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WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!2019/2020 Academic Year

UCI SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WELCOME 2019/2020“You have chosen to help shape the future.”Hello!Welcome to UCI BioSci and congratulations!You are among the very select group of studentswho were accepted and enrolled here fromover 110,000 who applied to the University thisacademic year. Futhermore, you are pursuing whatwe believe is the most important, exciting andmeaningful scientific focus: the study of life. Youhave chosen to help shape the future of humanityand our planet.MIND BODY WORLD is our School’sfoundational theme. You will see these threewords frequently on campus and in our print anddigital communications. Everything in our worldbegins with life. And life is interconnected.For most of us, a healthy mind requires a healthybody, which in turn requires a healthy world. With the global challenges society facesthat impact our health, our economy, and our world every day, audacious biologyhas never been more urgent. As you begin your studies, you are on your way towardbecoming an innovator who can help make a powerful difference in health, climatechange, energy production, agriculture and much more.In entering UCI BioSci, you join the sole biology school in Orange County at the R1,or highest research activity level. We are the premier life sciences institution herethat is creating new knowledge. As an undergraduate, you bring intellect and energythat help power our mission in shaping the world for the better. Embrace thechallenge and enjoy the wonderful satisfaction of achievement.Please take advantage of everything the School and the University offer to furtheryour success. I look forward to getting to know you in coming months.Sincerely,Frank M. LaFerla, Ph.D.Dean, UCI School of Biological Sciences23

UCI SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WELCOME 2019/2020“Explore all the possibilities.”Greetings!It’s a great pleasure to welcome you to UCIBioSci. As you settle in here, you will find we are acommunity of people passionate about biology’sleading role in solving life’s most compellingissues, from climate change to human health. Youreducation here will launch you on the path of yourdreams and prepare you to help shape a betterworld for all who inhabit it.Undergraduate EducationI encourage you to take advantage of all theresources UCI BioSci offers to help you succeed,such as academic counseling, peer tutoring,mentorships, networking and much more. We hopeyou explore the spectrum of possibilities open toyou to achieve your full potential.Please also take time to play as well as work. Check out the array of activities acrosscampus. Friendships, exercise and fun are essential to a healthy life; they refreshand recharge you for your studies. Remember, too, that the BioSci Student AffairsOffice is here to answer your questions and provide assistance.Best wishes as you begin your first year here and see you around BioSci!Yours truly,MISSIONRaju Metherate, Ph.D.Associate Dean of Undergraduate EducationUCI School of Biological Sciences4We connect students toworld class faculty and researchto foster and stimulate theirintellectual curiosity about life.5

UCI SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WELCOME 2019/2020Academically Speaking,This Team’s Got Your Back!When it comes to planning and progressing in your education here, there’s aspecial team poised to help. The academic counselors at the BioSci StudentAffairs Office look forward to working with you to chart your educationalpath, to connect you with services, and assist you in making the most of yourundergraduate experience.One of their primary goals is to help plan your coursework, both in the short andlong term. They provide guidance on degree requirements, schedules, universitypolicies, research project opportunities and more. The counselors seek to ensureyou explore all the possibilities during your years here and beyond.If you are considering entering a health profession, the Student Affairs Office canprovide specialized advising in those areas, from medical and dental to pharmacy,veterinary and more. Each counselor is trained as a Health Science Advisor andunderstands thespecific procedures,requirements andtimelines for applyingto professional schools.While graduationmay seem far off, it’sbest to visit now tobegin planning.The counselorsalso meet with youperiodically to reviewyour progress, soyou can be confidentyou are on track in your chosen major. You can get together with a counseloronce a quarter, once a year, or on another schedule that works best for you.The BioSci Student Affairs team assists in numerous other areas as well, such asreferring you to campus support services, obtaining the Dean’s signature onnecessary forms, and answering a variety of questions.Short advising sessions are available on a walk-in basis. For longer meetings,an appointment is needed. The Student Affairs Office is located in BiologicalSciences III, Room 1011. Phone is 949-824-5318. Make sure to stop by soon!67

UCI SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WELCOME 2019/2020Major Opportunities to ShapeYour Education and FutureBiochemistry & Molecular BiologyDevelopmental & Cell BiologyAs a UCI BioSci undergraduate, you study the science of life and the interconnectionbetween mind, body and world health. As you learn more about the extraordinaryways biologists shape the future, you may become intrigued by a particular area anddecide to choose it as a major.Students begin by majoring in Biological Sciences, Ecology & EvolutionaryBiology or Biology/Education. After meeting course and GPA requirements,it’s possible to apply for these additional majors:Human BiologyMicrobiology & ImmunologyFor more information onmajors and the applicationprocess, please contact theBioSci Student Affairs Office,Biological Sciences III,Room 1011, 949-824-5318.Exercise Sciences8GeneticsNeurobiology9

UCI SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WELCOME 2019/2020An Academic Hand from Students Who Have Been ThereAs you hit the books in coming weeks, there’s a special resource to help ifyou have questions on a particular course or would like more explanation ofa concept. UCI BioSci Peer Tutoring is designed to assist you in exactly thissituation, and it’s free!Leaders Wanted:Apply to BioSci Student CouncilSeeking to sharpen your leadership skills and help shape student life here? Apply tojoin the Biological Sciences Student Council, or BSC.BSC works with faculty and staff on academic and student affairs programs, organizesevents, links undergraduates with volunteer opportunities, and promotes BioSci tothe greater campus and community. The goal is to ensure the School is constantlyevolving to meet students’ needs.The weekly sessions are led by upperclass students who have excelled in thesubjects you are studying. They cover key points of individual classes, provideworksheets so you can practice that week’s material and hold review sessionsbefore exams. It’s an atmosphere of camaraderie and encouragement.The program’s tutors say they love seeing students learn and succeed.One undergraduate who attended Peer Tutoring said, “It really helped meunderstand concepts I didn’t grasp at first. Because of it, I felt I did better onmy midterm scores and quiz scores.” Another participant commented, “Mytutor created a comfortable environment. I got more exposure and extra helpon the material.”There’s no need to sign up in advance. You can go to just one session or allof them; prior attendance is not necessary. For more information, contact theBioSci Student Affairs Office.Members of the BSC meet once a week. They also spend several hours weeklyplanning, organizing and taking part in BSC events. The application period opens aweek prior to the fall and winter academic quarters. You will find more informationabout the BSC, membership details and even a suggestion box on its website:http://bioscisc.wixsite.com/official.1011

“ You have to stay in“ Our greatestweakness lies ingiving up. Themost certain wayto succeed isalways to try justone more time.”– Thomas A. Edisonschool. You have to.You have to go tocollege. You haveto get your degree.Because that’s the onething people can’t takeaway from you is youreducation. And it isworth the investment.”– Michelle Obama

UCI SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES WELCOME 2019/2020Connect with aUCI BioSci MentorThe start of the new school year comes with great opportunities for you togrow as an undergraduate. All BioSci undergraduates are invited to participatein the 2019-2020 BioSci Mentor Program.This is your opportunity to be matched with an accomplished mentor working inthe fields of medicine, law, biotechnology, research and many more life sciencerelated fields. A mentor provides academic and career guidance, networkingopportunities and insights into the working world. Letters of recommendation areincredibly important as you continue your career, and mentors can provide themfor you. Students have told us that meeting our alumni and friends through thisprogram made a positive difference in their lives.Grab a Donut and Start BuildingYour Professional NetworkWhat do eating a donut, spending time with alumni and gettingan insider’s insights into hot biology topics have in common?They are all ways you can jump start your future plans now bynetworking. Please check out the many opportunities to getto know School faculty and leadership, UCI BioSci gradsand acclaimed biologists from around the world.Here are just a few we suggest: Donuts with the Dean: Meet up with BioSci DeanFrank LaFerla and life sciences professionals atthis casual quarterly get-together. Enjoy livelyconversation sweetened by your choice ofpowdered, glazed and more. Yum! Mentor Program: Register to be matched withan alumnus or alumna, or another communityprofessional, who works in the life sciences andshares your field of focus. You’ll benefit fromexpert advice and encouragement as you worktoward your goals.Benefits of having a mentor: G ain advice and counsel from a life scienceprofessional. E xplore specific jobs, future career pathsand industries. B uild relationships and professionalnetworks. P articipate in activities related tocommon interests. And more!Registration is opening soon! For program details, go to:www.bio.uci.edu/mentor-program or email biosci-mentor@uci.edu.14 Lectures: Attend the Dean’s Distinguished LectureSeries and the Allergan Foundation Lecture Series.BioSci faculty and other acclaimed scientists will fillyou in on the newest developments on pressingbiological and medical topics. Ask questions andmingle afterwards. You’ll come away with greaterinsights and new professional links. Starbucks: Keep in mind BioSci’s Starbucks is afavorite networking venue. The café, located inMitosis Plaza across from BioSci 3, seems to havea special way of energizing conversation andconnections, and we don’t think it’s just the caffeine!Details on these opportunities and more are availablethrough the BioSci Student Affairs Office.15