We seek early-career Butte College students, including students who may not have identified specific majors or career paths in STEM or food and agricultural sciences. Scholars selected for Women and Minorities in STEM-Addressing Climate-Smart Solutions (WAMS-ACS2) will spend eight weeks at UC Davis in a full-time summer research internship with faculty and graduate students in plant sciences and biotechnology.
WAMS-ACS2 Scholars will have opportunities to meet with a mentoring team, academic advisors and transfer admissions counselors, with focused mentoring by faculty and graduate students, featuring the development of leadership, communication, problem-solving skills, etc. After the conclusion of the summer program, the team will maintain contact with the scholar to continue to provide support for the scholar’s next steps
To foster integration with the UC Davis student community, WAMS-ACS2 scholars will live in campus residence halls with a meal plan. They will also share professional development programming with scholars from other summer research programs, forming a cohort of 15-25 students. Joint professional development activities include field trips to local firms in the agricultural sector, research seminars presented by faculty from historically excluded or first-generation backgrounds, and panels on science communication and other topics of general interest.
We also will introduce scholars to students from UC Davis organizations such as the UC Davis chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), the McNair Scholars, and UC Davis Multiculturalism in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), the Veterans’ Success Center, and the campus academic retention initiatives and spaces, including Center for African Diaspora Student Success, Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Academic Student Success, Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success, and Native American Academic Student Success Center.
Last but not least, we will invite family members to UC Davis to celebrate scholars’ accomplishments in end-of-summer research presentations and roundtable discussions. WAMS-ACS2 scholars will also share their learnings and experiences with the Butte College community, in the fall after their internship. Scholars will engage the local community in conversations about the connections between UC Davis and Butte College and the innovative career opportunities in food and agriculture.