BE Undergraduate Newsletter
Announcements
Successful Slug Workshops - Bite-Sized Steps to Success
Learning Support Services offers 30-minute workshops to all UCSC students giving them the tools to be successful at UCSC. The topics in the workshop are science-backed best practices for effective, durable learning! What you're taught at the workshops, really works!
New Course this Spring! BME118/ 218: Mathematics of the Mind
Join David Haussler for a new course this Spring - Mathematics of the Mind!
National Engineers Week is February 19–25th
Join the Baskin School of Engineering during the week of February 19, 2023, to celebrate National Engineers Week, an annual campaign that highlights the positive contributions engineers make to society and encourages more students to pursue engineering education and research. Throughout the week, we'll be hosting a variety of engaging events. Visit go.ucsc.edu/EWeek to view the lineup.
Join us for Diverse Voices, featuring Shellye Archambeau
Join us on February 21st at 5:00pm for our Diverse Voices speaker, Shellye Archambeau
Please register HERE
Study Natural Language Processing at UCSC!
The UCSC Natural Language Processing (NLP) M.S. Program is unique. Taught intensively over 15-18 months and building on your background in computer science, our specialized program design combines theoretical learning with hands-on practice to ensure you have the right skill set to prepare you for a professional career in the fast-growing NLP field.
We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2023 admission consideration. Want to learn more about studying NLP at UCSC and get support with the application process? Join one of our upcoming information sessions starting on November 15th, 2022.
You can also meet with a current student or one of our faculty members to explore how the NLP Program at UCSC can help you advance your NLP expertise and achieve your professional goals.
[Columbia University] M.A. Statistics Virtual Information Sessions are Coming Up!
The event will feature an overview of the curriculum, admission requirements, student support and community, as well as our generous scholarship packages. During the virtual info session, students also have the opportunity to connect with the M.A. Statistics Program Director and student support team.
Click on one of the dates below to register:
- December 16, 2022 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
- January 20, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
- February 10, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
- March 10, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM EST
LEED Green Associate (GA) Training - Webinar and Online self-Paced Options
Make your resume stand out with the premier sustainability designation called the LEED Green Associate! LEED is simply a sustainability scorecard for green buildings. As buildings can become LEED Certified, people can become LEED accredited! The best way to break into the sustainability space is to attain the LEED Green Associate. It also shows employers and clients you have certified knowledge in the field. Since the LEED GA exam doesn’t have a stellar pass rate, the value of the extra letters behind your name will carry even more weight.
Our engaging webinars have helped over 10K students and professionals learn the material cold AND clear the exam with a very high passing rate. The LEED Professional Designation has helped past participants attain internships and jobs and now is a great time to add this credential.
LEED Green Associate (GA) Training - Webinar and Online self-paced options:
I will be offering live webinars that can be streamed on any of the following dates:
The above options (1-7) are all identical.
Register for a live webinar or start today with our on-demand recorded workshop completed anytime at your own pace here - https://leadinggreen.com/
This course is instructed by a USGBC Faculty member and is the most effective way to pass. The USGBC charges a $100 (reduced for students) fee for the actual exam which can now be taken online from home. Save money by reserving your spot today and make a positive difference in your career!
Cost: $200 - Students can use the coupon code ‘green’ for $50 off (Discounted course price $150)
Save your seat by registering here for our live or self-paced options - https://leadinggreen.com/
Please contact the instructor Lorne directly with any questions at info@leadinggreen.com
Genomics Institute Winter Quarter Events
The Genomics Institute is hosting a series of workshops and presentations for the winter quarter:
- Pathways to Careers in Genomics w Tshaka - Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. in BioMed 300
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - Feb.10 at 1 p.m in E2- 475
- Evaluating Offers and Campus Visit - Feb.13 at 5 p.m in E2- 475
- IDP workshop - Feb. 22 at 5 p.m in E2- 399
- Plan B Workshop - Mar. 6 at 5 p.m in E2- 475
- SAVE THE DATE: DNA DAY! - April 21
MESA Day Volunteer Outreach
I am writing to ask for your help in making our annual event, MESA Day (March 4th), a success. MESA Day is a special event that spotlights 6th-12th graders who participate in challenging math, science, engineering, and technology competitions at the UCSC Baskin School of Engineering.
On MESA Day, students have the opportunity to meet STEM career professionals, take part in college presentations, and showcase projects they have designed and built. This is a fantastic opportunity for these students to learn more about the possibilities available to them in the STEM field, especially for those students who may not have as many resources.
As a volunteer, you will play a crucial role in helping these students succeed. Your time and effort will go a long way in helping these students to see the potential that lies within them.
To sign up to volunteer, please visit this link: https://docs.google.com/
Thank you for considering this opportunity to give back to our community and help these students achieve their full potential.
CNC Machines Manufacturing Scholarship
Scholarship Name: CNC Machines Manufacturing Scholarship
Amount: $2,500
Description: This award is available for students pursuing a certification, certificate, associates, or bachelors in manufacturing or a related area of study
Closes: Sept, 29th 2022
Winner Announced: Oct 30th, 2023
Application Link: https://cncmachines.com/
Spring Opportunities in the Tech4Good Lab
The Tech4Good Lab has several positions open next quarter for undergraduate students from all majors. We are looking for people who are extremely responsible, love learning, and have a strong drive to apply technology for social good. For next quarter, we have positions doing the following types of work:
-
User research: interviewing and analyzing interviews to understand user needs and context,
-
UI/UX design: designing and iterating on web interfaces in Figma,
-
Web development: coding an app using an Angular/NgRx/Firebase stack,
-
AI & economics: modeling economic systems using multiagent reinforcement learning,
-
NLP and ML: topic modeling and ML to clusters text responses or predict annotations,
You would be contributing to a variety of projects in the lab related to designing systems to better support the future of education, work, and community engagement. Some of the platforms we are working on include:
-
An app aimed at scaling apprenticeship learning, which supports people in learning through micro-roles while supporting non-profits as they learn,
-
An app aimed at microlearning through small groups to create learning environments supporting curiosity, creativity, and relationships,
-
An app containing short activities for team/group community building, and also creating "small group networks" that can facilitate interesting collective goals,
-
An app aimed at supporting chat-based career mentorship between industry professionals and groups of students,
Joining requires a commitment of 10-15 hours/week for the quarter for 2-5 credits of independent study. If you are interested, fill out the Tech4Good Lab Interest Form. Teams will mostly be determined based on applications submitted by the end of Week 7 on 2/24, but you should feel free to continue submitting afterwards if you missed the deadline (and if full, we’ll consider you for the following quarter).
P.S. Follow our Facebook or Instagram to hear about future student opportunities in Tech4Good!
Securing Open Source Software Hackathon
Upcoming CSE Seminars
Maxar Technologies Presents: Careers in Aerospace
Student Opportunity in Computer Science and Ophthalmology
My name is Gurpal Virdi, and I am an ophthalmology resident from Palo Alto.
I have been working on several projects that involve computer science and ophthalmology, specifically on projects involving web design and iOS programming (SwiftUI).
These projects aim to create real-world applications that can be used in the field of ophthalmology, and I am looking for students who have an interest and skill set in these areas. I wanted to reach out to see if any of your CS students may be interested in research/internship with me on these projects. This could be a great opportunity for them to gain hands-on experience in the application of computer science to the medical field.
Please let me know if you have any students who might be interested in this opportunity.
Thanks,
Gurpal Virdi, MD
Founder @ EyeLabs AI
PGY-1 Ophthalmology Resident | University of Missouri
Deans' and Chancellor's Awards Applications are NOW OPEN!
The Deans and Chancellor of UC Santa Cruz wish to recognize excellence in research and creativity among undergraduate students as evidenced through projects and theses performed in the normal pattern of academic activity at UCSC. Click here to see a listing of current and previous winning projects.
The online application for the 2023 Deans' and Chancellor's Undergraduate Awards is NOW OPEN!
Please read the application guidelines below and contact a faculty mentor to confirm they are willing to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
All 2023 applications must be completed and submitted online by Sunday, April 2, 2023. All graduating Dean's and Chancellor's winners will be recognized by having their names listed in the commencement program during UC Santa Cruz's graduation ceremonies.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DEANS' UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
Dean's Awards are granted to fifty of the most excellent undergraduate research theses or projects (ten from each academic division) completed at UCSC during the academic year. Each Dean's award project will receive $100 for outstanding achievement in their division. Winners of the Dean's awards will be announced by the end of April 2023.
CHANCELLOR'S UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS
Fifteen Chancellor’s Awards are granted to the most outstanding top three theses or projects from each division's Deans' Awardees. Each Chancellor's Award project will recieve an additional $500. Winners of the Chancellor's awards will be announced by the beginning of May 2023.
STECK AWARD
The Steck Award will recognize the most outstanding research project chosen from the fifteen Chancellor’s Awardees. This student (or team) will receive (or share) an award of $2,000 and the winner's mentor will receive an award of $1,000. In addition, the winning research project will be bound and copies given to the student(s), the research supervisor, the UC Santa Cruz Library, and the Steck Family whose generous contributions have made this award possible.
The Steck Award winner will be posted on the winners page of this site by the end of Student Achievement Week - early June 2023.
Winners of the Deans', Chancellor's and Steck awards will be honored during Undergraduate Student Achievement Week. The names of the 2022 winners are posted here and they were acknowledged at the 2022 UCSC College Commencement ceremonies.
Read here about the 2021 Steck Award winner, Olivia Ross, whose project involved studying the possibility of detecting primordial black holes using pulsars. "Ross has never chosen the easier path. If anything, she always picks the steepest and most slippery slope" - Dan White (from UCSC NewsCenter).
APPLICATION GUIDELINES/POLICIES
- All research project submissions must include at least one letter of recommendation by a faculty mentor/sponsor. Once the student submits their application, a separate email to the listed letter writer will be sent automatically containing the link for them to upload the letter of recommendation.
- All undergraduate students applicants must contact their mentor/sponsor before submitting their application in order to confirm that a letter of support will be possible.
- All applications must include a Description/Abstract of their research project.
- All applications must include either an attachment of a completed thesis or completed project or performance (by URL). Research projects must be finished when the application is submitted. Projects that are still in progress, or are planned to be completed after the application deadline, should be submitted in the following application cycle. Submitted applications that are incomplete, or do not have a project attachment or link, or are projects that are not yet completed, will be rejected.
- The applicant should choose the one faculty mentor/sponsor of their project who is most familiar with the project and who will be able to provide the strongest letter of recommendation. Only one letter of recommendation is required. Mentors should be UCSC faculty/lecturers/post-docs/researchers etc that have a CruzID.
- For group projects, only one student in the group (usually the lead in the project) completes an application. They then must list the other students as project students. Each project member must approve of the application that is submitted.
- When the faculty mentor/sponsor submits their letter of recommendation, they must also approve the submitted project. As soon as the student submits their application a separate email to the designated letter writer will be generated automatically containing the link to upload the letter of recommendation as a pdf. The deadline for letters and approvals is a few days after the student application deadline. It is strongly recommended that the letter writer complete their recommendation as soon as possible after being contacted by the student.
- Foreign language projects must be accompanied by appropriate translation.
- Technical papers must include an abstract in non-technical language.
- Projects completed in spring 2022 (and therefore not submitted in last year’s competition) are eligible for the 2023 awards competition, even if the student has already graduated.
- Previous award winners are only eligible to submit projects in the current application cycle if those projects are significantly different in scope or topic from the previously awarded project.
Apply Here
Application requires use of your CruzID Gold password
Resume/CV Workshop from Bioinformatics Club
We will be holding a Resume & CV workshop NEXT Thursday Feb 23 from 6-7:30 PM in PSB 305! Fill out this form if you are planning on attending and if you want personalized feedback on your resume/CV: https://forms.gle/rSNkCuEsaDJxgqpU9
UCSC Global Seminar: Eco-Entrepreneurship in Costa Rica Summer 2023
We'd like to share an exciting opportunity to earn UC credit while studying abroad in Costa Rica this summer through the UCSC Global Seminar: Eco-Entrepreneurship in Costa Rica.
This program is facilitated through UC Santa Cruz Global Learning and open to all eligible undergraduate students from related majors. Read more about the program below!
Program Dates: July 30 - September 1, 2023
Location: west coast of Costa Rica
Courses:
-
Crown 92: Social Entrepreneurship (fulfills PE-H GE) (5 units)
-
CRWN 94: Environmental Entrepreneurship Applications (fulfills PR-S GE) (5 units)
Application Deadline: March 1st
Pairing entrepreneurship with the beauty of Costa Rica, you’ll be immersed in the local entrepreneurial community, focusing on eco-tourism and conservation. Learn about the responsible interactions between human and natural communities, ensuring a long-term and sustainable future. We’ll travel to the capital city of San Jose, and along the western/Pacific coastline, visiting a volcano, hydroelectric dam, eco-hotels, beaches, jungles, and spice and cocoa plantations, in an immersive educational opportunity that goes beyond the typical tourist experience.
-
Want to learn more details (like where you are staying, or how much it costs)?
-
Please check out the program website.
-
-
Ready to apply?
-
Please follow these instructions. Apply soon to secure your spot, as we fill our programs first come first serve to eligible applicants. You can check how many spots are available here.
-
-
Do you have a question about the program or application?
Please reach out to Jenna Tantillo at globallearning@ucsc.edu who is the UCSC Global Learning Advisor for this program and is available over email or by appointment. To set up an appointment, you need to make a profile in the UCSC Global Learning Portal.
Reyna Grande Scholarship
Kresge College is able to offer a scholarship to one undergraduate student of any college affiliation as well as a Kresge student.
The scholarship is for creative projects—involving arts, writing, music or other creative media work—intended to advance the standing and visibility of Latinx and/or Chicanx communities. Here is the website: https://kresge.ucsc.edu/
ECE 183 Advanced Topics in Agriculture Technology Course Announcement
Undergraduates: ECE 183 Advanced Topics in Agriculture Technology has been approved as an elective for both concentrations of the Electrical Engineering BS, and as an elective for the Robotics Engineering BS. Please contact Dr. Josephson for more information and a permission code if you are interested.
Events
Activate Your AI Professional Network Panel & Mixer
Event Date and Time: 02/22/2023 11:00 amEvent Location: Event Center - UCSC Silicon Valley Campus
If you are interested in pursuing a career in AI, machine learning, or natural language processing, then take advantage of this opportunity to gain insights into navigating career options and building an AI professional network in Silicon Valley.
At the first part of the in-person event at UCSC's Silicon Valley Campus, you’ll hear directly from industry experts and UCSC alumni about their experience launching a career in AI. Later, you’ll have an opportunity to meet directly with industry professionals to gain career advice on how to stand out in job and internship applications. Register on Handshake to attend the event in person at the Silicon Valley Campus' Event Center from 11 AM to 1 PM PST on February 22nd.
Options for traveling to UCSC's Silicon Valley Campus: UCSC students can now use the Silicon Valley Connector transit service to travel to and from the UCSC Silicon Valley Campus. Be sure to schedule your trip to Silicon Valley at least 2 hours in advance.
Can't attend the event in Silicon Valley? No problem! You are welcome to join a viewing party in E2-506 at 11 AM PST on February 22nd to watch the panel discussion.
Visit Handshake to learn more about this event and our panelists from Zoom, Google, SliceX AI, Amazon, Flip, Airbnb, and Meta. Email the NLP Program Team at nlp@ucsc.edu if you have any questions about this event.
Technical Interview Workshop
Event Date and Time: 02/22/2023 5:15 pmEvent Location: Baskin Events Center (E2-180)
Looking for some industry guidance on how to best prepare for a coding interview? Hear from a number of successful Baskin Engineering alumni about the ins and outs of the technical interview process at our upcoming Technical Interview Workshop this February 22nd at 5:15 PM at the Baskin Events Center. You’ll come away with useful tips and valuable insight that will help prepare you for future technical interviews. Q&A and audience engagement are strongly encouraged so have questions ready!
Visit Handshake to learn more about the workshop and to register for the in-person event in Santa Cruz.
Can't make it to Santa Cruz? If you’re near our Silicon Valley Campus and aren’t able to get to Santa Cruz, there will be a live feed of this event streaming in Room 2235 at SVC. Complete this registration form if you’d like to attend the live stream at the Silicon Valley Campus in Santa Clara.
Baskin Day 2023
Event Date and Time: 02/24/2023 12:00 pmEvent Location: Baskin Courtyard
Baskin Day is a student-run event to celebrate the efforts of students and professors in the Jack Baskin School of Engineering by showcasing student projects, faculty research, and engineering clubs.
Be on the lookout for a series of faculty research talks, a mini career fair featuring representatives from Cisco and Stackshine, as well as opportunities to join student organizations like ACM, Slugbotics, and Formula Slug.
Come check us out from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Baskin Engineering Courtyard!
For more information, come find us on our other platforms:
Website: https://baskinday.sites.ucsc.edu/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baskinday/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baskin-day/
IDP Workshop
Event Date and Time: 02/22/2023 5:00 pmEvent Location: E2 - 399
Join this workshop to receive help developing your IP (individual development plan).The IP creates a roadmap and fosters communication with mentors in a variety of areas to ensure that you are receiving comprehensive feedback about your progress to date and future expectations. This workshop will help you develop your steps to success in academics and in your desired profession.
Plan B Workshop
Event Date and Time: 03/06/2023 5:00 pmEvent Location: E2 - 475
Didn't get an offer from your top choice in grad programs? Or maybe you are just thinking of taking a gap year? In this workshop we'll go over options for next steps in your professional journey.
ACM-W Woodstock's Social/Fundraiser
Event Date and Time: 02/23/2023 6:00 pmEvent Location:
ACM-W is having a Woodstock's fundraiser on Thursday, Feb 23rd from 12-10 pm. If you want to support, you can mention our fundraiser when ordering or use code "FUNDY5" for online orders. We're also having a social that day at 6 pm and going down to Woodstock's together. Please fill out the RSVP form if you're interested in going! Come out to meet new people and have some pizza :)