UPRISE Alumni and Testimonials

"UPRISE has been an amazing experience that helped me grow both personally and professionally. It gave me the chance to dive into hands-on research while working with mentors who really care about your success. The program creates a supportive environment that encourages collaboration and values diversity, making everyone feel welcome. I gained so much confidence in my abilities, learned new skills, and built connections that will last well beyond the program. UPRISE is more than just a research opportunity — it's a community that inspires you to take your passion for STEM to the next level." — Taran Ghuman, UC Class of 2025

"As someone who is interested in an interdisciplinary topic, UPRISE gave me the opportunity to pursue research in my secondary field of interest, research that I have continued and will present outside of UPRISE. It was a fantastic learning opportunity and helped me develop a lot of skills, both in and out of research. It's given me the chance to interact with different perspectives on various issues, which has helped me grow as a person." — Lyn Wang, Biochemistry

"Listening to Dr. Russel Ledet speak during the UPRISE program was an eye-opening experience that truly resonated with me. His story and insights were incredibly inspiring and motivated me to consider graduate school as a viable and exciting next step. Dr. Grant did an amazing job bringing together relevant speakers and preparing very beneficial information sessions for the cohort. The committee did an even better job of putting together an amazingly diverse cohort that made every part of the experience amazing. The program offered numerous informative sessions directly related to our work, which helped me develop a deeper understanding of my field and feel more prepared for future challenges. I now recommend UPRISE to all of my friends because it has been a transformative experience for me. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and the wealth of knowledge I gained from it." — Khaled Eid, Mechanical Engineering

"Throughout the 10-week program, not only have I gained research experience, but I have also gained the knowledge behind why diversity is so important in STEM, medicine, and healthcare through our weekly seminars with keynote speakers. If you're serious about pursuing a STEM career, this opportunity will change your life. From the networking and research experience to the financial support, this internship has boosted the trajectory of my medical career and will transcend throughout my application process and into my career!" — Stephanie Finoti, Biomedical Science

"UPRISE showed me what doing research in my field feels like early in my career and has been instrumental in inspiring me to continue with my program. In fact, I would call it the most important experience I have had in college. In addition to learning research skills, the program was also eye opening by covering social issues in and outside of STEM. There was a lot I might not have learned about otherwise. I cannot recommend this program enough!" — Cole Miller, Astrophysics

"Overall, I cannot recommend UPRISE more highly to anyone interested in a career in research. Being able to be immersed in a lab full-time is an incredible experience to have had as an undergrad and has shaped my goals immensely. For many, paid research work is not easily available during college and being able to spend time in the lab instead of working isn't an option. UPRISE allows students who would not otherwise have had the funding to pursue research the opportunity to engage in meaningful experiences in the lab. The mentorship and guidance I was offered through the program was another major plus. We were able to meet other students and network, as well as build important skills through workshops and utilize one-on-one research and careeer counseling. I am now a postbac working at the NIH and applying to MD/PD programs, and I can confidently say that UPRISE was an amazing experience I would recommend to anyone." — Ronja Frigard, Biological Sciences

"UPRISE was one of the best things that could have happened to me. It felt like my first real work experience, where I learned how to work in a team, develop my presentation skills, and navigate a professional environment. I also gained valuable software skills that continue to help me in my studies and future projects. UPRISE introduced me to the world of research, and the workshops we attended were incredibly insightful, giving me a solid foundation of knowledge that I still apply today." — Hesaree Wijethunga, Chemical Engineering 

"The UC UPRISE program was a great introduction into the fundamentals of research and developing research projects. I was able to improve my skills of project management, coding, and research development thanks to the workshops offered by the program. UPRISE also allowed me to work on a project related to machine learning, which is something I wouldn't have been able to do in my regular academic curriculum. Overall, I highly recommend the program as it will teach you about research, you will get to meet many great people, and you will be able to possibly work on projects in areas of interest to you that may not be offered in your curriculum." — Derrick Hollins, Aerospace Engineering