UCLA values diversity and inclusivity because it enriches our work, fosters community and promotes excellence. Graduate Programs in Bioscience is committed to a collaborative and inclusive environment where students from diverse backgrounds are trained to thrive as leaders in the biomedical and life sciences regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, first-generation college student, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Our programs celebrate the richness of our differences and commonalities, and provide opportunities and resources that encourage each individual to reach their potential.
UCLA offers funds to top candidates from varying cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. For example, the Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship is a four-year fellowship program that supports entering PhD students interested in a teaching and research career at a college or university. Secondly, the UCLA Competitive Edge Program is an intensive six-week bridge program that funds newly admitted PhD students whose backgrounds are underrepresented in STEM doctoral programs. Additionally, the Will Rogers Memorial Fellowship provides funding for students with physical disabilities. A comprehensive list of funding opportunities can be found at https://grad.ucla.edu/funding/. View our 2020 Diversity, Inclusion, Community and Excellence Newsletter, highlighting our 2019 Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship Recipients or past Diversity, Inclusion, Community and Excellence Newsletters (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016).
Graduate Programs in Bioscience provides advising and sponsorship for enrichment programs (listed below) that support current Ph.D. and MSTP students. Furthermore, weekly drop-in advising sessions provide students the opportunity to discuss wide-ranging topics including, well-being, professional development, mentorship, inclusion and diversity.
Enrichment Programs
- Grad School Hacks Workshops
This workshop series is designed to assist incoming GPB students acclimate and thrive during the first year of their graduate programs. Through enriching academic experiences and guidance, these seminars provide students with strategies for effectively integrating into a PhD program, lab, and department; as well as a space for sharing experiences with peers and building community.
- Entering Mentoring Training Program (EMT)
EMT provides mentorship, leadership and diversity sensitivity training to graduate students and post-doctoral trainees. The goals of the mentoring seminar are to guide mentors to 1) understand “scientific teaching” and apply it in mentoring, 2) build relationship based on trust and respect with a mentee and 3) build community with other mentors.