CELL Scholars (Cultivating Early Laboratory Learning) is a UCLA outreach organization which aims to provide early exposure to scientific research in an effort to make science accessible to all and promote community engagement in STEM. CELL Scholars is led by a team of UCLA graduate and undergraduate students, and is sponsored by the UCLA Brain Research Institute, Graduate Programs in Bioscience, Physiology Office of Inclusive Excellence, and the National Science Policy Network’s Lifting Underrepresented Voices Grant. If you are a part of the UCLA community and would like to join our team, please email cellscholars@gmail.com.
Hands-On Bioscience Research Opportunities for High School Students
CELL Scholars provides scholarship-sponsored research opportunities in UCLA bioscience laboratories for students from Title I high schools, which “help disadvantaged students meet state academic content and performance standards” (California Department of Education) All from University High School are welcome and encouraged to apply. During the school year, each high school student mentee is paired with a graduate student mentor to hone technical skills at the bench, learn coding skills for computational projects, and gain career and college advice from individuals in the field. At the end of the year, high school students present their research project to the community at an annual poster symposium. CELL Scholars research opportunities are open to high school students at University High School in Los Angeles. If you are a high school student at University High School and would like to apply in the next cycle, please email cellscholars@gmail.com.
Science Education Workshops at Title I High Schools
CELL Scholars graduate and undergraduate student volunteers host workshops at Title I high schools in Los Angeles to help students build critical skills for a career in STEM. Past workshop themes have included Science Writing and Communication, Neuroscience 101, Careers in STEM, College Planning, and Introduction to Laboratory Techniques. If you are a Title I high school administrator or representative and would like our organization to host a workshop for your students, please email us at cellscholars@gmail.com.
Our Team
Dylan Hughes & Isabelle Lesmana, Co-Presidents
Jennifer An & Shiba Esfand, Co-VPs of Mentorship
Aditi Venkatraman, VP of Outreach
Alicia Kao, VP of Internal Affairs
Abigail Yu, VP of External Affairs
Megan Chappell, Founder