Meet Matthew from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Matthew Martinez (2026) | Sociology Matthew Martinez’s SURF project examines the gap between corporate promises of workplace wellness and the lived realities of retail workers. Focusing on major corporations, his research explores how race, class, and job precarity shape access to mental health resources and work-life balance initiatives. Through a systematic literature review, Matthew challenges dominant narratives about corporate well-being programs and highlights structural inequalities within the retail industry. How did your research question or process change over the course of the summer? During my summer research, my question took […]
Meet Nico from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Nico Rowland (2026) | Physics Nico’s project, “Developing Tools To Study Fields Within High Energy Plasmas,” uses proton radiography—tracking how protons deflect through plasma—to visualize the electromagnetic fields inside these extreme environments. By applying convolutional neural networks and other nonlinear analysis methods, he’s building tools that uncover hidden field dynamics, supporting efforts in fusion energy and improving how we understand the creation and behavior of magnetic fields in hard-to-study plasma systems. How did your research question or process change over the course of the summer? Over the course of the […]
Meet Daphne, SURF Recipient | OURS Student Spotlight
Daphne Rose (she/her) is a 2025 SURF L&S researcher majoring in Comparative Literature. For her SURF project this summer, Daphne will be researching the topic, “”A Necessary Excavation”: Female Trauma from Tragedy to Autofiction”. How did your research question or process change over the course of the summer? I realized early on that I had chosen much too broad of a research topic. This is very common, particularly among undergraduates, who likely have never had the opportunity to do original, independent research before, and it comes from a scarcity mindset, […]
Carolyn Nguyen Selected as 2026–27 Churchill Scholar
UC Berkeley senior Carolyn Nguyen (’26) has been selected as a 2026–27 Winston Churchill Scholar, making her Berkeley’s first recipient in a decade. Awarded by the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States, the Churchill Scholarship supports a year of master’s study at Churchill College, Cambridge, for students pursuing advanced work in science, mathematics, and engineering. A double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Business Administration (Haas), Nguyen is passionate about advancing next-generation therapeutics. At Berkeley, she conducts research in Dr. James Nuñez’s lab, applying CRISPR-based technologies to modulate […]
Meet Angela from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Angela Lee (’26) | Psychology / Computer Science Angela (she/her) is a 2025 SURF L&S researcher majoring in Psychology and Computer Science. For her SURF project this summer, Angela is researching the topic “EQVision: Affective Tracking of Multiple Characters in Context.” How did you get interested in the topic of your project? I started at Cal knowing I wanted to pursue Psychology. I’ve always found studying emotion and decision-making incredibly interesting. During my freshman summer I took CS 61A to learn about coding and ended up realizing a passion […]
Meet Nayiri from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Nayiri Kalindjian (’26) | Molecular and Cell Biology Nayiri (she/her) is a 2025 SURF L&S researcher majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. For her SURF project this summer, Nayiri is researching the topic “Enhancing Thermogenesis by Targeting Actomyosin Contraction.” How did you get interested in the topic of your project? Obesity is a global health crisis. The recent rise of GLP-1R agonists, such as semaglutide, have offered a promising therapeutic approach for individuals affected by this disease and its many comorbidities. I became interested in my project after learning […]
Meet Chloe from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Chloe Clair (’26) | Anthropology Chloe (they/them) is a 2025 SURF L&S researcher majoring in Anthropology. For their SURF project this summer, Chloe will be researching the topic “Time Blind or Time Proof: ADHD and Alternate Temporalities.” How did you get interested in the topic of your project? Time has been a topic of interest of mine since I was applying to colleges and decided to write my personal statement essay about the different ways time was treated in my respective homes growing up as a child of divorce. […]
Meet Cathy from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Cathy Kenderski (Fall ’25) | Molecular and Cell Biology Cathy (she/her) is a 2025 SURF L&S researcher majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. For her SURF project this summer, she will be researching the interaction of lentiviral capsids with host factor CPSF6. How did you get interested in the topic of your project? My approach to research is heavily influenced by my upbringing. Mitigating disease is personally relevant to me: decades of corruption in my Italian hometown, Caserta, created a toxic waste disposal crisis so severe that rates of […]
Meet Allison from UCDC! | Student Spotlight
Allison Nguyen (she/her) | Legal Studies | Spring ‘25 Allison Nguyen is a legal studies major who participated in our UCDC program in Fall of 2024. She worked as a Public Interest Law intern for a whistleblower law firm called Kohn, Kohn, & Colapinto, where she worked one-on-one with attorneys to conduct research and compose articles, landmark cases, and key policy work that seeks to expand whistleblower protections. How will the skills you developed through your internship help you achieve your academic and/or professional goals? While completing my internship, […]
Meet Michael from UCDC! OURS Student Spotlight
Michael Plancarte (he/him) | Legal Studies, Public Policy | Spring ‘25 Michael interned with the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP), where he researched and contributed to various projects regarding artificial intelligence (AI), drafting and revising memos, editing reports, planning and coordinating meetings. Through his UCDC experience, he engaged with different OSTP components, the federal government, the private sector, academia, and other nations. How will the skills you developed through your internship help you achieve your academic and/or professional goals? My time at the White House put […]