During their first week in Davis, NUTGAP students will undergo a one-week laboratory training led by Program Director Gerardo Mackenzie. During these sessions, students will hone their knowledge and skills in nutrition, research, and lab skills. This encounter will also serve as a good opportunity to get to know each other and enhance collegiality. Subsequently, NUTGAP scholars will join students from UC Davis’ other HBCU STEM initiatives — PABGAP, and EEGAP — to participate in weekly sessions in professional development that focus on preparing applications for graduate study and career development. As part of this program, scholars will write drafts of statements of purpose and personal histories for graduate applications, and interact with current UC Davis graduate students and faculty in panel discussions.
Summer will close with a mini research symposium in which HBCU scholars present their work to their peers, UC Davis faculty and graduate students, and family members whose travel is supported by UC Davis.
Last, but not least, mentors will remain in contact with summer scholars during their senior year to guide preparation of applications for graduate programs and co-advise honors theses and preparation of publications of research results.
