Groups

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Our mission is to bridge the gap between scientists and the public by cultivating clear, engaging, and accessible science communication. We aim to improve students’ written skills through the BioBuzz blog, a space to share paper and literature reviews and in depth interviews with scientists with the intent to advance public scientific knowledge. Further, we create a space for UCSF students to work on improving their science communications skills through elevator pitch workshops, practice qualification exams, and flash talks. BioBuzz also prioritizes outreach to help pre-PhD students write about their research experiences.

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BEAST in involved in many levels of administration in the Berkeley/UCSF Bioengineering PhD Program. Major contributions include:

Organization of the yearly Bioengineering retreat
Admissions process
Facilitation of peer mentoring and collaboration
Bioengineering social events

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Our mission is to provide a safe space for BIPOC students and their friends in or interested in the social sciences to share their experiences in academia and to provide resources, strategies, and support throughout their educational journey at UCSF and beyond.

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The overall goal of BE-STEM is to increase Black representation in STEM and to mentor the next generation of Black scientists.
The specific purpose of BE-STEM shall be:
-To create a safe and welcoming community,
-To represent the needs,
-To advocate for the rights and interests,
-To promote and facilitate the recruitment and retention, and
-To support professional development,
of Black graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

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Carry the One Radio was founded in 2009 by Sama Ahmed, Karuna Meda, and Bryan Sebold, then students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of California, San Francisco. We got our start interviewing researchers about their work and posting our conversations online, hoping to make science accessible to everyone.

Our format has changed since then, but our mission has stayed the same: ignite scientific curiosity. Run by a small group of dedicated young scientists at UCSF, Carry the One aims to showcase what makes science so exciting - the joy of discovery, the beauty of nature, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

We publish one episode each month, which you can find here (https://linktr.ee/carrytheoneradio) or wherever you get your podcasts.

**Please contact one of our officers directly if you are interested in learning more about CTOR, joining the group, and getting notifications about upcoming workshops and events!**

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Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)-focused policies and practices have become increasingly widespread in institutions. DEI practices aim to include people that have been historically excluded from organizational and institutional spaces. As a group of disabled biomedical researchers, clinicians and allies, we believe that the academic and biomedical institutions we belong to require organizational spaces that can advocate for the inclusion of disabled people in existing DEI efforts. Specifically, our mission is to provide advocacy, political education and a space for our disabled community. We approach this work through the lens of disability justice, which is an intersectional approach that understands that “the histories of white supremacy and ableism are inextricably intertwined…and [that] we cannot comprehend ableism without grasping its interrelations with heteropatriachy, white supremacy, [and] colonialism…” (Sins Invalid).

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GPQA seeks to create a support structure and community for LGBTQ+ individuals in academia, to heighten understanding of the interconnectedness of oppressive systems, and to highlight the importance of working together across multiple identities.

GPQA serves LGBTQ+ people within the UCSF community (including graduate students, postdocs, specialists, faculty, staff) and their allies.

We seek to support our members in all aspects of their being. In pursuit of this mission, GPQA seeks to build strong relationships with organizations that serve marginalized communities and work in solidarity towards the liberation of all marginalized people.

In building this community, GPQA will produce events focused on:

- LGBTQ+ community building within UCSF

- outreach to the surrounding LGBTQ+ community in the Bay Area,

- advocacy for advancing LGBTQ+ equity, and

- coalition building with other marginalized people at UCSF

GPQA members should feel empowered to spearhead efforts that are in alignment with any of the above goals, and will have the full support of the organization in implementing these efforts.

As a supportive community, GPQA seeks to maintain its events and spaces as safe spaces for all attendees. Individuals who are not able to abide by these guidelines should reach out to leadership to discuss barriers affecting their participation. We will utilize restorative justice practices to mediate conflict within our community, seek outside support when necessary, and work together to maintain a healthy and safe environment for all people.

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ImmunoExplore is a free, immersive summer camp in which underrepresented minority (URM) Bay area high school students learn about the field of immunology at UCSF’s Parnassus Campus.

Through interactive games, lectures, Q&A sessions, patient panels, and live anatomy dissections, UCSF students and faculty will engage with high schoolers to expose them to careers in science and medicine involving the immune system.

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NeuroFlash brings together trainees (graduate students, postdocs, staff) to develop their flash talk skills and provide an opportunity to network across departments and graduate programs.

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The Science Policy Group aims to provide a resource for discussion of science policy issues as well as a platform for initiating advocacy within and beyond UCSF. Some issues we would like to focus on include funding for biomedical research, postdoc and student training, and science education.

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To support skiiers and snowboarders in the UCSF community.

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SACNAS at UCSF is a chapter of the National SACNAS Organization, whose mission is to promote the recruitment, retention and career development of underrepresented minorities in the sciences. SACNAS at UCSF is committed to preparing and empowering underrepresented minorities to become leaders that will have a positive impact in our society. To accomplish this, SACNAS at UCSF organizes academic, professional, community service and social activities, creating an enriched environment and support network that serves all of its members and the UCSF community.

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The Sociology Students' Organization provides a voice for the doctoral program in sociology at UCSF. This group meets regularly to provide a safe space for Sociology Students at UCSF to share resources and opportunities, to discuss the needs of students in the program, and to advocate on behalf of the sociology student community and SBS (Social and Behavioral Sciences) community at UCSF. The organization is also in charge of organizing, scheduling, and running student-led events. The group works to connect UCSF students and faculty with scholars, activists, researchers, and community members both at UCSF and outside of the institution.

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The Fog at Bay is a student-run podcast featuring personal stories about struggles and growth from people in academia and medicine. We focus on mental health, with attention to how identity and mental health can intersect. We are currently delving into themes of isolation, labels, stigma, the culture of academia, allyship, and intersectionality.

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The UREKA (University Research and Entrepreneurial Knowledge Amalgamation) program is a student-led initiative under the Clinically Inspired Innovation Program (CIIP) that empowers trainees to:
1. Bridge science and medicine by matching UCSF’s cutting-edge biomedical research with pressing clinical challenges.
2. Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between clinicians, scientists, and trainees to generate innovative proposals that could evolve into therapies, diagnostics, or startups.
3. Expand career opportunities by helping students and postdocs explore entrepreneurial, translational, and innovation-focused paths alongside academic careers.

In short, UREKA’s mission is to be a launchpad for UCSF trainees to transform scientific discoveries into real-world health innovations, while developing career skills that go beyond the academic track.

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WiLS is a UCSF registered campus organization dedicated to fostering an environment to support women and gender minorities at UCSF by organizing networking, mentoring, and career-building activities. We focus on providing a safe and supportive community at UCSF. The entire UCSF community is welcome & encouraged to attend all meetings and events.

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