Undergraduate & Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Scholars Education

CaSTL supports the development of the next generation of scientists by employing undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in center-related research. Students work in research groups led by one of the Center’s Senior Personnel. In addition to funded research positions, CaSTL is involved in the following activities:

Conferences

CaSTL Diversity Fellowship

Newport Travel Grant

Speaker Series

Professional Development

CaSTL Fall Retreats

University Exchanges

Conferences

CaSTL supports students and postdocs to attend national and international conferences to present their research, to meet with perspective students for recruitment purposes, and to expand his/her own networking and career opportunities. This includes conferences targeted at under-represented groups in STEM, such as SACNAS. Additionally, CaSTL staff and a graduate student participated in the 2011 AAAS Annual Meeting and Family Day as part of a large NSF booth. For the whole three-day event, CaSTL had an outreach exhibit consisting of a slide show presenting CaSTL highlights, demonstrations and take-home material (e.g., UV-beads, acid-base reactions) for elementary and middle school children and higher level demonstrations (e.g., AFM demonstration, computer games, papers) for visitors with more advanced knowledge.

CaSTL Diversity Fellowship

The CaSTL Diversity Fellowship is a one-time award in the amount of $5000 given to first-year Ph.D. students at UC Irvine who exhibit exceptional promise in the study of chemistry. Special consideration is given to students with Physical Chemistry research focus. Students from traditionally under-represented and under-served in science and higher education are given priority.

2015-2016 Recipients

  • Julia Montoya
  • Francisca Sagredo

2014-2015 Recipients

  • Bianca Ceballos
  • Ryan Khan
  • Brandon Matthews

2013-2014 Recipients

  • Amber Gillett
  • Kate Rodriguez

2012-2013 Recipients

  • Michelle Fairhurst
  • Laura Rios

Newport Travel Grant

Once per academic year, the Newport Corporation offers a $1,000 travel grant for CaSTL graduate students and post-doctoral candidates to participate in professional development training through attendance at a major technical national or international conference. CaSTL will solicit faculty for student nominees each year. Students are asked to write a short statement about their qualifications, work that has earned them this nomination, and their intended use of the funds. Selection decisions are made by the CaSTL management team.

Newport Travel Grant Recipients

2016 - Shaowei Li and Nick Tallarida

2015 - Junghoon Jahng

2012 - Alejandro Rodriguez Perez

2012 - Natalie Gruenke

2010 - Shawn Perdue

2009 - Desiré Whitmore

Speaker Series

CaSTL hosts a weekly speaker series highlighting Center research through faculty and graduate student-led presentations as well as inviting outside scholars. The weekly sessions are available via video conference to include representation from all partner institutions.
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Professional Development

CaSTL seeks opportunities to enhance graduate students' and postdoctoral researchers' educational experiences through professional development workshops and seminars which have included the following: 

  • American Chemical Society "Preparing for Life After Graduate School"
  • Non-traditional careers
  • Job search
  • Networking
  • Resume and CV
  • Interviewing skills
  • Research to Innovation

CaSTL Fall Retreats

CaSTL hosts yearly retreats to provide an opportunity for the students and postdocs to interact with each other and Center faculty. The retreats focus on professional development by hearing relevant research talks and thinking critically about future CaSTL research goals. Fall 2011 tutorials and discussions included:

  • Foundations of Nano Catalysis w/ Q&A session, Charlie Campbell, University of Washington
  • Nano Catalysis and CaSTL
  • Foundations of Solar Energy Conversion w/ Q&A session, Matt Law, UC Irvine
  • Solar Energy Conversion and CaSTL
  • New Frontiers of NLO Microscopy, Eric Potma
   
   

University Exchanges

To strengthen intra-campus collaboration, CaSTL supports student and faculty travel to research and study at partner institutions.