A great leap forward for MPS scholars’ careers

April 23, 2024
by Alexander Rony

Standing on Asilomar State Beach just west of Monterey, Marius Castro talked with dozens of his fellow UC Berkeley students for hours under the moonlight. The moment felt special to Castro, like he was in a movie. In actuality, he was attending the first annual MPS Scholars retreat.


“Everybody I met had such good vibes,” said Castro, a third-year student double majoring in applied mathematics and computer science. “I probably made more connections with faculty, alumni, and Ph.D. students in that single weekend than I have during the rest of my time at Cal. As a student, it's rare you come across deep, one-on-one conversations with faculty, especially in large departments.”

The March 2024 retreat was open to any Berkeley student majoring in physics, astronomy, mathematics, or earth and planetary science. Even after doubling capacity to 100 undergraduate and 15 graduate students, the program could not accommodate the high demand.

Undergraduates heard advice from faculty, alums, and graduate students in keynote speeches and panel discussions. They learned tips for communicating research findings and practiced their public speaking skills in three-minute presentations. After a long day, attendees bonded over dinner, bonfire s’mores, and faculty-led tidepooling, stargazing, and geology trips.

Heading into Asilomar, Castro had never thought a Ph.D. would be in his future.

“I'm a first-generation student of color from a low-income background,” said Castro. “No one has ever sat down with me and let me know how real of an option that was. I walked away from that retreat with a very real contemplation of continuing my education past Cal for the first time in my life.”

The associate director of MPS Scholars, Claire-Marie Kooi, is thrilled whenever a student discovers their purpose.

“The retreat surpassed our expectations,” said Kooi. “It is a wonderful experience to watch MPS Scholars connect with each other, faculty, staff, and their future selves. Each person is unique, and so is their path to success in the mathematical and physical sciences. We exist to help students visualize their own journey.”

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A student wearing a backpack jumps away from the camera to a rock at the beach.

Zion Mayo jumps to a rock while examining the tidepools by Asilomar.

Each person is unique, and so is their path to success in the mathematical and physical sciences.
Claire-Marie Kooi
A group of students walk toward the camera on a sandy path

Marius Castro (right) talks with Zion Mayo and other attendees on the way to the beach.

A woman gestures to a large projection screen.

Physics student Karla Morales De Leon presents on the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope’s camera.

A woman smiles, holding her phone in one hand and her sweater's zipper in the other.

Alejandra Meza talks with Professor Courtney Dressing after a series of student presentations.

A smiling man holds a microphone as a second panelist listens

Will Decker (right) and Sean McCauley participate in a career panel with MPS alums.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTANY HOSEA-SMALL FOR UC BERKELEY
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Even with the university’s high admissions bar, many undergraduates struggle with imposter syndrome, a misplaced fear that they are less deserving than their peers. Attendees appreciated hearing the repeated message that they are meant to be at UC Berkeley.

The MPS Scholars team seeks to dispel harmful myths, such as the belief that students must have their lives figured out before graduation. In a career panel moderated by Dean Steven Kahn, alums Marc Bensadoun, Will Decker, Courtney Dressing, Sean McCauley, and Lorraine Sadler were upfront about personal doubt, financial challenges, and the role of luck. Many of the panelists did not know what they wanted to do in life while at Berkeley, yet they were able to complete their degrees and excel in their fields. In a separate panel, department chairs Jessica Lu, Michael Manga, and Martin Olsson told similar stories of uncertainty and serendipity to show students that many career paths are available.

Alejandra Meza, a first-year student who intends to major in physics and astrophysics, applied for the retreat to gain these insights from successful alums and faculty members. Meza’s favorite moment was discussing her research with astronomy professors Courtney Dressing and Jessica Lu.

“MPS Scholars has extensive connections to incredible scientists in my field,” said Meza, “and I learned how vast my options were in terms of what I could do once I graduate. I felt I made great connections with faculty members and my peers, which helped me feel a greater sense of belonging in my major.”

Castro has kept in touch with several of his fellow attendees. He even plans to take classes with his retreat roommate next semester.

“It's hard to describe my gratitude for the MPS Scholars team,” said Castro. “They provided the most beneficial yet relaxed space I've experienced at UC Berkeley.”

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Additional Information

If you are an alum interested in sponsoring or attending MPS Scholars events, please contact Ryan Guasco at rguasco@berkeley.edu.

MPS Scholars learn from the best: Berkeley alums

January 19, 2024

In October, Audrey Liddle joined dozens of students in Durant Hall’s bookshelf-lined atrium to listen to a group of accomplished alums share lessons from their careers. Liddle, a first-year student in astrophysics, was still processing all the opportunities available to her at UC...Read more about MPS Scholars learn from the best: Berkeley alums

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