Welcome to our student-led organization, Underrepresented Researchers of Color (UROC)! We serve as a pipeline to increase the representation of marginalized students in research programs and grad schools and seek to build a community of researchers of color. As research is an extremely isolating and exclusive process at this institution, we seek to dismantle this. Furthermore, students of color perform low rates of research at this research institution, alongside research programs on campus having low representation and acceptance rates of students of color. In other words, marginalized students receive little to no mentorship and access to resources to conduct their research/projects. We exist to bridge this gap.
UROC events/workshops are open to the public (on or off campus) and held regularly. Part of how we’re cultivating this community is to provide students with the necessary tools and resources – such as mentorship, panels/mixers, research methodology workshops, and decolonizing research workshops – for students to envision research relevant to their identities and communities with which they’re engaging.
Chloe Ma
UROC – Undergraduate Coordinator
Hello! My name is Chloe Ma (she/her) and I’m a 4th year major in Ethnic Studies and Sociology. As a student researcher, I participated in URAP and SURF, and I’m currently working on my honor’s thesis at the Ethnic Studies department. As a 1.5 generation immigrant and woman of color, I understand how getting involved in research can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially for the underrepresented and marginalized communities who have limited access to education resources. My role as the coordinator at UROC is to make research accessible for all students and erase the stigma around who is deserving of opportunities in higher education institutions like Cal. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about how to get involved in research opportunities, how to connect with faculty advisors, or anything really! Stay tuned for workshops, faculty speaker events, and more research opportunities at UROC!
Subha Subramanian
UROC – Undergraduate Coordinator
Hi! My name is Subha Subramanian and I’m a second year majoring in Integrative Biology, and am on the pre-med track. I’m from San Diego, CA! I love research especially research about public health and the medical field as I’m passionate about Healthcare. On Campus, I’m involved in ULAB, Medlife, AMSA Public Health + PreMed Taskforce, AMWA Diversity in Medicine Committee, APSA, SHAC (CAL Student Health Advisory Committee), and the ASUC Health Advocacy Committee. Off-campus, I’m an intern at Scripps Health/Research, recruiting patients for a diabetes self-management education program. I’m also doing research at UCSF under Professor Flavell in the Radiology and Molecular Imaging Lab, researching molecular imaging and developing new molecular imaging and thanostic probes for better detection and therapy in patients with cancer using PET and MRI Scanning. I love research and am looking forward to motivating students of color at Berkeley to find opportunities that align with their passions, build their confidence, and foster a sense of community within academia.
Noemi Franco
UROC – Graduate Coordinator
My name is Noemi Franco and I graduated from UCB in May of 2024 with a bachelors in Public Health and a minor in early child development. I am currently a first year Masters in Public Health student in the Maternal, Child and Adolescent health concentration program. In my time as an undergraduate student here, I participated in the Firebaugh scholars program and conducted research pertaining to the lived experiences of the maternal population in Richmond, California in regards to exposure to pollution and toxic stress. I also conducted research in a wet lab understanding how Type 1 interferons affect the gut microbiome and immune system dysregulation, and presented this at SACNAS. In my freetime I enjoy reading, painting and crocheting and I am excited to get to know you all!
UROC News
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