This scholarship program is designed to empower UC Berkeley upper division female STEM students through mentorship, scholarship support, and access to a variety of opportunities.
Increasing the Number of Women in STEM - Creating Leaders
This is a one year experience where Scholars are matched with a high-level industry mentor and for the academic year and receive scholarship support. Scholars have access to additional opportunities which may include faculty mentored research, professional development grants, access to our Cal NERDS Student Center, and additional resources and training (such as empowerment coaching, leadership development, and/or career planning). These experiences may help to solidify their next step in their STEM career trajectory.
Bergeron Scholars 2023 Application | Will open in July 2023 (pending funding confirmation)
Please send your questions to Director Diana Lizarraga via text at #510.778.5165 or via e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Text is preferred and faster.
Eligibility Snapshot
- Students from non-dominant backgrounds are encouraged to apply
- Registered UC Berkeley female STEM majors taking upper-division classes (with at least one semester completed at UC Berkeley)
- Must have completed all parts of the FAFSA or state financial aid application (including any supplemental pieces)
- 3.25 UC Berkeley GPA
- U.S. Citizenship, permanent residents, or DREAMers
Bergeron Mentor & Role Model Highlights
Mentors are paired with mentees based on areas of interest (physics, chemistry, biotech, computer science, etc.). Often this relationship goes beyond graduation as these role models become part of the mentee’s network of support. Often, Sandra Bergeron makes time to be involved in the interview process and engages with the scholars throughout the year.
- Author Tiffany Reardon was our guest for a series of luncheons discussing empowerment and navigating STEM career pathways.
- Dr. Shiva Malek hosted Silver Alkhafaji at a Genentech summer internship.
- Dr. Shymali Singhal helped her mentee create a plan to navigate the MCAT exam and medical school applications
- Mary Ruiz hosts lunch at Cal with Bergeron Scholars and does 1x1 empowerment coaching with Scholars
- Dr. JoAnn Suzuki has provided key insight on medical pathwaysto help her mentee see the possibilities
- Dr. Natalie Roe met with her mentee on campus over lunch and shared her wisdom as the Director of Physics Division at LBNL
- Dr. Wendy Young created a meaningful shadowing day for her mentee to experience Genentech first hand
Outreach Project Highlight | 2021 Women in STEM Virtual Panel
Panel included UC Berkeley Dean of Physical Sciences Dr. Frances Hellman, UC Berkeley Director of the CITRIS policy lab, Dr. Brandie Nonnecke, and Microsoft’s Mary Ruiz. This panel will be moderated by Graduate Student and former Bergeron Scholar Ankita Joshi.
Bergeron Scholars | 2022 Cohort
- Program paused for 2022 due to fundraising endowment efforts. No cohort for this year.
Bergeron Scholars | 2021 Cohort
- Kyra Abrams, Interdisciplinary Studies - Tech Policy
- Nilufar Kayhani, Public Health
- Kimberly Long, Physics
- Genna Macfarlan, Cognitive Science
- Anna Rios, Molecular and Cell Biology
- Isabella Sanchez, Molecular and Cell Biology - Infectious Disease
Bergeron Scholars | 2020 Cohort
- Program paused for 2020 due to fundraising endowment efforts. No cohort for this year.
Bergeron Scholars | 2019 Cohort
- Rose Curley, Molecular Environmental Biology
- Ashley Quiterio, Data Science
- Emily Wirachman, Molecular and Cellular Biology
Bergeron Scholars | 2018 Cohort
- Silver Alkhafaji, Chemical Biology
- Sneh Girdhar, Mechanical Engineering
- Selma Muminovic, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
- Manisha Ummadi, Molecular & Cell Biology/Infectious Disease
- Kseniya Usovich, Cognitive Science
Bergeron Scholars | 2017 Cohort
- Michele Chang, Public Health & Integrated Biology
- Nikki Chiang, Molecular & Cell Biology
- Arcelia Hermosillo Ruiz, Physics
- Julia Hestenes, Physics
- Michelle Gantos, Mechanical Engineering
Bergeron Scholars | 2016 Cohort
- Ankita Joshi, Mechanical Engineering
- Nazineen Kandahari, Molecular and Cellular Biology/Public Health
- Miriam Mendoza Orozco, Integrative Biology
- Angelique Scheuermann, Chemistry
- Jacqueline M Taylor, Environmental Engineering
Bergeron Scholars | 2015 Cohort
- Janna Abad, Environmental Engineering & Science
- Jackie Garcia, Computer Science
- Bryana Gutierrez, Mathematics & Statistics
- Delara Mohtasham, Mechanical Engineering
- Imari Walker Karega, Marine Science
Bergeron Scholars | 2014 Cohort
- Anastasia Bizyaeva, Physics
- Sophia Elia, Mathematics & Physics
- Natasha Kafai, Molecular & Cell Biology
- Elizabeth Marrone, Computer Science and Cognitive Science
- Jaclyn Wright, Microbial Biology
Bergeron Scholars | 2013 Cohort
- Deanna Gelosi, Geophysics
- Brianna Grado White, Physics, Mathematics, & Astrophysics
- Angelica Inguanzo, Computer Science & Film Studies
- Nicole Johnston, Molecular Toxicology
- Maribel Patino, Molecular & Cellular Biology
Bergeron Scholars | 2012 cohort
- Annie Davis, Molecular & Cellular Biology
- Muska Fazilat, Integrative Biology
- Phoebe Tsang, Public Health
- Sarah Tulga, Integrative Biology
- Kaitlyn Weeber, Chemistry
