Meet Laurie From SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Linguistic Hybridity & National Consciousness In 21st-Century Poetry Laurie Desiderio-Giampiccolo (2026) | English Laurie Desiderio-Giampiccolo is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient and a fourth-year English major. For his SURF project this summer, Laurie is exploring how bilingual poetry challenges traditional ideas of American identity and authorship. By comparing the work of Salvadoran poet Javier Zamora with earlier bilingual writers, he examines how the use of Spanish in contemporary literature reflects changing understandings of nationality, language, and belonging in 21st-century America. What made you choose this research project? How did your […]
Meet Kian from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Single Cell Dynamics Along The Central Dogma In The Drosophila Embryo Kian Naini (2027) | Molecular and Cell Biology Kian is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology. For his SURF project this summer, Kian is studying how gene regulatory networks drive pattern formation during embryonic development in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. By combining live embryo imaging with computational modeling of protein diffusion and gene expression dynamics, he aims to understand how single cells organize into structured tissues and how molecular processes shape variability and […]
Meet Kristie from Strauss! | OURS Student Spotlight
Kristie Moore (2027) | Global Studies Kristie Moore (’27, Global Studies) is a Mexican-Slovak American from Southern California. She will use her Strauss Scholarship to lead Central Asia Peace Scholars, a year-long program empowering 150 youth from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan through leadership training, peace education, and community projects. Kristie has studied Russian and Tajiki through CLS and Boren Scholarships and conducted field research across Central Asia. She plans to pursue a PhD in conflict resolution and a career in mass atrocity prevention. What are you planning to do with […]
Meet Ethan from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Ethan Xie (2027) | Molecular and Cell Biology Ethan is a SURF L&S scholarship recipient, majoring in Molecular and Cell Biology and working with mentor Roberto Zoncu, a professor in the Molecular Therapeutics Division. For his SURF project this summer, Ethan is investigating why brain cells break down in certain diseases by focusing on the cell’s “master control center,” or mTOR. By examining mTOR regulation and a protein called VPS13C, which delivers healthy fatty acids to the brain, we may learn whether VPS13C can potentially help protect the brain from […]
Meet Pooja from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Pooja Sameet Agarwal (2027) | Molecular and Cell Biology, Computer Science For her SURF project, Pooja used deep learning tools to better understand genetic variants connected to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). By studying how these variants may affect important gene-regulating proteins, her research helps shed light on mutations that are still not well understood. This work could support a better understanding and diagnosis of ASD in the future. How did your research question or process change over the course of the summer? My project pivoted to become an independent model […]
Meet Ava from SURF! | OURS Student Spotlight
Ava Ratcliff (2026) | Greek and Latin, Comparative Literature For her SURF project, Ava studied Catullus 64, a short Latin epic poem often discussed for its influence on later works like Virgil’s Aeneid. Rather than focusing mainly on how the poem connects to other classical texts, her research explored how Catullus 64 works on its own through its structure, language, and imagery. In particular, she became interested in the poem’s surprising representations of trees and the natural world, opening up new ways of thinking about environment, art, and human emotion […]
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 […]