New Experiences for Research and Diversity in Science
About
Making a Difference One NERD at a time!
Our Cal NERDS Student Center, centrally located on campus in Stephens Hall
About Us
The Cal NERDS Student Center and Program is comprised of a suite of programs and initiatives that provide faculty mentored research opportunities, specialized tech training, graduate school preparation, career coaching, community building, and professional development to high achieving STEM undergraduates and graduate students. Our community is made up of diverse NERDS that come from many non-dominant backgrounds including LGBTQ, low-income, first-generation, underrepresented, student parents, transfer, re-entry, disabled, foster, undocumented, system-impacted, and women. Our NERDS gain the expertise that helps them amplify their talents and build their confidence. They contribute to our country’s STEM workforce as global leaders, innovators, and technologists in academia, government, and industry.
Cal NERDS creates a home away from home environment
Our Team
Our Undergraduate Directors, Graduate Student Directors, Proctors, Covid Coordinator & Alumni Staff are critical to our success by helping us shape our events, activities, and initiatives. We are so fortunate to learn and grow with and from them.
2024/2025 Student Directors and Initiative Leaders
Alice Tang, Graduate Student/Medical Student - Bioengineer & Data and Machine Learning
Anthony Garcia, Graduate Student - Chemistry
Aryan Sandoval, Undergraduate - Integrative Biology & Persian Studies
Elizabeth Sun, Undergraduate - Computer Science
Francisco Ubongen Galang, Graduate Student - Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Hillary Khuu, Undergraduate - Computer Science & Data Science
Isaac Lin, Undergraduate - Mathematics
Jordan Kam, Undergraduate - Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering
Karla Cebrero, Undergraduate - Bioengineering
Karla Palos Castellanos, Graduate Student - Policy Policy
Liv Thandiwe Bjorgum, Undergraduate - Sociology and Psychology
Liya Oyster, Graduate Student - Physics
Nick Melamed, Graduate Student - Data Science
Nate Monocchio, Undergraduate - Psychology
Malik Mbugua, Undergraduate - Political Economy & Data Science
Our Location
The Cal NERDS Student Center is a unique space on campus because it is a home away from home for our diversity STEM undergraduate and graduate students communities. Our space serves as a hub for mentoring, creating a sense of belonging, and STEM identity development. We are also very proud to be the home of the Crow Dog Murals by Artist Lokata Chief Leonard Crow Dog, Jr.
NERDS promotes a sense of belonging for students to get their NERD on
Our Partnerships
We value the many campus relationships we have formed over the years to provide additional support to more students. Some of our partnerships have included UC Berkeley -UC LEADS Graduate School Alumni Network, Spectrum - Autism at Cal, Latinx in the Environment, Graduate Student Group - STEM FYI, Native American Theme Program, Black Engineering and Science Student Association, Hispanic Engineers and Scientists Society, Latino Association for Graduate Students in Engineering and Science, Camp Kesem, Graduate Student SACNAS club, to name a few.
NERDS have access to a buffet of opportunities and support at our student center such as advising, study space, graduate school application coaching, research poster help, food pantry, 3-D printing, computational coding workshops, etc.
Mentor Dr. Fred Moore focuses on optimizing STEM student success through his innovative curriculum
Mentoring
We are fortunate to have specialists that provide their expertise, encouragement, and time with our NERDS beyond research opportunities with faculty mentors. Having an additional layer of support helps students have a bigger “academic family” that cares about them and can help build their confidence. Our mentors connect with NERDS through a variety of methods including phone, video, and in person. Having this flexibility to meet students where they are at is vital to their development. Often our NERDS gain exposure to important role models and are encouraged to follow-up with 1x1 meetings. Our mentors have come from a variety of academic and education landscapes (data science, technology, healthcare, engineering, biotechnology, national labs, etc.).
Student Directors help build Grad School Toolboxes for our community
Our Advising Philosophy
We use the FLARE holistic model of advising created in-house by Executive Director Diana Lizarraga. This approach allows health and wellness to be woven into the conversation and emphasizes balance among these elements to increase success, validation, and sense of belonging to our community. We also emphasize the concept of Exposure > Participation > Transformation.
F = Finances
L = Life
A = Academics
R = Resources
E = Environment
Access to advising via our open door policy
The DREAM Mapping Technique
Building one’s future is no small task, however many diversity students are unaware of the many benefits that hands-on research provides. DREAM mapping is an empowerment technique developed by Executive Director Diana Lizarraga that utilizes large-scale paper to create a custom physical road map of potential connections, mentors, programs, ideas, opportunities, resources, and graduate school pathways based on the interests of the student. This process (EXPOSURE>PARTICIPATION>TRANSFORMATION) through a tangible diversity-centric visual.
Our Cal NERDS Student Center, centrally located on campus in Stephens Hall 
Cal NERDS creates a home away from home environment 
