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Welcome back!Happy New Year, and welcome back to campus! We hope you had a fantastic winter break and you're ready to start the spring semester with renewed energy. We have lots of opportunities listed below, so be sure to read all the way through!
- The CSD Team
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Table of Contents
1. Student Highlight
2. CSD Programs and Updates
3. Events and Flyers
4. Research, Internship, and Volunteer Opportunities
5. CSD Staff Bios
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Student Highlight: Kevin Fuentes
Chemical Engineering Major
Class of 2024
LSAMP Scholar
What's a recent achievement that you're proud of?
This summer I was an intern for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, working in their Cambridge office. I was a part of their Cell Therapy Manufacturing Quality Control team, working on the validation and quality control of several of Takeda’s prospective oncogenic cell therapy products. During my time at Takeda, I also undertook my own personal project studying methods to improve the stability of manufactured oligosaccharides in storage. At Tufts, I also carry out research through the support of the Tufts LSAMP chapter, and the Tzanakakis Lab in the Chemical Engineering Department. In the Tzanakakis Lab, I am studying the behavior of pancreatic islet cells responsible for the regulation and production of insulin in mouse models. By understating different types of pancreatic cells’ behavior in relation to one another, we hope to be able to transfer this model to the human condition. Our ultimate goal is to genetically engineer these cells so that the secretion of insulin in the body is controlled via stimulation of light.
What would you tell your first-year self?
“It could always be worse, and it always gets better.” There were so many times when I lived in a perpetual state of stress during my first year of college. I am a first-generation college student, born of El Salvadorian Immigrants who believe in the power held in receiving an education. I worried whether I would be able to realize the hopes of my family and everyone who has allowed me to be where I am today. People would tell me, “Everything works out” and I struggled to believe them faced with what seemed like an insurmountable challenge that came with each academic semester. However, I wish I had heeded their advice earlier. Trust in your efforts, trust in the process. It may be hard to see the fruits of your labor in the moment, but I promise that they will show in the future. Stress is self-perpetuated. Don’t waste your life worrying about what’s coming, focus on the step that's right in front of you.
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Want to be our Student Highlight?Nominate yourself or a fellow peer to be our Student Highlight! Write two paragraphs about the student’s accomplishment and why you think this person should be student of the month. Email your nominations to stemdiversity@tufts.edu with the subject line: Student Highlight.
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Welcome Kasandra Yee to the CSD team!
Kasandra is the CSD's newest Diversity Program Adminstrator! She will be supporting the Tufts Gordon Institute, Derby Entrepreneurship Center, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering department.
Scroll down to the bottom to see her full bio!
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Borrow a Textbook!
Want to check out a textbook for free? The CSD has a library full of books you can check out for the semester! You can peruse the list below, and please contact Grace Melo at grace.melo@tufts.edu with any questions. You can pick up your textbook this week or designate a specific pick-up time with Grace.
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
You are invited to set up a time to meet with our Diversity Program administrators, Simone Nicholson and Kasandra Yee, and Mafalda Gueta, Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion Programs, at the links below to discuss how they can best support you. They are open to meeting in person or virtually.
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Apply to DIAMONDS!
Application closes February 22, 2024
The DIAMONDS REU site at Tufts invites applications for our mentored research experience in data science for undergraduates. You can find more information about the program on the NSF website.
Program Dates: June 3 – August 9th, 2024
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REU Program at Univ. of Michigan
Wednesday, January 31 | 6 - 7:30 PM | Breed Memorial Hall
Join the Africana Center, the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice Provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence, Tisch College of Civic Life, and the University Chaplaincy for the annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration. This year we welcome Boston-native Christian Walkes, a Ph.D. Student at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education researching race and inequality in American schools through interdisciplinary historical inquiry. Walkes will offer insights from King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and frame the conversation for the evening.
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Mindfulness Classes
Introduction to Mindfulness® is a FREE four-week introduction to the practice of Mindfulness, offered by CMHS and taught by certified Mindfulness instructors. You will learn several tools, including meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery, the body scan and more. Each of these practices are designed to deepen self-reflection, help you manage stress and enrich your life. The sessions meet in person once per week for four consecutive weeks. Attendance at all four weeks is highly encouraged.
Sign up at tinyurl.com/tuftsmindfulnessspring2024
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Dana Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Program
Application deadline: February 2
CURE is a paid summer program which allows students to conduct cancer research and receive mentorship in labs at institutions like Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital. Successful applicants are students who are underrepresented in the sciences and who are interested in pursuing a career in biomedical science, biotechnology, computer science, life science, data science, health careers, or scientific research.
Visit their website to learn more information and apply.
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REU Program at Univ. of Michigan
Application deadline: February 5
The University of Michigan will host several undergraduate research experiences for the summer of 2024 in a special opportunity to conduct next-gen research on 2D materials, energy storage, semiconductors, and sustainable polymers with world-class faculty.
Program Dates: May 28 to August 2, 2024
Benefits: $6,000 stipend, housing in university residences, professional development, and social activities.
Apply here!
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REU Program in Ocean Sciences and Engineering
Application deadline: February 5
A research project is at the heart of the Summer Student Fellowship at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Fellows have the opportunity to conduct research with access to more than two hundred practicing scientists and engineers and the facilities of a major oceanographic institution. Project topics span the spectrum of research in ocean sciences and engineering conducted in WHOI's science departments and the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Questions? Please contact education@whoi.edu or visit the program website: https://www.whoi.edu/what-we-do/educate/undergraduate-programs/summer-student-fellowship/
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Virtual Research Recruiting Week
Monday, February 5 - Thursday, February 8
Boston Children’s Hospital invites top-performing graduating seniors to learn firsthand about some of the breakthrough research currently being conducted. Attendees will have the opportunity to network in a virtual setting directly with hiring managers and Principal Investigators and hear from a panel of renowned researchers. To learn more about research at Boston Children’s, visit https://www.childrenshospital.org/research.
Deadline for resume submissions: Friday, January 19
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College Diversity Network Winter Virtual Career Fair
Wednesday, February 28 | 3 - 6 PM | Goddard Chapel
The overall mission of the College Diversity Network (CDN) is to connect diverse students and early career professionals with world-class employers that value diversity in the workplace. Jobs are promoted to students through the CDN job board, and employers attend virtual career fairs, like this one, to network with and interview students, with the goal of building a more diverse professional workforce from the ground up.
Register for the event here!
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UConn RaMP
Application deadline: March 1
Apply to the RaMP (Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates) Program at UConn Storrs. RaMP is a year-long, paid NSF- funded postbaccalaureate research training program whose goal is to offer a mentored research experience and professional development opportunities to individuals historically underrepresented in STEM or those who did not have sufficient access to research during their undergraduate careers. RaMP provides an intensive research experience, with salaries comparable to an entry level job.
Learn more information and find the application on their website here.
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Career Center Summer Internship Grants
Application deadline: Sunday, March 17
Found your dream summer internship, but it's unpaid? Apply to win a grant from the Career Center to help cover costs and gain valuable experience in the field. Attend the information session on Friday, February 2 from 12-1pm in the Milmore Room in Dowling Hall to learn more! You can also visit their website.
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Apply Today! Summer Research Opportunity in Genomics
First application review is January 3, 2024 | Application process ends March 1, 2024
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Paid Research Opportunity: Black Student Experiences in Engineering
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National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Who We Are
NSBE is one of the largest student-led organizations in the United States. Our goal is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black Engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.
What We Do
We organize community oriented events that provide Black Engineering and STEM students with connections, resources, internship opportunities, peer engagement, and professional development.
Tufts’ NSBE chapter also partners with companies to come speak and interact with our members creating meaningful relationships with employers. Additionally, every week we offer study sessions to help students succeed in their classes. We also have an extensive Alumni network of former Tufts NSBE graduates who offer students invaluable advice about their experiences in the workforce. Our members also have the opportunity to travel to Conferences, attend job fairs, attend our development activities, and participate in our community service events.
Club Updates
We had a successful NSBE Region 1 Conference in New Jersey; had a Game Night with NSBE students from MIT, BU, and Harvard; and have hosted collaborations with companies such as Veeva, Yahoo, Bloomberg, Draft Kings, and MKS as well as many other community events.
Additionally, applications are now open for the NSBE Annual Convention which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia this spring which includes a job fair and presentations from leading Black professionals in technology.
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| Research, Internship, Scholarship, and Volunteer Opportunities
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All opportunities are listed in order of their deadline.
- Looking for an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) for the summer? Check out this directory with over 150 different opportunities!
- Check out the Career Center's calendar of events this semester, including Career Fairs and Career Fair Prep!
- Check out the Tisch College newsletter for even more events, updates, and opportunities!
- Apply to intern for the 10-week Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Summer Internship Program for undergraduate STEM students in Cleveland, OH this summer. Learn more information here, and application deadline is Wednesday, January 31.
- Apply to become a SEPA STEM Mentor for Summer 2024! SEPA STEM Mentors will be placed in a research lab of their choice for a summer internship while they mentor Boston high school students. Compensation of $4,460, which can be used for housing, food, and transportation, is provided. Applications close February 15. Find more information and the application on the Center for Science Education's website here.
- Apply to MGH's Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP), which pairs accepted students with an MGH faculty preceptor. This program is for students historically underrepresented in medicine (UiM) who are interested in biomedical research and/or academic medicine. You can find more information and access the application here. Questions? Email srtp@mgh.harvard.edu. Application closes February 4, 2024.
- Apply to the Forest Foundation Summer Fellowship Program in Boston this summer to gain expereince in the non-profit world! Learn more information here. The application closes February 15.
- Want to participate in a STEM leadership opportunity here on campus? Join Hillel Community Action Partners and lead STEM programming with Medford middle school students. Learn more information here, and email Benjamin Silver at benjamin.silver624347@tufts.edu with any questions.
- Check out this list of companies hiring STEM students for internships and jobs!
- Read EduMed's online guide on how minority healthcare students can excel in healthcare fields! Find more information about scholarships here and read about EduMed here.
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Apply to become a part-time program leader for Girlstart, a non-profit org committed to empowering girls in STEM! You can apply here. Have questions? Email Annie from Girlstart at annie@girlstart.org.
- Check out undergraduate scholarship and research opportunities from the Chemistry department here.
- Check out updates from the Chemistry department here!
- Building Audacity is looking for volunteer drivers and food packers to help distribute groceries to over 500 food-insecure families throughout Greater Boston. To learn more email foodjustice@buildingaudacity.org and join the volunteer email list at bit.ly/BAVolunteerSignUp.
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Dr. Grace CaldaraDirector of the CSD | she/her/hers
Dr. Caldara is from upstate New York and holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine. She previously worked at Supermajority and Pantsuit Nation Foundation leading national leadership trainings, and developing diversity training for online communities. In her downtime she loves to spend time with her family and read.
As Director of the CSD, she works to support the CSD staff, all programmatic work of the center and co-teaches the RISE Seminar.
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Grace MeloAdministrative Coordinator | she/her/hers
From Malden, MA, Grace graduated Boston University with a degree in Special Education: Disability Studies. As the Administrative Coordinator for DSDI, Grace helps support the eight identity centers, but specifically shares her time with the CSD.
Outside of Tufts, Grace's enjoys making flan, sewing, and at the moment, watching Ugly Betty.
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Kasandra Yee Diversity Program Administrator | she/her/hers
Kasandra is passionate about diversity & inclusion in STEM education. Prior to her role at Tufts, she was an electrical engineer at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA. At Draper, she co-founded the Asian Pacific American employee resource group (ERG) and co-led the LGBTQIA+ ERG.
She received her Master’s degree in Learning Experience Design and Technology at Northeastern University in 2023. By joining Tufts in Winter 2024, Kasandra will apply her interest in the learning sciences and experience in organizational planning to implementing diversity & inclusion best practices. Kasandra works directly with students and faculty of the Tufts Gordon Institute, Derby Entrepreneurship Center, Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering department.
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Mafalda Gueta Associate Director of Diversity & Inclusion Programs | he/him/his
Mafalda earned his BA in Liberal Arts from the University of California, Riverside followed by a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Northeastern University. He is currently a candidate for a Master of Arts in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Leadership program here at Tufts.
As an Associate Director, Mafalda currently works to support Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering towards building an accessible, inclusive and diverse culture within each department by partnering directly with faculty. From talking to students to learn more about their experiences in the department, to training faculty and adapting curriculum, Mafalda works to make sure students feel safe and successful while at Tufts.
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Sehba Hasan Associate Director of the CSD | she/her/hers
Sehba is an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer, hailing from Maharashtra, India. She did her MBA in Management here in the US. Coming from a culturally rich and diverse landscape of India, Sehba has found inspiration in her background to contribute meaningfully to the DEIJ work.
In her role at the CSD, she is dedicated to supporting and championing the cause of underrepresented minorities, BIPOC communities, low-income, and first-generation students across various majors within the School of Engineering and Arts and Science. She is involved in co-teaching the RISE seminar class and oversees the management of the BEST program, among other responsibilities.
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Simone Nicholson Diversity and Inclusion Program Administrator | she/her/hers
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Simone Nicholson completed her bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. Currently, she is a third year Engineering and Computing Education Doctoral Student with a minor in women and gender studies.
In her role as a DIPA, she supports students, faculty, and staff within the CS and ECE departments with diversity, equity, and inclusion related areas through programs, trainings, personalized learning needs, etc.
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Sophia Hamdan Program Administrator | she/her/hers
Originally from Leesburg, Virginia, Sophia earned her Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy from the University of Mary Washington and her Master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Boston College. She is currently pursuing her second Master's degree in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Leadership here at Tufts.
In her role as Program Administrator, she advises the STEM Ambassadors program, supports the BEST Summer Program, serves as an academic advisor, writes the CSD's monthly newsletter, and collaborates with colleagues on and off campus to support all the incredible students at Tufts.
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