Tien Phan-Everson | 2013 UCRTP Student, who is currently working as a scientist at a biotechnology company

"2013 Summer Research program at CDU was my first exposure to research. The program got me hooked and now 8 years later, I've got a PhD in Biology and am pursuing a career in research! Thank you for taking a chance on me when I was a clueless new immigrant."

Sami Dwabe | 2014 UCRTP Student; Sami has graduated from UC Irvine Medical School and is now pursuing a hematology/oncology fellowship at UC Irvine.

"Thank you so much for everything! The experiences I had at CDU have meant so much to me in regards to influencing my career goals."

Nwamaka Amobi | 2016 UCRTP Student, currently in medical school at University of California, San Francisco

"I better understood a lot of the basic science topics discussed in my first 2 years of medical school because of the foundation in microbiology, lab skills, and basic science that I learned at the cancer center. I also have a better understanding of how to think about breast cancer based on my research."

Moses Hinton | 2019 UCRTP Student, 2022 awardee  of the NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program, and is currently working as a post-baccalaureate researcher for an NIH/NCI lab

"The UCRTP program was my first real experience as a researcher in a lab. Despite my shortcomings in the beginning, I overcame and provided data that would lead to the development of pharmaceuticals to eradicate the prevalence of breast cancer in my community. The research program was a rewarding experience that led to my desire to continue with my research career. Working in my current lab at the NCI, I have solidified my passion to develop novel therapeutical agents to treat diseases such as cancer, HIV, and diabetes. I'm currently in the process of applying to Pharmacology PhD programs where I would bring a unique perspective as a minority in science and challenge researchers to think of how their research could be applied to a wider population to help eliminate health disparities."

Samuel Zamora | 2021 UCRTP Student, 2022-2023 awardee  of the NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program

"UCRTP completely changed the trajectory of the way I view biomedical research as it allowed me to gain perspective from both inside and outside the laboratory. This program taught me the beauty behind the complexity of biology but also the impact research can have on the lives of people. Being able to gain laboratory experience motivated me to seek further research opportunities such as working for the NIH. My participation in UCRTP motivated me to seek prestigious scholarships because of the immense trust they had in me."