else can come in and help you."

"I gained social skills," adds Fomumbud. "I was able to work and create things with a team. The whole [experience] boosted my confidence, both as a student and a person. I was able to work better with a lot of the machines in the lab, and that helped me as a STEM major. We were having fun...talking, getting work done, and getting to know each other. We still learned while having fun."

During RISE, RCC students also interacted with UCR Peer Mentors, current students and recent alumni, many of whom are transfer students and understand the unique obstacles of transferring to UCR. For Moreno, the Peer Mentor meetings provided invaluable support and information about the transfer experience at UCR.

"I think they're really special because they help me to connect with peers that are doing what I want to do," says Moreno, "They've really helped to lead me through this process and show me the way to go. Having a mentor is really important, and I really value those meetings...I've learned a lot from them."

Moreno adds, "They've given me a lot of advice about classes, talking to professors, getting into research, and how to find research you're interested in. I just find that very valuable. Without that, I would be so lost...now I have a really clear idea of what I want to do."

Each year, RISE culminates in a symposium, giving participants the chance to present their work and scientific projects to the UCR community. Students participating in the one week program also have the opportunity to share their work. "While the students do learn some molecular biology skills, they also learn how to write an abstract, analyze data, and develop a presentation," explains Dr. Burnette. "They work in groups on the abstract and presentation, thus gaining teamwork experience. These soft skills are the ones most valuable since they are necessary for any major or career."

Fomumbud credits RISE with helping him conquer his initial apprehension about presenting his findings to his new colleagues. "I was so nervous because I'm not good at talking to strangers...I tried to find confidence in myself, and my colleagues said that I did great," says Fomumbud. "That was a skill I gained, and the next time I find myself giving a presentation, I'll do better."

Fomumbud adds, "Believe in yourself! You may not be the best speaker, but just have fun and enjoy the whole scenario. You're not trying to compete with everyone, you're trying to gain skills and knowledge. Just believe in yourself!"

Students participating in the eight week program were able to participate in the Mentoring Summer Research Internship Program (MSRIP) Symposium on August 16, presenting their research findings to UC Riverside undergraduates, faculty and community members. For McVeigh, the key to a successful presentation is knowing your audience.

Kat McVeigh

"You may have a great spiel worked up, but it might not fit who you're talking to, and in that case, it'll either go over their head or under," says McVeigh. "Knowing who you're talking to is the biggest component...also, having something put together so that if they come up to you and just want to talk to you, you can give them a quick overview and answer additional questions."

According to Moreno, performing research while surrounded by other transfer students was an important experience. "Being surrounded by fellow transfer students is important because I have a different background, and going into research, I might see things differently. Having that environment makes it feel more welcoming and approachable for me."

"RISE is an amazing opportunity for our students," says Robyn Martinelli, Assistant Dean for Development at the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS). "While there are other sources of funding for the program on campus, there are students who’s participation would not be possible without the funds provided by our generous donors. Donor support is crucial to bridging the gap for these deserving students and providing a much needed stipend for summer research as opposed to them taking on a part time summer job."

RISE Social 2024

Martinelli adds, "This past summer, donors funded approximately 30 students. We are actively looking to engage more donors so that we can provide this opportunity to even more deserving students."

Dr. Burnette says he enjoys watching participants make connections between the knowledge learned in class with the real data being generated. "The excitement is generates is infectious and exciting," he says. "It was seeing them realize that they have valuable skills and knowledge they can teach others."

As Moreno, Fomumbud and McVeigh make plans for the next chapters in their academic journeys, they look forward to encouraging fellow transfer students to participate in RISE in the future.

"I think it's a great opportunity to get into research, especially coming from a community college," says Moreno, who plans on studying Physics at UC Riverside. "There's nothing else quite like it! It's a way for community college students to get experience in academic research and see what it's going to be like transferring and pursuing your research interests."

"I was super nervous, but it was the best experience I've ever had," says Fomumbud, who looks forward to studying at the UC Riverside School of Medicine one day. "I was more enthusiastic and have more confidence in myself."

For McVeigh, who plans on pursuing Forensic Chemistry and Criminalistics, the support she and other students received during RISE is a critical factor in the program's success.

"Everyone at RISE is just there to help you, and that's been really cool to see as well." she says. "The amount of support that is there for students."

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Making Beautiful Music: Nicolas Sanchez on Biochemistry, the Violin and CNAS

owenw — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 18:37:51 +0000

Making Beautiful Music: Nicolas Sanchez on Biochemistry, the Violin and CNAS owenw Mon, 08/05/2024 - 11:37 More Blog Posts August 05, 2024

Like many students before him, Nicolas Sanchez '24 has learned that finding the proper outlet can circumvent the pressure of a tough academic course load.

For Nicolas, who graduated from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences with a Biochemistry degree with an emphasis in Medical Sciences, that outlet was music.

“I wanted to include music in my life,” he says. “I started playing violin at UCR two years ago and one of my professors in the music department, Professor Frances Moore, always stressed the importance of being well-rounded. Music became my outlet.”

Nicolas says that even though he was supremely busy outside of Dr. Moore’s Chamber Music class, playing mostly classical pieces on the violin was the “breath of fresh air” he needed and led to his pairing with Professor Stephanie Dingwall, Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Biochemistry and CNAS' Divisional Dean of Academic Student Affairs, on various jam sessions that included Bach’s Violin Concerto in D minor and Shostakovich’s 5 Pieces for 2 Violins and Piano.

Nicolas' musical aptitude led him to momentarily put down his violin and lead fellow graduates in singing UCR’s Alma Mater, “Hail Fair UCR”, during the CNAS Commencement in June 2024 at the Toyota Arena. According to Nicolas, the ceremony was particularly special in that he and many of his high school peers, who graduated in 2020 and then enrolled at UCR, did not have a commencement ceremony as high schoolers.

“Being selected to be the Alma Mater singer was an amazing way to close off this chapter in my life,” he says.

That chapter began four years ago when Nicolas was canvassing his hometown of Santa Ana and the surrounding area looking for a place to go to college. “I knew I wanted to enter the medical field,” he says. “I looked at the pre-med culture that existed at various schools and researched different universities when we were in COVID lockdown, so I couldn’t really schedule on-campus tours.”

Since he was unable to participate in on-campus tours during the pandemic, Nicolas dialed up different YouTube videos of students enrolled at UCR, and also read stories posted on Reddit about how they felt about the pre-med opportunities. “It wasn’t long before I got this overwhelming feeling that, at UCR, people were nicer and more willing to help each other," he says.

"That’s really why I chose UCR," Nicolas adds, "Because I got a sense that people here really love the community and the culture that surrounds pre-med here. I knew I wanted to stay near where I live in Santa Ana and I also had to consider my financial situation. UCR won out for the pre-med culture and the diversity and inclusivity...I didn’t want to feel isolated.”

Being a first generation college student is, in Nicolas’ words “no easy feat.” That’s why, in addition to finding creative outlets that take the pressure off of excelling in academia, Nicolas says finding the right balance at school is paramount.

“At the end of the day, doing well in school is why we’re at the university, but you have to carve out time for yourself – whether it’s playing Mozart sonatas or reading or going to the movies,” he says. “Having that balance – which goes hand in hand with finding outlets -- is important. I’d also add to that spending time with friends, especially a ‘go-to’ person that you can really talk to, is important.”

Having go-to friends became extra critical during Nicolas’ second year, when he was pulling all-night study sessions. “I was so focused on getting amazing grades that I was neglecting friends,” he says. “By the end of the year, I was exhausted. After that, I started to go outside my bubble and circulate more. Because of that, I feel the past two years have been the best years of my life.”

The friends he made during those years and the discussions he had with them led Nicolas to change his major from Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology to Biochemistry. “I feel like second year was where I was questioning whether I wanted to pursue a degree in Biology,” he says. “I met a friend in Physics 2A and we started studying together. She was Biochemistry major. I hadn’t considered that as a major [but] the degree program just made sense to me."

“I made the decision to switch majors because I knew I would have support going into it -- friends that I could do the degree alongside,” he continues. “Even though I hadn’t taken a Biochemistry class before, I ended up loving it! It was kind of like a leap of faith.”

A former CNAS Science Ambassador, Nicolas completed the Emergency Medical Technician Program at Moreno Valley College this past spring and has plans to work as an Emergency Room Technician in Riverside with plans to enroll into medical school by the fall of 2026.

For Nicolas, the CNAS Commencement Ceremony represented more than the conferral of a degree - his family was the reason he was up on that stage. He says that his parents have always been shining beacons to he and his brother and sisters – all of whom are either college graduates or on track to graduate.

“My dad installs tiles and does bathroom restorations,” he says. “We didn’t have the most fortunate circumstances, economically. Sometimes I would help him by cutting tile for him. He would take me to his jobs and I would see how difficult it was. Even though it was a tough job, he never wavered and was committed to doing it well; always attentive to detail…I think we all got that from him.”

CNAS STUDENT-FACULTY CONNECTIONS: NICOLAS SANCHEZ & DR. STEPHANIE DINGWALL

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Triumphing over Adversity: John Perna’s Journey to Academic Excellence

owenw — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 22:35:33 +0000

Triumphing over Adversity: John Perna’s Journey to Academic Excellence owenw Mon, 04/22/2024 - 15:35 More Blog Posts April 22, 2024

RIVERSIDE, CA - John Perna has a story to tell, and it’s not one many undergraduates share.

It’s an underdog tale that would have warmed the heart of author Horatio Alger who, two centuries ago, wrote stories about underprivileged youth that triumphed over adversity through diligence and hard work.

“I grew up very poor,” says Perna, who is set to graduate from UC Riverside this spring with a degree in Environmental Sciences and then enter graduate school at UCR. “My mom was a single working mother who worked three jobs at a time, and we lived in multiple homes that were condemned. All I remember from most of those situations was how kind of dangerous everything around us was. ‘Don’t play in that puddle! Don’t touch that dirt!’ It was like we were always living next to a Superfund, site because that’s where it’s cheap.”

The adversity didn't stop there. Perna graduated from high school with a 1.6 GPA, far below the 2.0 benchmark needed to be seriously considered for college placement. What’s more, that was back in 1999, making Perna 42 years old right now.

“In 1999, I swore off school,” he says. “I was never going back. I hated it! Me and school never clicked. So I got out and started doing odd jobs; pizza delivery, forklift driver, electrician, porter at a Mercedes dealership. I did that for four or five years. My girlfriend at the time got me to apply to the county and I ended up working there.”

That job, as an office support “gofer”, happened to be in the Department of Environmental Health, and it was there that something clicked with Perna that harkened back to his hardscrabble boyhood. “I really gelled with their mission statement,” he says. They were the agency that inspected restaurants, tattoo parlors, hazardous materials sites and handled the application process that concerned septic systems and the like. “These people’s jobs were to go out and make sure that someone doesn’t do something that poisons the next family that lives there. I felt that I could get behind that!”

Trouble was, by Perna’s own reckoning, he was basically uneducated, so he went back to night school at Cal State San Bernardino – for nine years. “I went to school at night while working full-time during the day,” he says, “and found out while I was doing it that I really liked school!”

According to Perna, what were previously missing were the academic fundamentals. Although his reading comprehension was off the charts (he was voraciously reading Michael Crichton and Stephen King novels in 5th grade), it was mathematics that had been the stumbling block. “I never put the time in I needed to in order to excel,” he says. “That’s really what killed so much of school for me, [because] so much of the sciences are based on math.”

It was during night classes that Perna took an algebra course to test whether his theory that he was a math dunce held any real weight. “I had just broken up with my girlfriend at the time, and I had nothing else going on in my life,” he says. “So, instead of going home and going to bed after my work shift, I started with elementary algebra at night school and worked my way up from to calculus, micro-biology and biochemistry.”

Question answered.

But if you think that it was smooth sailing for Perna from that point forward, you’d be as wrong as he was about his aptitude in math. “Towards the end of my night school period I told my supervisor that UCR was my dream school,” he says. “I was born and raised here in Riverside but I didn’t know until I was 17 that we had a UC here! When I found out I was, like: ‘Whoa! I would never go, but that’s really cool that down the block is a world-class institution.’” At that point, Perna had worked for the county for 16 years.

On a whim, Perna applied to UCR with the proviso from his boss that on the off-chance he was accepted, she’d “back his play,” as long as for the year or so that he attended UCR he use all his vacation and sick time and come into work early and leave late.

A bargain was struck and, to Perna’s astonishment, he was accepted into UCR. That’s when adversity reared its head – again. Perna’s boss reneged on their bargain and told him to choose work or school. “I thought, I’m older, I should know that a verbal contract is only worth as much as the paper it’s written on. And it was Christmas weekend when she told me that!”

Perna did some calculating .He owned the house in Riverside where he had grown up, and started to cut his bills which kept “catching up” with his income. As a government employee, Perna says he had been “topped out” of his maximum earning potential for about seven years. “After quitting, the way I made it work was that I had the county cut me a check for all that vacation and sick time I had accrued,” Perna says. “They had to cut me a $20,000 check. I guarantee someone had one helluva meeting when I left. ‘We have to cut John, gulp! how much?’”

In addition to the financial cushion from the county, Perna works three jobs on campus; he’s a research assistant in the morphology, hydrology and plastic pollution lab, a STEM Connections Peer Mentor and a CNAS Science Ambassador. He also quickly points out that he takes loans. “My thought process on it is that I will take every dollar given to me through grants, scholarships and loans and I’m putting it all into a banking account. I use what I have to use and when I get out of school, I’ll take all that money and dump it back into my loans and see how much I have to pay back.”

Perna says it would not be understating the case to say that UCR has altered the course of his life. “I was barely making ends meet, staring down the fact that I was going to have to get a second job if I was to keep my house,” he says. “Then I took that leap and quit my government job with retirement and benefits and came here and I just got accepted into graduate school here for a PhD program. UCR provided every opportunity possible to me. All I had to do was work hard and seize them!

“I always hear people say when they talk about UCR that the college will give you what you put into it,” he continues. “I truly believe that. I put in the work and am on the board of three different clubs here. I have three jobs. I took full class loads. It was a lot but in the end I’m going to be getting a free PhD. That seems well worth it.”

For incoming students, Perna says that they should resist the feeling that they might not belong at UCR, that in essence, they’re not good enough. “The ‘imposter syndrome’ is a real thing here,” he says. “I would tell them: ‘You got in. UCR chose you. You are here now and you belong.’ Feeling like you’re failing or that you’re not good enough is human and it’s how we all are wired, but you were chosen and you belong.”

Perna says that he has seen some students at UCR who feel the need to overcompensate because they think they aren’t doing enough and that can lead to burn-out. “Taking on too much becomes a self-fulfilling ‘I don’t belong here’ prophecy because they’re getting Ds and Fs. No, just take a breather. You don’t have to prove yourself, just get through it.

“I always had this image in my head about colleges – like an image from the movies – that sure, you have a couple of friends, but you mostly don’t know anyone and none of the administration cares about you,” Perna continues. “Faculty are doing their research, they don’t care about you, a lowly student. Instead, I’ve come here and I’m friends with administrators, deans, professors. I’ll walk down a hall and run into a professor I had eight months ago and he’ll stop me and say: ‘Hey, John, did you get into grad school? Why do you remember me, Dr. Porter, I don’t understand! And how did you know I was even applying to grad school?’”

After graduate school, Perna says he wants to stay local. “I don’t want to leave California. I love this state. I’m a SoCal boy,” he says. “What I want to do one way or the other is focus on remediation and mitigation of contaminants in disenfranchised neighborhoods and communities. I have a personal issue with the idea that there are people out there who are OK with this happening. It bothers me. So, that’s what I want to aim for.”

For the self-effacing Perna that journey might include teaching environmental science at UCR which he says is “not a lock.” But as one who has faced down adversity time and time again, we wouldn’t be surprised if Perna found a way to make it happen.

VIDEO: GETTING TO KNOW UCR - JOHN PERNA

CNAS GO2S FEATURING JOHN PERNA

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Highlander Day welcomes admitted CNAS students to campus

owenw — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:46:16 +0000

Highlander Day welcomes admitted CNAS students to campus owenw Wed, 04/17/2024 - 11:46 More Blog Posts April 17, 2024

RIVERSIDE, CA - On Saturday, April 13, UC Riverside hosted the first of two spring open houses for admitted students and their families, giving future generations of UC Riverside students the chance to explore campus and learn more about the university's commitment to student success.

Highlander Day brought 8,918 guests to campus, including 2,702 admitted students, who participated in campus tours and discovered academic, wellness and career resources designed to support them through graduation and their post-baccalaureate endeavors.

Among the many activities was the College Fair along Rivera Lawn featuring UC Riverside colleges, majors, departments and organizations. UC Riverside staff and faculty were on hand to greet guests, answer questions, pass out information, and introduce students to the various resources in place to support them throughout their college careers.

Highlander Day also featured an invitation-only Scholarship Celebration honoring UCR scholarship award winners and recognizing their academic achievement. 261 invited guests, including 81 scholarship winners, interacted with current students and faculty over breakfast and heard presentations from top administrators about the opportunities awaiting them at UC Riverside.

Also included in the Highlander Day festivities were programs sponsored by the College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) designed specifically for the future science majors who will call CNAS home. The programs offered insight into the current student experience, undergraduate research opportunities, getting to know faculty, and alumni support.

Connie Nugent, CNAS Divisional Dean of Student Affairs, kicked off the day with the first of three CNAS Information Sessions in University Lecture Hall. Dean Nugent discussed the history of CNAS, current research projects, and introduced CNAS Learning Communities to the audience.

A CNAS Learning Community (LC) is a year-long program designed to promote academic success, help new first-year students transition to college, and to give them the tools they need to thrive. The Learning Communities feature cohorts of like-minded individuals who develop friendships and use each other as resources and support systems. Learning Communities also help students develop a sense of community, belonging, and identify, and actively contribute to their persistence and success.

"When I go to other universities and I talk about these Learning Communities we have," says Isgouhi Kaloshian, CNAS Dean of Agricultural & Natural Sciences, "they are amazed that we put so much effort into providing these resources for our students...it's not a common practice."

Panels of current CNAS Science Ambassadors, current students who assist the school during official functions, were also on-hand at the information sessions to share their experiences and take questions from the audience.

The Science Ambassadors also conducted CNAS tours for admitted families throughout the day, taking them through Geology, Physics and Spieth Hall while sharing their own experiences as CNAS undergraduates. The tours also made stops at Orbach Library, and gave admitted students the chance to ask questions about daily life at CNAS.

"The best thing about conducting CNAS tours for admitted students was that we got the chance to make a lasting impression on the students," said Jennalyn Resendez, a fourth-year Cellular, Molecular & Developmental Biology major and co-president of the Science Ambassadors. "We are often the first people prospective students really interact with at UC Riverside, and it is the most special thing when they thank us and let us know how much we truly impacted their decision to choose our college. It is such a great feeling, one-of-a-kind for sure!"

Admitted CNAS families were invited to attend a reception in the Student Success Center to mingle with CNAS faculty before the CNAS Meet the Faculty panel in the early afternoon. The panel, which featured Peter W. Atkinson, Interim Dean; Isgouhi Kaloshian, Divisional Dean of Agricultural & Natural Resources; Katherine Borkovich, Divisional Dean of Life Sciences; Morris Maduro, Chair of the Biology Department; Stefano Vidussi, Dean of Mathematics & Physical Sciences; Ted Karginov, Professor of Cell, Molecular & Developmental Biology; and Rick Redak, Chair of the Entomology Department, discussed how they approached their own college searches, offered tips for academic success and getting involved in undergraduate research, and answered questions from the audience.

"College is really about discovery, about having an open mind," said Professor Maduro. "You might think right now that you know where you're going to be in 10 years, but I assure you that most of you will be in completely different places that what you think in 10 years...completely different!"

Professor Maduro added, "If I had a time machine and could go back to talk to my younger self, and tell that person, 'You're going to be a biologist and you're going to live 2,000 miles away, and you're going to be a department chair,' [my younger self] would have thought that I was insane!"

According to Maduro, the college experience is about "following your interests and following your opportunities. Choosing your major is about what's important to you right now, but it's also about following your passion and what interests you."

"Focus on what you like, don't worry about specializing at a [bachelor's degree] level...you can change out of any of it at any time." added Professor Redak. "Focus on what you're interested in to keep your enthusiasm up."

When it comes to succeeding in class, attention and engagement are key, according to the faculty panelists. "The more engaged you are, the better you'll do," said Professor Karginov. "It's a basic truth that's hard to get around. Coming to class is probably the best thing you can do. Utilize office hours...if there's something that you don't understand, come to office hours with very specific questions. There's nothing wrong and everything right with coming to office hours."

Professor Borkovich added, "I welcome people to come who don't have specific questions, because usually there are other people there asking questions, so they can listen to the questions being asked by other students and realize, 'Oh, that's my question, too."

Professor Vidussi also reminded the audience of the importance of getting comfortable with failure. "College is a marathon, not a sprint," he said. "Failure will happen at some point, and you have to learn how to bounce back."

The day concluded with the CNAS Alumni Panel, moderated by Jeremy McWells, CNAS Associate Director of Development. The panel featured Nathaniel Co '22, a medical student at UC Riverside School of Medicine; Stephanie Dingwall '08 and '16, Associate Professor of Teaching in the Biochemistry Department; Lyan Li '22, an intern in an internal medicine clinic; Josh Tejada '23, a medical school applicant and member of the Mi Doctora Foundation; Ginny Winters '22, a Geochemistry Ph.D. student in the UC Riverside Earth & Planetary Sciences Department; and Charles Woods '21, a data scientist with the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Corona, CA. The panelists discussed their various experiences as CNAS students and talked about how UC Riverside prepared them for life after college.

"CNAS taught me how to learn how I learn the best and most efficiently," said Woods. "Some topics you'll learn quicker than others. Learn how to learn and best utilize your time efficiently, and learning how to lead others and committing to getting things done is also important."

"One thing that CNAS prepared me for is the ability to communicate and be confident in myself," added Winters. "When you're sitting down in groups and having a discourse back and forth...having that constant communication here at CNAS allowed me to be confident speaking to professionals."

As a Professor of Teaching at UC Riverside, Stephanie Dingwall is constantly thinking about how to prepare her students for life after graduation. "I really focus on critical thinking and critical analysis, because that's going to be so important in whatever field [they] choose," she said. "To be able to analyze something but also keep an open mind, cooperation and independence...that's what I see in a lot of my students: being able to work together, being able to think independently, and resilience. That's what I want students to get."

The second Highlander Day open house will take place on UC Riverside's campus on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Prospective and admitted transfer students, admitted first-year students and their families are encouraged to register for the event online at highlanderday.ucr.edu.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIGHLANDER DAY

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What I Love About CNAS...

owenw — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 00:22:12 +0000

What I Love About CNAS... owenw Mon, 02/12/2024 - 16:22 More Blog Posts February 12, 2024

Check out the video below to hear what they had to say:

From its cutting-edge research and accomplished faculty to its warm, supportive academic community, there sure is a lot to love about CNAS!

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Students

Teamwork is Key to Undergrad Success says UCR First-Year Med Student, Nathaniel Co

owenw — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:41:33 +0000

Teamwork is Key to Undergrad Success says UCR First-Year Med Student, Nathaniel Co owenw Thu, 02/01/2024 - 10:41 More Blog Posts February 01, 2024

Nathaniel Co '27

Nathaniel Co ’27, a first-year medical student at the UCR School of Medicine, is highly motivated and eager to develop skills as a clinician with an eye toward pursuing a career in internal medicine.

So motivated, in fact, that when he graduated from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) in Fall 2022 with a B.S. in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (CMDB), he did so two quarters earlier than the rest of his class!

“I took three courses the summer between my first and second years at the initial onset of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Nathaniel remembers, “and I was okay with taking 14-16 units of upper-division courses during my third year.”

Though hitting the gym three times a week and regular follow-ups with a therapist as a “preventative tool” also helped him mentally, it was initially not easy to balance those activities with studying and coursework demands. “Despite an increased workload, I feel less stressed than I was as an undergraduate,” he says, “and I continue to be motivated by the patient populations that I work with and seeing clinical correlations to the basic science foundation that was established during my first four years at UCR.”

Nathaniel has a solution to feeling overwhelmed by taking on too much: the key, he says, is to build effective study habits. “My first few weeks of medical school have been incredibly eye-opening in that I quickly learned how my habits as an undergraduate were slow and ineffective compared to more active forms of learning,” he remembers. “Here’s a tip: consider converting your notes into flashcards or Anki cards instead of rewriting them. Also, invest in some dry-erase markers to make concept maps on a mirror or a window to better solidify how different ideas relate to each other.”

When it comes to studying, Nathaniel stresses that flexibility is key. “Ultimately, many of us find that rather than adhering to strictly one learning style, adapting to many different modes of studying is what offers the most success across a broad range of subjects.”

Nathaniel also recommends not comparing oneself to others. “When that becomes a compulsive or chronic behavior, it can be very detrimental to our mental and overall well-being,” he says. “Everyone has different career trajectories and timelines, and the path to success is more about tumbling down different winding roads and reorienting yourself than it is about speeding through life via a straight shot.”

Nathaniel adds, “I continue to encourage current and incoming students to collaborate and maintain our campus culture of support and camaraderie. Teamwork in professional settings is infinitely more valuable than whatever actions you take to try to out-compete someone else.”

Nathaniel says his decision to enroll at UCR as an undergraduate was primarily driven by financial aid and awards which made attending a four-year institution more accessible. “I also took part in Highlander Day, and from the outset was able to see the supportive and collaborative environment fostered at UCR first-hand,” he says. “Compared to other open-house programs, I truly felt that the student body had substantial access to resources and support services.”

He also remembers, “Everyone with whom I interacted seemed to be motivated by helping each other rather than trying to out-compete one another.”

An only child who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley, Nathaniel says two cousins who attended UCR, along with the rest of his close-knit family, provided a solid support structure. “Both of my parents happen to be nurses, and one of my aunts is employed as a pharmacist,” he says. “That said, my interest in medicine was fostered both by my own interest, as well as insight into the daily lives of my family members in healthcare. I never felt pressured to become a doctor, and instead was encouraged to deeply consider my passions and interests.”

Nathaniel lived on-campus in the Pentland Hills residence hall during his first year, and then moved to the Glen Mor on-campus apartments during his third and fourth years. “During the pandemic, when all instruction was via Zoom, I was still commuting about 50 miles one-way each week to volunteer at Riverside Community Hospital, as this was the only volunteering opportunity that I found that was continuing to accept undergraduate students at the time,” he remembers.

Nathaniel found that a majority of the friends he made during freshman year were commuters, and they’ve all remained in close contact. “I didn't mind staying late with them in the commuter's lounge or in the library,” he says, “so I would encourage commuters to form study groups and find that tribe they can connect with and feel comfortable being around.”

Like many UCR alumni, Nathaniel wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he graduated. “I wasn’t even sure whether I wanted to be a physician,” he says, “but I knew that I had some inkling to pursue a health profession. It wasn't until my first clinical volunteering experience halfway through my second year at Riverside Community Hospital that I affirmed my aspirations and knew that I wanted to become a physician.”

As a current medical student, Nathaniel says that some of the clouds of uncertainty have lifted. He knows that he wants to stay within Southern California, and looks forward to serving the Inland Empire population. “Helping to address the needs of underserved populations facing healthcare disparities has not only shown me the systemic shortcomings of our healthcare system firsthand,” he says, “but it has given me a greater appreciation and a sense of fulfillment in knowing that the care that I can provide is tailored to those who need it most.”

Nathaniel says he’s still on the fence about what specialty he’d like to pursue, but cites Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology as his top three interests. However the future for Nathaniel plays out, he says, “I look forward to assisting with health disparities research and addressing the nationwide issue of shortages in primary care.”

Now that’s motivation!

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UCR students are always "there for each other," says recent graduate Ashley Trinidad '23

owenw — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:13:13 +0000

UCR students are always "there for each other," says recent graduate Ashley Trinidad '23 owenw Thu, 02/01/2024 - 09:13 More Blog Posts February 01, 2024

Ashley Trinidad '23, Neuroscience

“To this day, I don’t think I would’ve been able to earn my degree if it weren’t for the amazing people I found at UCR, who were cheering me on and inviting me to their study groups,” says Ashley Trinidad, who graduated from the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) last June with a B.S. in Neuroscience.

Although she admits that she felt comfortable with the “general vibe” at UCR, she says she quickly learned that the campus was filled with peers with an earnest desire to help each other.

“I was afraid that as a STEM student, I would be faced with students who would want to compete with each other, or who wouldn’t be willing to work together to get through difficult classes,” she says. “From the beginning of my UCR journey to the end, I met students who were eager to take the time to help teach difficult concepts to each other, to hang out and decompress, and just be there for each other when we didn’t get the test scores we were hoping to achieve. It’s a kind of togetherness that I didn’t find at any other school.”

In addition to fellow students who were always on call to lend support, Ashley cites Drs. William Porter and Ann Cheney, her research principal investigators (PIs) for more than two years, as key mentors. “Through the trust they built up in me, I developed the confidence to both participate and lead in various aspects of the lab research they were doing,” she says. “They have had a great impact on my career as a public health researcher. I truly believe that if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have had the success I have today.”

Ashley is currently serving as coordinator of the Coachella Valley Indoor Air Filtration and COVID-19 Project, run by UCR’s Environmental Science and School of Medicine Department. The project monitors the indoor air quality among a group of 50 residents of Coachella Valley.

“We also work to install a low-cost air filtration system in the homes of participants in the project as well as investigate the impacts of these filters on air quality and respiratory health,” she says.

Ashley would like to continue leading similar projects that advocate for improving the health of underserved communities and people of color. Ashley attended Arroyo High School in El Monte, CA, an area with many first-generation students coming from low-income families. “Due to the level of poverty afflicting most of these families, many students didn’t go to college, much less graduate,” she says. “Instead, they often went straight into the workforce to help pay bills and raise siblings.”

According to Ashley, enrolling in a trade school was the outcome expected by her high school faculty. It was also the reason she was nervous about going to college. “I just didn’t feel like my math or science skills were up to par with the other students I knew were going to be at UCR,” she says. “Regardless of all the AP classes I took to prepare, the thought of college was a very daunting topic for me as a first-generation student because there was rarely anyone around my age that I could talk to about their experience.”

However, once enrolled at UCR, Ashley took advantage of all the tutoring, office hours, and mentoring that she could. “Something that I found comforting was that the vast majority of students at UCR are first-generation and people of color, so we were all kind of on the same page. Being able to talk to friends and peers who came from similar backgrounds was very encouraging, and helped me to feel like I wasn’t alone in this experience.”

Ashley’s best advice to current and prospective UCR students is to have an open mind when it comes to career choices. “Many students come to UCR with only one career in mind, when the university actually gives students the opportunity to explore who they are and discover new passions,” she says. “UCR has something for everyone. I remember coming into UCR as a pre-med student. While I did take advantage of UCR’s connections to volunteer programs at free clinics, hospitals, and the Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC), I also took advantage of UCR’s Cal-Teach program, where I had the opportunity to travel to middle and high schools in the Inland Empire and teach them STEM-related subjects.”

UCR’s on-campus research opportunities were where Ashley found her passion for working in public health via promoting and advocating ways in which air quality can be improved within the Coachella Valley. “I feel like if I wasn’t as open minded to different careers, I wouldn’t have found my real passion,” she says.

Perhaps the biggest challenge Ashley faced at UCR was being overwhelmed by the embarrassment of riches of the numerous campus clubs and organizations. “I felt like if I wasn’t a part of everything, then I would be missing out on the ‘college experience’ or an opportunity to add more to my resume,” she remembers. At one point, Ashley admits she was involved in so many groups that her class work began to suffer. That was when she decided to take a step back.

“This also allowed me to further expand my skills in areas that I genuinely found interesting, and by doing so, I found myself having an easier time expanding my resume,” she says.

As Ashley embarks on her public health career path, she says she will miss the people she was able to bond and work with who made her years at UCR so pivotal.

“The ending is kind of sad because everyone either goes back home or moves away from Riverside for work,” she says. “So, it becomes much harder to see the people that you saw every day for years.”

But, as Ashley is quick to note, there’s a silver lining. “I hope to see them all for years after graduation!”

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California Teach-Science & Math Initiative celebrates 18 years at Homecoming reunion

owenw — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 22:39:07 +0000

California Teach-Science & Math Initiative celebrates 18 years at Homecoming reunion owenw Wed, 11/15/2023 - 14:39 More Blog Posts November 15, 2023

RIVERSIDE, CA - The California Teach-Science & Math Initiative (CalTeach-SMI) at UC Riverside celebrated its 18th anniversary with an inaugural alumni reunion during last month's Homecoming festivities.

Established on UC Riverside's campus in 2006, CalTeach-SMI is a community of STEM undergraduate students exploring and preparing to become future STEM educators through partnerships with local school districts that provide the future STEM teachers with access to middle and high school classrooms, where they are mentored by California science and math instructors.

Leslie Bushong, the founding director of CalTeach-SMI, said that the event gave program alumni the chance to reconnect and draw their fond memories from being in the program. "They had a chance to go down memory lane," said Bushong. "They had tremendously different experiences through their pipeline to becoming teachers, but the common similarity is that they all bonded. It's really heartwarming to see so many of them come together."

The program's mission is to promote STEM education and to increase the pipeline of future science and mathematics teachers in California, teachers like Savannah Sprague '18, a program alumna who majored in Mathematics for Teachers of Secondary School (MTSS) at UC Riverside before earning her teaching credential and master's degree.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without the UCR CalTeach-SMI program," said Sprague. "Starting my freshman year, we were in the classroom [and] we were funded to go to conferences. I was an office assistant and a peer mentor, and just building that network made me the teacher I am today."

Sprague currently teaches high school math in the West Covina School District, where she also serves as chair of the speech & debate team. Sprague was named Teacher of

the Year last year in recognition of her contributions to her school and students, an achievement for which she credits CalTeach-SMI.

"This program, and all of the help it gave me and the connections I've made," reflects Sprague. "It goes back to starting at CalTeach-SMI during my first year at UC Riverside."

The CalTeach-SMI Homecoming reunion event featured updates about how the program continues to make a difference in supporting STEM teachers. Bushong also asked a couple of CalTeach-SMI students to share their experiences preparing for their future careers within the program.

"We wanted to give a full-circle view, from beginning to present, of how we as a program continue to deliver that same harmonious feeling of a community and how we're continuing to have alumni benefit from our program," said Bushong. "That tradition has continued."

A highlight of the program was a surprise $7,000 donation made by a UC Riverside alumnus Steve Clute '71. Bushong stated that the donation will help students pay fees and tuition, and finance professional development opportunities such as conferences, field work and networking opportunities.

"This generous donation will enable our students to not worry about funding, and to be able to do what they need to do to build their resumes," said Bushong.

The reunion also gave current program members like Riley Hunke '24, an MTSS major, the chance to reconnect and network with program alumni.

"It was great!" said Hunke of the event. "I love seeing everyone's faces, and everyone's so happy to be here! It was a good opportunity to meet some people who were in CalTeach-SMI in the past, get that networking piece, and see that I can be successful [because] other people have been successful."

Hunke credits the program with helping him prepare for his career as either a middle or high school mathematics instructor. "Before I was in the program, I didn't know anything at all," remembered Hunke. "Everyone helped me make my plan, meet other educators and future educators, and get organized and prepared for my career."

According to Hunke, CalTeach-SMI serves an important purpose beyond preparing future STEM teachers for the classroom. It gives students who are still considering whether they would like to teach an opportunity to explore different options.

"Even if you don't know whether you want to teach," explains Hunke "getting involved in the program allows you to dip your toe and and see...maybe this is something I do want to do."

Bushong is eager to see future generations of CalTeach-SMI students continue to make an impact on the UC Riverside community and beyond, and credits donors with helping realize the program's vision. "Events like these are the very reason why they continue to donate," said Bushong. "They see the impact. Our students are not only equipped to teach a subject, they're also very genuinely warm people who want to contribute to the community."

For Steve Clute, donating to the program ensures that CalTeach-SMI students will be able to continue enriching the lives of future STEM students both inside and outside of the classroom.

"They are so driven, and they can make such a difference in the community, state, and the nation in health, in medicine, through the environment," said Clute. "They can do so much that'll help the planet, and it's real."

For more information about the California Teach-Science & Math Initiative (CalTeach-SMI), visit https://smi.ucr.edu/.

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Highlander Invitational: Science Olympiad returns to the University of California, Riverside

tomwt — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 16:29:25 +0000

Highlander Invitational: Science Olympiad returns to the University of California, Riverside tomwt Tue, 11/14/2023 - 08:29 More Blog Posts November 14, 2023

On January 28, 2023, the national Science Olympiad competition returned to the University of California, Riverside for the first time in over 10 years. The tournament, dubbed “Highlander Invitational,” was part of the national track-meet style competition where middle and high school students competed in events surrounding all areas of science. Highlander Invitational was organized by Change in Scientific Importance for Youth (Delta SIFY), a student organization at UCR which aims to provide immersive educational opportunities for students in underserved communities to explore the fields of STEM.

Building upon the success of the inaugural competition, Delta SIFY has announced that the 2024 Highlander Invitational will be hosted in-person at UCR. This will provide a great opportunity for students across the Inland Empire and California to partake in a premier STEM tournament and compete to become the official Highlander Invitational Champion. The 2024 Highlander Invitational will take place on February 17, 2024 and is open to both middle and high school teams. Registration for the competition is LIVE at scioly.ucr.edu as of November 6, 2023 and will be open until January 12, 2024. The registration cost is $150 per team, making the Highlander Invitational the most affordable Science Olympiad competition in Southern California. The registration details can be found below:

●   Date: February 17, 2024
●   Format: In-Person (Hosted at UC Riverside)
●   Division: B/C (30 teams each)
●   Max Teams Per School: 3
●   Registration Opens: November 6, 2023
●   Registration Closes: January 12, 2024
●   Registration Cost (Per Team): $150

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Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy tour CNAS

owenw — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 18:59:54 +0000

Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy tour CNAS owenw Wed, 11/08/2023 - 10:59 More Blog Posts November 08, 2023

RIVERSIDE, CA - Middle school students and teachers from Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy visited the UC Riverside College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences (CNAS) last week, touring CNAS facilities, exploring laboratories, and interacting with current CNAS faculty and students.

Located in San Bernardino, CA, Del Vallejo Leadership & STEAM Academy is home to 650 6th-8th graders, and strives to shape students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds into cutting-edge leaders and promote global competitiveness through social and emotional growth development, teamwork, collaboration, and creativity to engage with and enhance learning. The school has 40 teachers and 40 staff members, and nearly 20% of DVLSA students are English language learners.

Martinique Pickett, and 8th grade teacher at DVLSA, said that campus tours are instrumental in helping students familiarize themselves with educational opportunities after high school. "Visits to CNAS really give a better idea of what field students may want to pursue as a college student and what direction they may want to go when it comes to continuing education," she said.

DVLSA students were greeting upon arrival by Connie Nugent, CNAS Dean of Student Affairs, who introduced them to CNAS' mission, goals and resources. Students were then taken on a tour of CNAS buildings and facilities by Science Ambassadors, current CNAS students who assist the college during official functions. Science Ambassadors are highly involved in activities outside of the classroom, including undergraduate research, student life and athletics, making them the perfect resource for prospective students considering UC Riverside.

"Offering students the opportunity to explore CNAS facilities brings significant advantages to their educational journey, especially considering the challenge of navigating the multitude of potential career paths within the realm of science," said Karanvir Singh '24, a fourth year Biology major. "Exposure to cutting edge-research and state-of-the-art facilities acts as a compelling source of inspiration, igniting curiosity and nurturing and early passion for STEM subjects."

Singh believes bringing prospective students to CNAS also helps them appreciate the breadth of academic opportunities available within the college. "These visits play a pivotal role in helping students explore various scientific disciplines, aiding them in making informed decisions about their future academic trajectories," explained Singh. "Interactions with researchers and professionals during these visits can offer middle school students valuable role models and mentors, unveiling the exciting possibilities within the realm of science."

During their tour, DVLSA students visited Professor Katherine Borkovich's laboratory. The CNAS Divisional Dean of Life Sciences and a member of the Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology, Professor Borkovich's research interests include heterotrimetric G proteins, systems biology, and fusarium oxysporum pathogenesis.

"Most middle school students have never seen the inside of a research laboratory, nor met undergraduate or graduate student researchers in action," said Professor Borkovich. "Visiting the facility makes it real and more accessible as a possible future place for these students to perform their own research projects."

Since over half of CNAS undergraduates participate in research outside of their coursework, Professor Borkovich believes the opportunity to introduce prospective students to CNAS' research capabilities is particularly impactful.

"Due to the breadth of research fields represented in CNAS, our undergraduates have a wide array of choices in terms of faculty laboratories for research projects," explained Professor Bokovich. "In addition, students may earn course credit or receive a stipend or fellowship for their research, while at the same time learning important techniques and concepts for their future careers. It is truly a win-win.

After touring CNAS, DVLSA students had the opportunity to attend a panel of current CNAS students, who spoke about their experiences at the college and offered advice to the students as they begin thinking about college. Singh, one of the student panelists, said he appreciated the enthusiasm exhibited by DVLSA students.

"Working with the Del Vallejo students was a truly rewarding experience, with the highlight being their enthusiasm during the tour, particularly at the geology displays," said Singh. "The students in my group displayed a genuine curiosity and eagerness to seeking more information about the Gomphothere and mineral exhibits.

Ms. Pickett praised the experience as being highly beneficial for DVLSA students. "After the visit, I had several students tell me they were actually really excited about going to college," she said. "Touring the CNAS facilities gave them a better understanding of what the science field of studies entails, especially for those who will be first generation college students."

For his part, Singh believes the tour succeeded in not only introducing DVLSA students to CNAS and UC Riverside, but to all of the possibilities STEM fields hold. "These experiences make science more accessible, relatable, and enjoyable for younger students."

For more information about CNAS campus tours, contact CNAS Communications at cnascommunications@ucr.edu.

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