Why consider our program?

Research

UCSD is a top research university. We create, innovate, inspire, and transform.

Be a STAR

Participants take part in the STARS program as part of a larger summer research community and experience.

Grad prep

Receive free GRE training and graduate preparation to take your career to the next level.

UCSD faculty

Learn about the faculty that are committed to the program.

Schedule

Check out our schedule, which follows the STARS program.

Costs

Participants are paid a stipend, and all of their travel expenses and lodging are fully covered.

Eligibility

Students must be enrolled at Xavier, have good standing, be a sophomore or junior, have ≥3.0 GPA, and wish to pursue graduate school.

FAQs

Participants are part of the STARS program, check out these commonly asked questions.

We immerse students in scientific training and offer them a taste of life as a graduate student. Each summer for three years, we bring in six students from Xavier University of Louisiana to the University of California San Diego to participate in the Summer Training Academy for Research in the Sciences (STARS) program and partner them with UCSD faculty and graduate student mentors. Our program includes eight weeks of daily lab research, student development workshops, graduate record exam (GRE) training, teambuilding physical exercises, career workshops and social activities. At the end of the program, each student gives a presentation at the UCSD Summer Research Symposium.

If admitted to a Ph.D. program at any UC campus, UCSD Xavier participants will receive financial support coordinated between the UC Office of the President and the UC campus.

Meet the UCSD XULA Team

We are here to help
James C. Nieh

James C. Nieh

Program director

I am a Professor of Biology and strongly committed to helping our participants learn, grow, and succeed.

LaMiah Hall

LaMiah Hall

Student coordinator

I am a senior at XULA and participated in the UCSD Xavier Pilot program in 2017

Willie Thompson

Willie Thompson

UCSD coordinator

I am a graduate student affairs coordinator for Diversity Outrach, Recruitment, and Retention at UCSD.

Harris McFerrin

Harris McFerrin

XULA faculty representative

I am head of the Division of Biological and Public Health Sciences at XULA.

Torian Lee

Torian Lee

Xavier coordinator

I am director of XULA's Center for Intercultural and International Programs and help to coordinate the UCSD Xavier program

XULA student experiences

Selena Gray

Selena Gray

2017 participant

My experience at UCSD was wonderful! I am so happy I was able to attend this program because it not only exposed me to a wider range of research, but I also acquired a greater comfort with applying to graduate school. Everyone that I met throughout my 8 weeks was welcoming and helpful. I was able to network and learn about the various research fields that are being conducted at UCSD. I think this program is an amazing opportunity that has helped me expand my knowledge on what I initially thought graduate school was

LaMiah Hall

LaMiah Hall

2017 participant

My experience in the STARS Program at UCSD was amazing. I made many friendships and everyone I encountered was very nice and accepting. I was in Dr. Kim Cooper’s lab and it was like a big family. Everyone welcomed me into the lab immediately, therefore going to lab never seemed like work. You also have the freedom to explore the city and go on field trips. I had an amazing experience!

Emily Wilson

Emily Wilson

2017 participant

The STARS Program at UC San Diego provided the opportunity to participate in research at one of the top facilities in the country while also enjoying all that the beautiful coast of Southern California has to offer! The free GRE prep course, the workshops and panels for graduate applications, and researching in the lab supplied me with experiences that were vital to my decision to pursue graduate school. Through activities in the program, it was easy to learn how to reach out and network as well as find answers to every question I had about the graduate school application process. Researching fin whale behavior at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography was truly one of the most rewarding experiences of my life!

What's new?

Announcements

UCSD-HBCU programs

Did you know that there are multiple other UCSD-HBCU programs? As a part of STARS, you will participate with students from the UCSD Morehouse-Spelman Physics program and with students from the UCSD-Howard Partnership for Graduate Success.

Press release

UCSD Xavier Press Release

Professor James Nieh with Xavier students Lamiah Hall, Emily Wilson and Selena Gray The University of California-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Initiative (UC-HBCU) recently approved funding for an innovative UC San Diego program designed to Read more…

Contact us!

WILLIE THOMPSON
Willie can answer all questions about STARS and program logistics. He is a UCSD Student Affairs Officer, Graduate Division
w3thompson@ucsd.edu
(858) 822-1492

LAMIAH HALL
LaMiah is the student coordinator for the program and participated in 2017. She really knows how it all works and is happy to share her experiences. 
lhall3@xula.edu

HARRIS MCFERRIN
Professor Harris (XULA) can answer questions about the Xavier side of the partnership and is particularly interested in talking to interested Xavier students.
hmcferri@xula.edu
(504) 520-5011

JAMES C. NIEH
Professor Nieh is the Program Director. 
jnieh@ucsd.edu

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Program Participation

University of California San Diego

UC-HBCU Initiative

Summer Training Academy for Research Success (STARS)  

 

How many students are accepted every year?

  • 6 students will be accepted each year.

How do I select a project to work on?

  • Please review the Research Project Descriptions on the STARS website to learn more about the faculty, departments, and projects you might be interested in. Our program is open to multiple STEM disciplines, but our primary focus is in the Biological Sciences.

Will I be guaranteed to work with the faculty member I select?  

  • If the project or faculty mentor you select is not available, you will be assigned to a faculty mentor in a similar area.

What are some of the benefits of participating?

Benefits include:

  • An 8-week mentored summer research experience at UC San Diego
  • Faculty mentored research
  • Waiver of the graduate application fee to a University of California campus.
  • If admitted to a Ph.D. program at any UC campus, UCSD Xavier participants will receive financial support coordinated between the UC Office of the President and the UC campus.

How does the application fee waiver work?

  • The application fee will be waived automatically once you submit your application.  The fee waiver will be associated with your record of participation in the UCSD Xavier Partnership for Graduate Success. 

Where is UC San Diego?

  • UC San Diego is located in Southern California in the city of La Jolla.

What graduate programs and degrees are offered?

Why is the HBCU-Initiative important?

  • The University of California recognizes the unique and important contributions that Historically Black Colleges and Universities make to the academy, our nation and the world. By recruiting students from HBCUs, the University of California will be strengthened, enriched, and better able to complete our mission of teaching, research and public service.

What is STARS and how does it relate to the UCSD Xavier program?

  • STARS is an 8-week summer research program administered by the Graduate Division at UC San Diego. Participants of the UCSD Xavier Partnership will attend many of the STARS activities as well as activities designed specifically for the UCSD Xavier program.

Where will I live?

  • All STARS students will live in housing facilities located on the UC San Diego campus.

What are the program dates?

  • Program dates change from year to year, but generally begins in late June/early July and ends in August.

Can my family visit me during the program?

  • Guests are permitted to visit if research and programmatic obligations are also being met.
 

General Questions