What is UC LEADS?
UC Irvine's UC LEADS (University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees) program offers sophomore* students an opportunity to begin their research training at the very beginning of their junior year. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors and graduate students on research projects for a two-year period. UC LEADS is designed to identify educationally or economically disadvantaged undergraduates pursuing courses of study in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics.
The University of California recognizes its leadership role in educating California's future leaders and continually seeks to attract individuals from a broad range of socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, racial, linguistic, and geographical backgrounds to its graduate programs. UC LEADS prepares students to assume positions of leadership in industry, government, public service, or academia after they earn doctoral degrees, preferably from the University of California.
UC LEADS is in coordination with UCI SURF and Sally Cassanova CSU Pre-Doc Program. Each UC Campus administers its own UC LEADS program.
UC LEADS Scholars participate in two summer research experiences. The initial experience takes place on the student's home campus. The second summer research experience occurs at another UC campus. Students will receive housing and stipend expenses, which will be paid by the home campus.
Submit application to Allen Sabio.
Program Components 
Undergraduate Mentorship Experience
Scholars are matched with UC faculty members, who serve as advisors and mentors. Mentors assist the scholars in developing and completing a plan of action. This plan includes plans for travel, research experiences, graduate school preparation and exploration, as well as attendance and participation at regional or national professional and scientific society meetings. Mentors also assist scholars with academic and research difficulties.
Campus Academic Enrichment Opportunities
Scholars have the opportunity to participate in academic enrichment programs to provide them with special training in areas critical to academic success. These programs include fellowship workshops, preparation for the GRE, scientific writing, preparing academic presentations, academic career planning, and development of specific research or research-related skills.
Annual University-wide Symposium
Annually, all UC LEADS Scholars are expected to participate in the "Research & Leadership Symposium". The event features:
- opportunities to meet graduate students, faculty mentors, and UC alumni leaders;
- scientific and academic presentations by leaders in the SEM fields of study;
- opportunities for scholars to present and receive feedback on their individual work;
- presentations about research opportunities at each UC campus to allow scholars to make informed decisions about their second summer placement;
- presentations about graduate programs of study within the University of California; and presentations by California industrial and governmental leaders.
Summer Research Program Experience
UC LEADS Scholars participate in two summer research experiences. The initial experiences take place after their junior year on the student's home campus after their sophomore year. The second summer research experience occurs at another UC campus. Scholars are provided a
funding package for each Summer Research Program experience.
Involvement in Professional and Scientific Societies
Scholars attend and have the opportunity to participate in professional and scientific society meetings. Scholars will receive support for travel and registration costs of attending these meetings.
Scientific Research and Presentations
Scholars, with the assistance of their faculty mentors, participate in at least one research experience of their choosing each year (in addition to the summer research experience). Scholars complete at least one scientific presentation per year. In addition, scholars are encouraged to present their work at national or regional scientific meetings.
Travel to other UC Campuses for Training and Exposure to Graduate Studies Opportunities
Scholars are expected to travel to at least one UC campus each year (in addition to their second summer research travel). Scholars will have the opportunity to meet with graduate students and faculty, and participate in campus tours designed to acquaint scholars with various aspects of campus life and graduate programs. These visits provide the scholars with the opportunity to make informed decisions about their second summer placement as well as learn about graduate programs of study within the University of California. Scholars are provided with support for travel.
Funding Package
UC LEADS Scholars are funded during their participation in the two required Summer research experiences.
First Summer - This initial research experience takes place after the scholar's sophomore year on their home campus. Scholars must commit to working full-time (40 hours per week) and attend all required events and activities to receive a research stipend. In addition, scholars receive on-campus housing (specifically assigned housing arranged by the program coordinator only).
Second Summer - This research experience occurs at another UC campus after the scholar's first year in the program. Scholars must commit to working full-time (40 hours per week) and attend all required events and activities to receive a research stipend. Scholars also receive on-campus housing arranged by the selected campus' Summer program coordinator.
Student Expectations
The UC LEADS program is a two-year program requiring students participate in two
summer programs and
two academic year programs. Scholars are expected to complete the entire two-year program. The research objectives of the program are substantial and require a full-time student commitment. Students will be assigned to ongoing research projects based on their defined area of research interest. Students are required to contact their mentor campus to discuss the nature of the work to be undertaken and to develop a schedule for future contact and project research.
Each student's specific research program will differ according to the faculty mentor/advisor and subject matter. Only in some cases will research undertaken by the student be "original". In all cases, however, students should be shown where and how their work fits the overall goal or direction of the mentor's research.
Summer Program
Students should expect to put in a full-time effort on their projects, which may include work on evenings and weekends, as the project and mentor/advisor may require (not exceeding 40 hours/week). Research mentors will expect continued and sustained work throughout the eight weeks from the student researchers.
Students should expect to meet at least once a week with their research mentor/advisor, or more often depending on the project and the mentor's arrangement. Less frequent contact is not advised unless the research mentor/advisor will be away from campus, or unless prior arrangements are made.
Students will be expected to meet with the program coordinator during regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the progress of the research project. Attendance in all workshops/events and the GRE preparation course is mandatory.
After discussion with the faculty mentor, students will be required to submit a research proposal (outline) which will be due no later than the end of the second (2nd) week of the program. This proposal will outline the research to be conducted and expected results of the project.
At the end of the program, students will be required to prepare a presentation about research results and conclusions. An abstract of the research project must be submitted to the Program Coordinator by the end of the sixth (6th) week of the program. A final paper must also be submitted to the Program Coordinator and to the faculty mentor/advisor by the end of the eighth (8th) week of the program. The length of the paper should be a minimum of 12 typed double-spaced pages.
Academic Year
At the beginning of each academic year, scholars will be expected to develop a detailed plan of action with the guidance of their faculty mentors, for the upcoming academic year. The Action Plan should include information and timetables related to:
- Frequency of scheduled meetings between Scholar and faculty mentor (minimum of twice a month).
- List of doctoral programs to be visited, excluding your summer research experience (must include at least one other UC campus).
- Scholar participation plans for regional or national professional or scientific meetings.
- Scheduled date(s) for presentation of Scholar's work.
- Scholar's plans for participation in at least two research experiences (one during the summer and one during the academic year) facilitated by or in cooperation with faculty mentor.
- Confirmation of participation in the annual UC LEADS Symposium (Scholars are required to do a poster presentation). View Sample Abstracts from the 2002 Symposium.
- Scholar's plans for participation in fellowship seeking or grant writing (Second year scholars only).
- List of graduate programs that the Scholar intends to apply upon graduation (Second year scholars only).
- Timetable for the proposed scholar activities.
- Budget of estimated cost for the activities contained in the Action Plan.
Students can expect advice and guidance about graduate school admissions, graduate work career opportunities in research and teaching and the nature of academic life from the research group and from the Summer Research Fellowship staff.
Students will be asked to evaluate the program and their research experience at the end of the term/program.
Mentor/Advisor Expectations
Faculty mentors are asked to interact with the student researcher to integrate them fully into the research team, and to supervise the student's research activities. Students should not be involved with daily clerical responsibilities.
Research mentors should work with the student(s) to develop a work schedule for the student's project, outline research goals and methodologies, and establish guidelines for the student researchers to follow. The program coordinator will ask for a written outline of the student's work plan (proposal) by the end of the second week of the program.
Faculty mentors should help the student prepare the final report of the project and develop the oral presentation of the research symposium at the end of the session. The mentor and/or their graduate student assistants will also be responsible for editing the student's paper for final submission to the Graduate Division. Abstracts of these papers will be bound and circulated to the program sponsors and others.
Research mentors are expected to be in contact with the students before the summer program begins in order to outline the nature of the project, and, if possible, provide a preliminary reading list. Students are instructed in their letters to contact their mentors to discuss the nature of the research project that will be conducted during the eight-week program.
Admission to the summer program will be announced by the end of March. Students will be notified by mail.
