The opportunity to participate meaningfully in research at the undergraduate level at UCLA has been amazing. I am very grateful to the URCs and the PEERS and CARE Fellows programs—without them, I would not have been financially able to obtain valuable exposure to cutting-edge laboratory studies in chemistry, which ended up supercharging my academic experience. The URCs allowed me to develop research skills early on and to participate in meaningful science aimed at developing new and better medicinal treatments for life-altering diseases. I have been able to make so many supportive connections with like-minded faculty and students and feel closer than ever to my goal of becoming a chemist and conducting pharmaceutical research.
There are so many bright, talented undergraduate students at UCLA who, with the right support, could become the next researcher to discover a needed cure, treatment or breakthrough. The URCs provide this vital opportunity by helping students gain invaluable experience that will allow us to make significant contributions to the world and the well-being of others.
—DANIEL TORRES POMARES, Class of 2025