Summer research lies at the heart of the CCBGAP program. From mid-June to mid-August, CCBGAP scholars will work side-by-side with UC Davis faculty, postdocs and graduate students in original laboratory research, gaining new skills and intellectual independence along the way.
Program components include…
- sessions in professional development that focus on preparing applications for graduate study and career development. Professional development sessions will include scholars from UC Davis’ summer undergraduate scholar initiatives (CCBGAP, LSAMP, McNair, REU, etc). Scholars will gain insight into components of graduate school applications, write drafts of statements of purpose and personal histories, practice science communication skills, and interact with current UC Davis graduate students and faculty in panel discussions.
- community building events and activities
- additional chemistry-specific professional development sessions with students from the UC Davis Chemistry REU
- field trips to research centers such as the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, AMPAC Fine Chemicals, Novozymes, and the Tahoe Environmental Research Center.
- weekly faculty research seminars in chemistry and “ice cream happy hour”
Thus, students will be exposed to options for advanced study beyond what they experience in their mentor’s laboratory and will be part of a vibrant research and social community.
We celebrate the end of summer with a poster session in which CCBGAP scholars present their work to their peers and UC Davis faculty and graduate students. CCBGAP scholars will enjoy a celebration dinner with family members and other scholars, with support for family travel provided by UC Davis.
Last, but not least, mentors will remain in contact with summer scholars during their senior year to guide preparation of presentations for conferences, applications for graduate programs and co-advise honors theses and preparation of publications of research results.
