Science Ambassador Spotlight

For recent CNAS graduate Briana Baldovinos '24, UCR was a whole new dance

owenw — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:18:59 +0000

For recent CNAS graduate Briana Baldovinos '24, UCR was a whole new dance owenw Thu, 07/11/2024 - 09:18 More Blog Posts July 11, 2024

For the past year and a half, Briana Baldovinos has worked at the “Happiest Place on Earth”...Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, where she dances in the Main Street Parade.

Before enrolling at UC Riverside, she used to dance ballet, jazz and tap – “everything” – for an average of five hours a day. She’s been dancing since she was three years old.

“I’ve always loved to dance and want to keep it up,” she says. “For the Disney gig, they held auditions and I went and got the job. My idol is Misty Copeland. As the first African-American female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theater in New York City, she broke boundaries for what a woman of color could achieve in ballet.”

A Neuroscience major and recent UC Riverside graduate, Briana is breaking some boundaries herself along with her brother, a pre-med student at UC Riverside. “There is no one on either side of my family that has ever been in the medical field,” she says. “We are the first.” Briana’s mom works as an office manager for the Union for American Physicians and Dentists, and her dad drives trucks out of the Port of Los Angeles.

Coming from Corona, CA, Briana wanted to find a college close to home from which she could commute to school, and UC Riverside fit the bill perfectly. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to look over the campus personally because I started during COVID,” she says. “I checked out UC Riverside’s website – and just looking at pictures of the campus and the new medical school, it seemed like a good fit for me.”

Briana says that the trick to successful community plays into one of her natural tendencies: scheduling. “I am very much a set schedule person,” she says. “I need to have everything written down in a planner. During the pandemic I didn’t have to commute for my first year, but going into my second year when we started back up, it was a bit of a struggle. I just had to make sure I adhered to a routine.”

For Briana, that meant waking up in plenty of time to get ready for school, which included making and packing a lunch and accounting for potential traffic snarls. “My commute is only 35 minutes without traffic, so that’s not bad...but there were days when everyone was on the interstate! I don’t like to rush, so I made sure to leave when I could drive more leisurely. Look at the traffic maps on your phone in the morning to make sure there isn’t construction or accidents on your route and don’t get lazy with your routine. Adhere to it and you’ll be okay.”

Briana Baldovinos '24

Briana describes herself as a “hands-on” learner. “I love making new discoveries, and applying what I learn in lecture courses to labs allows me to better grasp the concepts,” she says. Just like in her dancing, Briana says she gets a kick out of “seeing a reaction unfold. The discipline and patience that lab work takes is something that I love.”

Hands-on learning was more than a euphemism for Briana at the beginning of her stint in college as a first-generation student and amid the challenges presented by the pandemic.

“My first advisor, Mario Trejo, influenced me greatly, she says. “He was the mentor I had during COVID and as a first-generation student, I literally didn’t have any guidance. All the questions I asked my mom were deferred. She didn’t graduate from high school. My dad ended getting his GED later on. They both said: ‘You can’t ask us. We don’t know.’ I felt bad asking Mario so many questions and sending him so many emails, but he was very reassuring. He told me to ask as many questions as I wanted. He said: ‘I’d rather you ask than not ask and be late on something like applying for financial aid or registering for classes incorrectly.’”

According to Briana, asking questions was a huge factor in her academic success and it’s also the best advice she could give any incoming freshman to UCR. “Approaching teachers was very overwhelming, especially because during COVID, the classes were all streamed,” she says. “On Zoom, if I had a question, I could pop in real quick versus being in a classroom-type setting where you had to personally approach instructors one-on-one with the fear that you might ask a dumb question.

“Sometimes in class you might look around and start comparing yourself to other students,” Briana adds. “From my perspective, I sometimes thought: ‘They seem so ahead,’ whereas I felt I hadn’t done this or that. The issue of asking questions was also compounded by my fear that I should already have known the answer to what my question was.”

Briana says that her biggest supporter, her mother, told her not to be afraid to ask questions for clarification about anything. "She told me I had every resource at UC Riverside to draw on and that I’d be good," Briana remembers. “I took that advice to heart and found that when I asked questions, the fog lifted and my professors were encouraging – almost endearing – in that they told me we could go through the answers step-by-step. That was a light bulb moment for me!”

For Briana, it was mostly about overcoming a rooted fear that people would judge her. “But, hey, we as students all have better things to do," she realized. "It was largely a groundless fear, but one that I could only overcome for myself.”

As any incoming college freshman can attest, the transition from high school to college can be fraught, and study techniques learned in high school may not always successfully transition with the student. “I feel I learned so many different, helpful techniques trying to nail down what would work for me,” Briana says.

One winning study technique was going through her lecture slides, thoroughly, the same day. “If I have class that morning, I’d go through them that night,” she says. “I’m the type of person who if I write stuff down over and over again, I’ll be able to memorize it. So, with the lecture slides, I’ll go through maybe 10 at a time and then I try to memorize as much as I can. I’ll then I dump everything that I’ve remembered on a piece of paper. And everything that I’ve missed, I’ll write in a different color – and that paper will be what I need to further memorize. It’s a technique that really works for me.”

Briana counts serving as Vice President of Community Building on the CNAS Science Ambassador Leadership Team from 2023-2024 as a highpoint of her UC Riverside tenure. She was also involved in UC Riverside’s Latino Medical Student Association as Marketing Chair, and she performed outreach to high school and middle school students through the Medical Education Executive Project, helping them to become CPR-certified, how to use EpiPens, and how to apply a tourniquet using just a pen and rubber band.

“I was also a member of UCR Hooks, where we crocheted ‘granny squares’ which we would give to the leadership team. They would connect them and make blankets that they’d give away to the homeless.”

Briana’s immediate future plans include taking a gap year and hopefully landing a cruise contract as a dancer, during which time she’ll have six months to a year to study for the MCAT and then take the test. “I’d like to attend medical school at UC Riverside,” she says.

For Briana, that would fulfill a dream, and could well turn out to be her next “Happiest Place on Earth.”

CNAS Science Ambassadors

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Student Spotlight

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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For recent graduate Erica Garcia Silva '23, UC Riverside has been a "transformative experience."

owenw — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 21:26:00 +0000

For recent graduate Erica Garcia Silva '23, UC Riverside has been a "transformative experience." owenw Fri, 10/27/2023 - 14:26 More Blog Posts October 27, 2023

Erica Garcia Silva ’23 graduated last June from UC Riverside with a degree in Biology, and plans on taking a gap year before enrolling in medical school…also, ideally, at UC Riverside.

“I want more clinical experience, so I am volunteering at Glendale Adventist Medical Center as a COPE Health Scholar,” she says.

Erica is also one of 60 individuals chosen to participate in Yale’s Program to Advance Training in Health & Sciences (PATHS), where she will have the opportunity to participate in workshops, training sessions and mentorship programs facilitated by Yale Medical School faculty and students.

We recently caught up with Erica and learned more about her experience at UC Riverside, how her parents’ love and self-sacrifice inspires her, and why her nickname on campus is “bug lady”:

What attracted you to UC Riverside?

“I actually transferred to UC Riverside from Glendale Community College. During my time at Glendale, I had kept largely to myself, limiting my presence on campus solely to attending classes. After transferring, one of my goals was to increase my involvement within both UC Riverside and my community, and I found that UC Riverside fostered the right atmosphere for that. UC Riverside cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that encourages every student to discover their place within the Highlander family. It fosters a sense of collaboration and networking among students and promotes growth without pitting us against each other.”

How has UCR positioned you for the future?

“Before coming to UC Riverside, I was an incredibly shy person. I was too afraid of being rejected to put myself out there and didn’t engage with my fellow students or professors. When I arrived at UC Riverside, I found that the faculty and students would encourage everyone, even the shyest person in the room, to speak their mind. I was around people that sought out my opinions and ideas because they saw value in all perspectives. I truly believe attending UCR was a transformative experience, especially because of the CNAS Science Ambassadors, program which introduced me to brilliant individuals who were dedicated to making a positive impact both on and off campus. I learned that the only way I could participate was to speak up. I didn’t feel as though I was being 'railroaded' while attending UC Riverside. Although I was one of hundreds of biology students, my path could still be unique. I could choose to take Cancer Biology and Comparative Virology whereas someone else might take Entomology and Microbiology courses.”

How did CNAS faculty and students help you get the most out of your UC Riverside experience?

“There are two individuals in particular to whom I owe a debt of gratitude. First and foremost, Connie Nugent, CNAS Dean of Student Affairs, played a pivotal role in my journey. Through working closely with her in the Science Ambassadors program, I gained invaluable tools for success. She listened attentively to my ideas, helped me recognize my true potential, and her high expectations for her Science Ambassadors motivated us to reach for excellence. Secondly, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to a fellow student, Patricia Sanchez, who began her UC Riverside journey right after high school. Patty was my role model during my time at the university. She introduced me to a multitude of opportunities and, more importantly, played a significant role in helping me find my voice.”

What was the biggest challenge you faced at UCR and how did you deal with it?

“My biggest challenge was the transition from community college to UCR. I moved from a semester system to a quarter system and felt that everything was moving way too quickly. It was terrifying to be a new student and have people already telling me everything I had to do for graduation. I remember thinking, ‘How is it possible that I’m being rushed toward graduation already? I just got here.’ While it definitely feels fast at first, once you get used to it, things seem to slow down. I was able to get to that point with the help of my honors counselor, Dennis McIver. He gave me valuable advice about where I could go for help, and had me work with the Health Professions Advising Center (HPAC) to plan my pre-med journey. He also told me where to go for advice about volunteer opportunities, and he helped ease my mind by reminding me that I don’t have to do everything. He encouraged me to participate, but taught me strategies to keep from feeling overwhelmed. By the end of my first quarter, I felt more confident in my ability to manage my time.”

What classes/activities did you like most or find the most rewarding?

“The UC Riverside class I enjoyed the most was actually the one I was most dreading in the beginning. I wanted to take an Entomology course before graduation because the department is ranked number two in the world. However, I have been terrified of insects my entire life. I went into the class wondering what could have possessed me to register for it, but the enthusiasm of professor, Dr. Chow-Yang Lee was absolutely infectious. I threw myself completely into the material and looked forward to insect hunting expeditions with my classmates. This class deepened my passion for biology because it reminded me that life comes in so many different forms, and that the journey to understanding them is critical for the conservation of biodiversity. Dr. Lee taught us that even the smallest creatures can have an immense impact on the world, a lesson that will stick with me. Moreover, I've earned a unique reputation among my friends as the ‘bug lady,’ a title that comes with the added bonus of receiving insect pictures from them and the chance to identify these intriguing creatures!”

What do you miss most about UCR?

“There was always something going on! If I had free time between classes, there were workshops, concerts, seasonal celebrations, and much more. I was able to engage with my passions while at the same time pursuing my education. I helped coordinate a cancer research symposium with the A Friend in Me organization last summer that was an unforgettable experience, and allowed me to help spread awareness of pediatric cancer. This is why I highly encourage everyone to get involved!”

Tell us a bit about your family.

"I am the third of five daughters. My parents, Rafael and Angelina Garcia, are immigrants who hail from Michoacán, Mexico. They came to California to build a better life for my family. They were not fortunate enough to get an education, but that has not stopped them. They worked upwards of twelve hours a day to provide for my sisters and me, and eventually they were able to open up a small Mexican bakery. They both still work seven days a week to make sure we have everything we need. They are my biggest inspiration and supporters. Life has not been easy for them, but they keep pushing forward for us.”

What did you like to do when you weren’t cramming for exams?

“I’ve always enjoyed music. I have played the piano and flute since I was around 10 years old. It was actually a bonding experience for my dad and I, as he was my piano teacher. I also love to read. My favorite book of all time would have to be The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. I’ve probably read it over a dozen times! Little EINSTEINs is a project within the Science Ambassadors program whose mission it is to expose elementary school students within the Riverside Unified School District to STEM through lectures and experiments to foster a passion for science and a desire to pursue higher education. It didn't take long for me to recognize my deep passion for STEM education, particularly when it comes to nurturing young minds. STEM education at the elementary level can sometimes lack the spark needed to ignite a student’s interest. Through our efforts, we were able to transform their learning experiences, turning the words in their textbooks into tangible experiments on their desks.”

What happens after the gap year ends?

“I plan to enroll in medical school, hopefully at UC Riverside. I have always felt at home in Riverside, and would love to continue my studies there. I hope to either go into cardiology or become an obstetrician-gynecologist…heart and women’s health are two subjects I am passionate about. Ultimately, I hope to one day volunteer for Doctors Without Borders. I want to help people who do not have access to the same healthcare systems that we are fortunate to have. I want to travel to developing countries and offer my services to underserved populations.”

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For Riverside Native Sonali Bhakta, Life at UCR Brings Her Full Circle

owenw — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:28:45 +0000

For Riverside Native Sonali Bhakta, Life at UCR Brings Her Full Circle owenw Mon, 06/12/2023 - 10:28 More Blog Posts June 12, 2023

Born and raised in Riverside, CA, Sonali Bhakta, a 4th-year Biochemistry major, has always considered UCR to be (quite literally) the campus next door. In fact, she readily and proudly admits that she’s been “intertwined” with the college in some way, shape, or form since she was a fifth grade student at Riverside STEM Academy.

“I’ve lived my entire life within a one-mile radius of the UCR campus,” she says. “I used to attend ballet recitals here. I went to math camp, etymology camp…I even learned how to read at the extension center! The first 22 years of my life happened right next door to UCR, if not always on the campus directly. I toured other campuses and got into other schools, but nothing felt right - nothing clicked like UCR. It’s like my home.”

In fact, Sonali says the link between her hometown and the adjacent campus is inextricable, her connection to Riverside and UCR an organic association that continues to bring her full circle. She cites one of her UCR mentors, Physics Professor Bahram Mobasher as an example. “He was a lecturer at the Riverside STEM Academy when I was a fifth grader,” she explains. “I was 10 years old, and actually got his autograph on a NASA photograph of outer space!”

Fast forward 12 years, and Sonali says she took Professor Mobasher’s Physics 37 course at UCR last quarter. “I learned things about biology and chemistry that I didn’t learn from my core classes,” she says with a sense of dazed bemusement. “We ended up talking after every single lecture, and when I told him I was interested in pursuing a career that combines science and law, he became a huge supporter.”

Sonali says that Professor Mobasher encouraged her to apply to graduate school - she will pursue a Master of Science and Law at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law starting in August. Although Sonali admits that her career trajectory isn’t the “straight line” most students pursue when they enter scientific fields of study, she says that Professor Mobasher and Dean Connie Nugent are mentors who have been foundational to her success at college.

“I met Dean Nugent before school even started because she was the one who interviewed me for the program,” Sonali says. “I was talking about issues I saw within the Riverside community with the schools, and how we can improve science programs. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had conversations with her where one question ends up in an hour-long conversation about anything and everything, from giving me career advice to working with different professors.”

Sonali adds that Professor Mobasher and Dean Nugent were transformative in another way. “They pushed me to see the world and the education system from an adult perspective, rather than the student perspective,” she explains. “Previously, I was always the student attending the lecture, never the adult looking into the issues. They encouraged me to adopt that new role.”

In her third year at UCR, Sonali became a CNAS Science Ambassador because she wanted to make a difference and serve her community in a way that would benefit students from underserved communities. In addition, she’s played a pivotal role as President of Change in Scientific Importance for Youth (Delta SIFY) and coached the Science Olympiad Crime Busters, an event that tests students' knowledge and skills in forensic science and crime scene investigation at her alma mater, Riverside STEM Academy.

For Sonali, coaching Crime Busters to a first place finish in divisional competition this year is something she is quite proud of. “I competed in Crime Busters when I was in 8th grade,” she says. “It gives students a kind of whodunit scenario in which they have to do some experimentation to figure out what kind of powders and fingerprints were at a crime scene, glass analysis, etc. It’s looking at chemistry and legalities as part of the same thing. I was doing that at 14, and now at 22 I had the opportunity to coach the same exact event that I had participated in. Crazy!”

With regard to the Riverside/UCR axis, what goes around comes around is definitely more than just an idiom for Sonali. As she makes plans to attend Northwestern University this summer, Sonali is excited about her future path of pursuing a degree that combines science and law.

“People don’t understand that science is around us 24/7…from the materials your towels are made of to the hair products you use, it’s all scientifically based,” she explains. “What people don’t understand is that the FDA and government policies are creating the lines and definitions, a whole rulebook of what we can and cannot do with science. But the problem is that there aren’t a lot of people that are knowledgeable about science or scientific disciplines that are advocating for science in the legal field.”

Sonali aims to be a change agent on how science is communicated. “Another reason why I took up the law minor was to learn how to communicate based on my legal and scientific knowledge,” she says. “The common jibe is that scientists don’t know how to write, and that’s why people are debating the legitimacy of climate change, or that certain drugs aren’t really optimal for certain conditions…or, for example, do I need to vaccinate children if they are on the autism spectrum, and where do they fall on the spectrum with regard to vaccination.”

According to Sonali, science is meant to progress at all times. “The planet has given us so much,” she says. “What have we given back to the planet or, for that matter, humankind? We can progress all we want, but if we don’t save the planet, what’s the point?”

Sonali says she harbors a dream of someday making an impassioned plea before Congress about just these concerns. For a graduate whose whole academic life has been giving back, no doubt that’s something we can count on.

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Student Spotlight

A Conversation with Jared Hudnall '24, CNAS Transfer Student

owenw — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 16:58:13 +0000

A Conversation with Jared Hudnall '24, CNAS Transfer Student owenw Mon, 04/03/2023 - 09:58 More Blog Posts April 03, 2023

Jared Hudnall ’24
Mentone, California

Major: Physics
Campus activities: University Honors, STEM Connections, CNAS Science Ambassadors, Dark Matter and Neutrino Lab
Hobbies: Chess
Favorite place to hang out on campus: Physics Building, STEM Center, Orbach Science Library

Tell us a little about yourself.
I transferred from Crafton Hills College and San Bernardino Valley College to UC Riverside in Fall 2022 as a physics major. I’d like to stay in academia and do physics research at an institution not unlike UC Riverside in the future.

What first got you interested in studying physics?
When I started at community college, I figured out that I was interested in pursuing a career in the sciences, but I didn’t know what. When I took a calculus-based physics course, my first physics class ever, I immediately switched majors and never looked back. Studying physics lends an incredibly deep insight into the nature of the universe, more than anything I ever thought possible.

How did you first learn about UC Riverside?
Having grown up only half an hour away, I feel like I’ve always known of UC Riverside, but never much about it. I met a few UC Riverside undergraduates who visited my community college, but didn’t visit the campus until Highlander Day for transfer students. I got to check out the beautiful campus and meet a bunch of the amazing faculty, staff, and students!

What made you decide to attend UC Riverside?
The people! The first time I visited campus, I got to talk to the physics and astronomy student organizations, University Honors, and the Transfer Success Program. Everybody was so friendly and understanding - some of the physics students talked to me for over half an hour about classes, professors, research, and student life! Everybody I talked to was so humble, outgoing, and driven that it removed all doubt.

What was the transition process like?
I participated in UC Riverside’s RISE Summer Bridge to Research Program, where I completed a 10-week (paid) summer internship at UC Riverside studying artificial deep neural network models through a theoretical lens. I made a lot of great friends and learned a lot about the on-campus programs and resources on campus. It made my transition from community college to university smooth and seamless, and I owe a lot to the folks over at RISE!

What’s the experience been like thus far?
Absolutely amazing! The faculty are exceptional, my peers are wicked smart, and just as eager to learn as I am. The staff are here to help us succeed. The environment at UC Riverside is centered around collaboration and cooperation, and we all work hard together to see everybody win.

How was the adjustment from semesters to quarters?
I greatly prefer the quarter system. It’s much more fast-paced…the semester system was so long that, by the time finals came around, I was ready for it to be over. When you transition to 10-week quarters, you have to hit the ground running, but before you know it, you’re halfway through the term.

Can you tell us more about University Honors?
University Honors is an incredible resource for transfer students in particular, because they completely understand the challenge of coming to the university with only two years left. They remove a lot of the requirements that traditional students have to complete and instead focus on the capstone research project. This project might consist of research or a creative activity, depending on your major, that you complete with a faculty member. As a transfer student, you should be looking for research activities and letters of recommendation right out of the gate, so University Honors is a great advantage!

You’re also involved in STEM Connections. What is that?
STEM Connections is a program tailored predominantly to transfer students that offers a support system and a network of resources. [STEM Connections] directs a number of events throughout each quarter, including field trips, social events, faculty mixers, and more. The program consists of a number of peer mentors who know the ropes and want to see you succeed as you transition to university life!

What’s your go-to chess move?
Always the wrong one…

Are you involved in any research projects?
Yes! I’m in the Dark Matter and Neutrino Lab at UC Riverside, designing components for a remarkably large, cutting-edge dark matter detector being constructed underground in Italy. I’m also writing and running particle physics simulations. I’ve learned a ton, including computer-aided design software, programming and technical skills, cryogenic systems design, and more. I’ve also attended conferences, collaborated with international physicists and engineers, and got to set up the server for our lab! I’m also working with one of the theoretical astrophysicists at UC Riverside on a cosmological simulation project investigating the trends in the star formation rates of satellite galaxies shortly after being accreted into orbit around a large host galaxy. Next year, I’m thinking I’d like to get involved in the Quantum Materials Optoelectronics lab. Needless to say, there’s lots of opportunities at UC Riverside for undergraduates to do amazing work!

What are your plans for the summer?
I’ll be spending a few months in Italy on the development of bleeding-edge photoelectronics for employment in particle detectors and other new and exciting physics experiments.

What’s something every new transfer student should know about UC Riverside?
Unlike a number of other universities, the students here aren’t here to out-compete you - that’s just not the tone or temperament of the student body. The environment at UC Riverside rewards collaboration, and everybody wants to see each other succeed.

What three words would you use to describe UC Riverside?
Inclusive, research-driven, and collaborative.

What advice do you have for transfer students who are considering UC Riverside?
As transfer students, we have a significant disadvantage compared to traditional students – time. You’re going to want letters of recommendation and research experience - UCR is a research institution, after all! You’ll have to hit the ground running and network early, but UC Riverside gives you all of the resources you need to make it happen!

Science Ambassador, Transfer Student

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Student Spotlight

cnasstudent.ucr.edu/new-cnas

Graduating CNAS Students on Finding Success as Transfer Students

tomwt — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 16:33:18 +0000

Graduating CNAS Students on Finding Success as Transfer Students tomwt Wed, 06/08/2022 - 09:33 More Blog Posts Frances Wong June 08, 2022

As a new transfer student walking onto the UCR campus, things may seem overwhelming. You might ask yourself why you are at UCR and what resources are available on campus that will guide you to the path of success as you navigate the rest of your undergraduate career here. There is so much to do: taking classes, meeting new people, and exploring organizations and clubs on campus during Wednesday nooners.

Being unfamiliar with the campus can be scary, but having the resources and fellow students to guide you may be able to put you at ease.

As you approach a group of transfer students, they greet you with bright smiles. Two students, Selim Zoorob and Nour Homsi, greet you heartwarmingly and introduce themselves. Selim Zoorob introduces himself as a 4th year CNAS honors undergraduate student graduating this year with a B.S. in Physics and Nour Homsi is a 4th year CNAS undergraduate student graduating this year with a B.S. in Biology. Both students are insightful and hard-working individuals who have navigated through UCR as transfer students and you can’t wait to ask them questions to get a better understanding of the campus and what UCR has to offer for transfer students.

Nour Homsi
BS, Biology, Summa Cum Laude

Selim Zoorob
BS, Physics

In the Q&A below, you will hear from graduating seniors Selim and Nour talk about their experiences as transfer students at UCR.

“Why did you decide to come to UCR?”

Selim Zoorob: “As a community college student I had the opportunity to be part of the ‘Sequencing to Success’ program at UCR where I researched fish DNA for four weeks. It was a positive experience. I got the chance to meet many people and I got a great sense of what the university is truly about. The physics department at UCR is one of the best in the U.S.. I felt compelled to be part of it. It has been a great experience.”

Nour Homsi: “I was offered a research opportunity at UCR School of Medicine (SOM) in addition to a 10,000 scholarship for transfer students before fully transferring to UCR. Therefore, I felt prioritized as a student that UCR wants and finds important. This showed me that UCR truly finds all their students important and offers accessible networking to ensure their students are well and prepared. I thought that if I was offered an opportunity to connect with staff members at UCR SOM and be a research intern there before I even step foot at UCR then how far more will I grow at UCR and form more connections as a full-time student when I fully transfer.

The main reason I chose UCR was due to the professors here rather than the University itself (it is a GREAT university) because I value professors and what they do so much so I felt very safe about entrusting my personal development and future in the hands of the working professors here at UCR. I had the fortunate opportunity to interact with some of them during my research experience in the summer right before my decision to choose UCR.”

What are some things that you are involved in?

Selim Zoorob: “I am a CNAS STEM Peer mentor, Vice President of Socials for the CNAS Science Ambassadors, Social director of the Society of Physics students, Social coordinator of CAMP (California Alliance of Minority Participation). I am part of Dr. Zandi's biophysics laboratory where I research the kinetics of viral particles. I am part of Honors (and have recently completed my capstone project).”

Nour Homsi: “CNAS Ambassador Program, Biomedical research intern at UCR SOM, Collective mentorship, [and] Peer Mental Health Educator at Active Minds in the Well program.”

What are some resources that you think would be helpful for incoming transfer students?

Selim Zoorob: “As a transfer, I got a lot of help from CAMP and from Society of Physics Students (SPS) to adapt to campus. I haven't checked out the R'Closet yet and would like to do so before I graduate. The writing center is amazing. Many of the tutors helped me write my capstone project.”

Nour Homsi: “Office Hours, HPAC, Student Resource Center, and the Well! The Well is the most healthy environment I have been in. I wished I knew about the Well earlier.”

What do you plan on doing in the future in terms of career goals?

Selim Zoorob: “I will be attending UCR in Fall 22' for the biophysics Ph.D. program. I seek to become an experimentalist. I will be traveling to Geneva, Switzerland this summer as part of an 8-week internship at CERN.”

Nour Homsi: “I am applying for medical schools in the summer.”

Useful websites:

admissions.ucr.edu/transfer

Transfer Student

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Diana Medina-Yerena

ilseu — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:21:02 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Diana Medina-Yerena ilseu Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:21 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 01, 2020

Name: Diana Medina-Yerena
Major: Biochemistry
2018-2019: 4th Year Student

"If someone were to tell fifteen year old Diana that she would be in my position right now, no part of her would believe this. After my first visit to the UCR campus I knew this was where I had the best chance of being the happiest undergraduate. In my time at UCR I have made life-long friends, I have traveled the country, and been involved in numerous opportunities that have shown me my likes and dislikes. I truly believe that if I were to have attended a different school, I would not have had the chance to experience half the opportunities that I've taken a part in. One of those experiences has been participating in the Science Ambassador program. Being able to spread my love of science to the younger generations, participate in diverse campus events and give back to my community along with some of the best people in CNAS has been an amazing opportunity.."

What is something you wish to master?
I want to master the piano. It has been a goal of mine since I can remember and one I have yet to start working on. I want to be the person that walks into a room with a random piano and shocks everyone with my piano skills.

What were you like in elementary school?
I was once asked to deliver a paper to another teacher, but I was too scared to enter the room so I left the paper in a bush and told my teacher I had delivered it. I think it is safe to say that in elementary school I was the super shy girl. At every parent teacher conference there was the, “Your daughter is doing good, but we wish she would talk more” discussion.

Imagine conjuring up a new language. What would it be like?
My new language would be a mixture of some of the most spoken languages in the world. I would want it to be accessible to many people, so we don’t have to expect for people on the other side of the world to learn our language.

If I gave you 100,000 dollars, would you be able to live without your smartphone for a year
Yes, I believe that I would be able to go a year without a smartphone. I think it would be a learning experience and would give me more time to spend the money you gave me.

Is there anything you would like to try at UCR, but haven't got around doing?
I want to go to the top of the bell tower.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Daniel Dorantes Valdez

ilseu — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:20:26 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Daniel Dorantes Valdez ilseu Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:20 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 04, 2020

Name: Daniel Dorantes Valdez
Major: Pure Mathematics
2019-2020: 3rd Year Student

“A bit of advice that I would give to incoming UCR students is: enjoy your time here, make good friends quality over quantity, and definitely get involved going to school and then home is no fun!”

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Grad school. Hopefully somewhere in California.

How are you feeling right now?
Excited to be at a new school and meeting new people.

What Science Ambassador event did you enjoy the most?
The team-building course I loved being outside and doing physical activity.

What is your pet peeve?
One of my major pet peeves is when people sit at the same table as me and fidget constantly, it’s distracting and moves the table lol

If the human average life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
I would travel a lot more I would want to see all the world before I died.

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Science Ambassador Spotlight: Merett Saad

ilseu — Thu, 21 May 2020 23:19:55 +0000

Science Ambassador Spotlight: Merett Saad ilseu Thu, 05/21/2020 - 16:19 More Blog Posts CNAS Communications Staff May 07, 2020

Name: Merett Saad
Major: Biochemistry
2019-2020: 4^th Year Student

What is your favorite color?
Spruce green- it’s very calming to the eye saturated brings spaces to life for those looking to illuminate their world with pure, extraordinary color. A great complement to Classic Colors.

Where do you consider to be your first place?
Molino's Coffee.

Do you have a favorite hangout spot on campus.
Yes, I do actually. I like to hang out at Coffee Bean.

What is your favorite class currently?
My favorite class continues to be my lunch hour. LOL

What is your favorite thing to do at UCR?
Other than studying, volunteering, researching, and running to and from lot 30, I like to go to yoga and Pilates and take hikes and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains.

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