Program Overview

Introduction to the Cal NERDS Program

The Cal NERDS Program is made up of several Diversity STEM programs and initiatives, including:

• Bergeron Scholars in STEM
• Math Vault
• NSF CAMP - Diversity STEM Pre-PhD Program
• NSF Bridge to the Doctorate - Fellowship Program
• University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees - Research Program
• Visiting Scholars - Summer Research Program

UC LEADS Pre-PhD Research & Leadership Program

The University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) program is designed to engage and educate California's future leaders by preparing promising students for advanced education in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM). The program is designed to identify upper-division undergraduate students with the potential to succeed in these disciplines, but who have experienced situations or conditions that have adversely impacted their advancement in their field of study.

Program Description

Scholars are typically selected to participate in paid undergraduate research (two summers), leadership development, professional development, advising, community building, and graduate school application support. The program boasts a 76% success rate of research scholars going on to STEM graduate programs.

Opportunities and Benefits

The program offers:

• Paid summer research experience
• Statewide research symposium
• Professional and scientific society meetings
• Travel to other UC campuses
• Academic enrichment activities
• Optional GRE prep

Past Cohorts

The program has supported numerous students in various fields, including:

• 2025 Cohort:
  • Chloe Lynn, Mathematics
  • Lukas Hammet, Data Science & Neuroscience
  • Rosa Jahankhah, Mathematics
  • Rylee Jie-Ahn Chaisongkram, Bioengineering
  • Vivian Tamayo, Astrophysics
• 2024 Cohort:
  • Abdel Zaro - Mechanical Engineering
  • Alicia Naylor Guerrero - Cognitive Science
  • Hannah Aguilar - Mathematics & Computational Biology
  • Isaac Duarte Valdez - Nuclear Engineering
  • Jovanny Ramirez - Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
  • Pooneh Zehtabfard - Astrophysics
  • Richard Rodriguez - Astrophysics
• 2023 Cohort:
  • Andrew Gabagat, Molecular & Cellular Biology
  • Cassandra Reyes, Bioengineering
  • Clarissa Jacobo Hernandez, Bioengineering
  • Jason Hodes, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jenna Bae, Computer Science & Chemistry
  • Vy Duong, Chemical Engineering
• 2022 Cohort:
  • Aldo Gonzalez Ruiz, Mechanical Engineering
  • Efrain Alvarado, Astrophysics
  • Isabella Demetz, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
  • Gabrielle Stewart, Astrophysics
  • Kate Bostow, Astrophysics
  • Santiago Karam Padilla, Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
• 2021 Cohort:
  • Martin Beshara, Mechanical Engineering
  • Thee Ho, Computer Science
  • Isaac Sloan, Applied Mathematics & Modeling
  • Alfred Vargas, Chemical Engineering
  • Padma Venkatraman, Astrophysics & Data Science
• 2020 Cohort:
  • Jose Magana, Geophysics & Seismology
  • Jesus Martinez Martinez, Astrophysics & Physics
  • Irene Ortega, Cognitive Science & Computer Science
  • Claudia Renero, Mechanical Engineering
  • Wyatt Singh, Mathematics and Slavic Language/Literature
  • Toren D’Nelly-Warady, Mathematics & Computer Science
• 2019 Cohort:
  • Gael Flores, Physics
  • Vanessa Hernandez-Cruz, Mechanical Engineering
  • Jason Jiang, Data Science & Math
  • Eshaan Pathak, Comp Sci
  • German Perea, Civil Eng
• 2018 Cohort:
  • Alexis Andres Palacios Duran, Physics
  • Arismel Tena-Meza, Chemistry
  • Camille Harris, Computer Science
  • Emily Hill, Computer Science
  • Evylyn Deagueros, Physics
  • Mayia Vranas, Physics
• 2017 Cohort:
  • Cindy Barrios, Biological Sciences
  • Lekha Patil, Math & Data Science
  • Silvia Miramontes-Lizarraga, Math & Astrophysics
  • Yasmeen Musthafa, Physics
  • Brandon Tran, Computer Science

Additional Information

UC LEADS is a UC statewide program (partially funded through SAPEP-GSPP). It is typically a two-year program designed to help students interested in pursuing doctoral STEM degree programs. The program provides students with educational experiences that prepare them to assume positions of leadership in industry, government, public service, and academia.

Eligibility Snapshot

• This program is designed to identify upper-division undergraduate students with the potential to succeed in these disciplines, but who have experienced situations or conditions that have adversely impacted their advancement in their field of study.
• Must be a registered UC Berkeley student at the time of application
• U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DREAMers
• Program is designed for Sophomore and Junior STEM majors interested in going to STEM graduate school programs
• Ideally 3.0 overall UC Berkeley GPA
• There is a two-year/two-summer commitment for Sophomores and a 1-year commitment for transfer students

Program Details

• The program provides a paid summer research internship at UC Berkeley and often a second summer of paid research at another UC campus (transfer students typically are funded for one summer).
• The program helps cover some of the costs such as housing, food, transportation to and from that UC campus, and research stipend.
• Each spring, five to seven UC LEADS scholars are selected.
• The program also has an annual research and leadership symposium which rotates among the UC campuses to host.