Frequently Asked Questions About Diversity at UCI

Students who have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages in pursuing their academic objectives and who bring perspectives, research topics or career interests that advance the University's goals of excellence and diversity.

Among our goals is achieving a student population of men and women reflective of the population at-large, inclusive of those traditionally underrepresented in various academic fields and of all socioeconomic levels.

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Diversity students must demonstrate one or more of the following characteristics and be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident:

• Experience in situations or conditions which were an impediment to advancing to graduate study, such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantages, the absence of a family member who attended college; matriculation in a school with poor financial support; working long hours while attending school; or
• Academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal or educational problems as they affect educationally disadvantaged segments of society; or
• Demonstrated evidence of an intention to use the awarded doctoral degree toward serving educationally underrepresented segments of society.

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Either the University of California's Office of the President or UC Irvine, directly, funds internal fellowships. A number of diversity fellowships are awarded to entering and continuing UCI graduate students. UCI is proud to award over $1 million in internal diversity fellowships directly to qualifying students each year. Individuals from socio-economically or otherwise educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and who would otherwise not adequately be represented in graduate education are especially encouraged to apply for UCI's graduate programs.

External Fellowships are funded and supported by various agencies, foundations, corporations, private trusts, industry-related organizations and societies, etc. These entities offer external (a.k.a. extramural) fellowships or grants to diversity students that are portable; i.e., offered to an individual student by an external organization or agency for study at the university the student attends. These fellowships are awards or grants that the student does not have to pay back. Continuing and entering graduate students at UCI are strongly encouraged to individually apply to these portable diversity fellowship programs. Extramural fellowships are an excellent source to augment financial support and quality of life for many of UCI's graduate students. These fellowships typically provide payment of university fees, tuition, and/or a stipend for living expenses. A number of search resources are available.

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Indirectly. Academic departments nominate candidates on the basis of their merit and contribution to the diversity of the department or discipline.

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"I am a minority undergraduate science student looking for scholarships, grants, research, internship, or educational opportunities. Can you possibly help me in my search?"
~ UCI Undergraduate Student

It is always wonderful to see undergraduate science students take the initiative to look for these kinds of opportunities. Lots of information is out there for science majors in biology, chemistry, physics, and other areas. We would recommend that you begin your search by visiting GrantsNet. GrantsNet is a free database of funding opportunities, with approximately 1200 programs listed.

Next, try the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship web site. This site has information on scholarships for students from underrepresented groups who wish to pursue an education in the biomedical fields. The site also contains a mentors section that lists potential mentors, their contact information, and research interests. Mentoring is a key component to the undergraduate research experience, and we encourage you to find a mentor to help you pursue your education in science. It could be just about anyone, including a faculty member, administrator, dean, or program coordinator. Just find one who has your interests at heart!

Other NIH-funded efforts that we recommend you investigate are the Minority Access to Research Careers and Minority Biomedical Research Support programs. Both of these programs offer funding support and research opportunities in a variety of science- related fields for undergraduates. Moreover, additional research opportunities for minority science students are supported by the National Cancer Institute, another of the NIH institutes.

The National Science Foundation has undergraduate research opportunities specifically through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. This program provides a stipend to support undergraduates conducting research on specific projects at a host institution.

Discipline-specific organizations, such as the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Society of Microbiology (ASMUSA) also support undergraduate research. Qualified underrepresented students seeking to earn a degree in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering are encouraged to apply. ASMUSA also offers minority undergraduate fellowships for students seeking to pursue a degree in microbiology.

Internships are a great way for undergraduates to gain hands-on experience. Opportunities are offered through many companies and government agencies. Interns have a chance to work with a group of science professionals and to develop communication (written and oral) and problem-solving skills. This is valuable work experience that you can list on your resume. You'll also make important contacts, whom you can list as references for future job, education, and scholarship opportunities. And sometimes internships even offer a salary! We encourage you to talk to appropriate faculty and program coordinators in your science department about possible internship opportunities. UCI's Career Center may also prove to be an excellent resource for you in your search.

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