Diversity: Opportunities for Graduate Students

Opportunities for graduate students to contribute to and fostering a diverse community of participants in the sciences through teaching, training, mentoring and other outreach efforts.

• AWIS: Association for Women in Science (men can volunteer here too, though!). AWIS is a professional society committed to supporting the advancement of women in science and science-related fields by providing professional networking, mentoring, and leadership activities.
  • The AWIS Outreach Committee is always looking for volunteers (male or female) to participate in various 1-day outreach opportunities throughout the year:
    • Science Olympiad
    • Chem Expo
    • Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair
    • Expanding Your Horizons Conference
    • Sally Ride Science Festivals

    To volunteer or learn more about these events, e-mail outreach@awissd.org

• GradWISE – Graduate Women in Science and Engineering
  • Addresses issues that are important to graduate-level women in science and engineering by promoting programs on topics of interest to both our members and the campus community.
  • You can volunteer to be a member or simply subscribe to their email list to stay informed about their programs.

• Dare to Dream College
  • An annual event intended to enhance college-going rates of African Americans in San Diego and to showcase the academic and career opportunities UCSD offers.
  • Volunteer to host a small group of underrepresented pre-college students for an afternoon in your lab to do a little hands-on science.
• Expanding Your Horizons (EYH)
  • An annual day-long conference specially designed for middle and high school girls that offers hands-on explorations in science, engineering, math and technology designed to spark a continued interest in the sciences.
  • Create your own EYH event!

• STARS: Summer Training Academy for Research in the Sciences (UC LEADS)
  • Mentor a student’s summer research project in the lab.
  • Get paid to be a Graduate Advocate, which involves overseeing a group of STARS students and attending weekly meetings.
• Preuss School
  • Preuss School is a charter school on the UCSD campus, so it’s close and convenient.
  • Tutors usually come in for 1.5 hours, twice a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday).
  • Mentors are paired with one student and they meet on the school's campus either during lunch or the advisory period, at least once a week for 30 minutes.
• AWIS: Association for Women in Science (men are welcome, too)
  • See the description above under "Just for a day..."
  • Get involved by becoming a member or chair for a committee, such as the Outreach Committee, or write for the newsletter.
  • Other committees include the Scholarship Committee to choose awardees and the Public Relations Committee for experience in business-related matters.
  • The WIB (Women in Biosciences) conference that takes place once every 2 years is always exceptional. You do not need to be a member to attend.
• GSA: Graduate Student Association
  • GSA reps serve the Biology graduate students. In exchange for their service, reps serving during their fourth year are excused from one year of "TAing."
  • The GSA has committees that deal with various campuswide issues like housing and student retention. You can serve on one of these committees without being a representative.
• GUIDE Peer Advocate—Graduates United in the Interests of Diversity and Excellence
  • Peer advocates are paired with incoming graduate students within their department to help them navigate through their first year of grad school.