Genomics Institute’s Research Mentoring Internship recognized with ‘Inspiring Programs in STEM’ award

The UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute’s Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) program has been recognized with Insight Into Diversity magazine’s “Inspiring Programs in STEM” award. 

The award goes to college programs and initiatives that encourage and support the recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented students into all STEM fields.

The RMI program at UC Santa Cruz supports outstanding undergraduate students from any major who are interested in pursuing research in areas relevant to genomics, including the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomics research. Students who are members of populations that are historically underrepresented in higher education and in genomic research are especially encouraged to apply. The program typically supports 14 to 18 students at any time.

Students who participate learn about realistic career pathways in academic research, preparing them for graduate school and beyond.

“One of our goals is preparing these students for entry into graduate programs — we envision all of our RMI scholars having careers in STEM,” said Jason Burns, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Coordinator and Genomics Institute Executive Assistant. 

The students receive rigorous research training in one-on-one meetings and workshops, financial support, and professional development guidance. They join an extended mentoring community of faculty advisors, peers, and RMI program staff. 

The RMI program is supported by a grant from the NIH-National Human Genome Research Institute, with additional support from the UC Santa Cruz Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor.