Students

From front desk to lab bench: Julia Chac’s journey through Bakar Bio Labs

March 26, 2026
Ruhani Chhabra

When Julia Chac first applied for a front desk position at Bakar Bio Labs three years ago, biotech wasn’t even on her radar.

An Integrative Biology and Psychology double major at UC Berkeley, Julia knew she was premed. She also knew she needed to work. Coming from South Fresno, where her parents are farmers, and most of her community is economically underserved, she had always understood the importance of supporting herself financially while pursuing an education.

“I wanted to place myself...

https://qb3.org/from-front-desk-to-lab-bench-julia-chacs-path-through-bakar-bio-…

How UC Berkeley is closing the math readiness gap

March 30, 2026
by Alexander Rony

In November, a report from UC San Diego raised alarm across the country. One in 12 incoming students tested below middle school proficiency in mathematics — even while maintaining good grades in high school. The report sparked debates on many issues, from grade inflation to standardized...

Student entrepreneur uses cognitive science principles to build fashion startup

March 16, 2026
By Jessica Ballardo

Yasmine Baker, a student in the Berkeley Accelerator & Startup Incubator in Cognitive Science (BASICS) program, is turning her love of Moroccan culture and her understanding of cognitive science principles into a blossoming fashion brand.

Baker is the founder of Ethnic Imprint, a clothing brand that offers Moroccan-inspired garments rooted in traditional craftsmanship. Baker works directly with skilled artisans in Morocco, where every piece is handcrafted...

Music department seeks to expand private lessons to keep up with student demand

March 23, 2026
by Alexander Rony

UC Berkeley’s music program is booming, with the fastest-growing major on campus. Thanks to a newly retooled curriculum, students' modern interests are reflected in new songwriting classes, expanded performance ensembles, more digital music creation, and an...

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...

L&S First-Year Pathways Recap - Fall 2025

January 15, 2026
Lauren Miller

In Fall 2025, the L&S First-Year Pathways program welcomed its largest cohort yet, serving 230 first-year students across its record number of 17 clusters, up from last year's six clusters, which served 125 students. With this expansion of the program, Pathways instituted new, creative ways to help students feel connected with each other and with the program. From social events like the welcome reception at the start of the semester and study break event during UC Berkeley's Reading, Review, and Recitation (RRR) Week to...

Carolyn Nguyen Named UC Berkeley’s First Churchill Scholar Since 2016

February 5, 2026
Liza Davitaia

UC Berkeley senior Carolyn Nguyen (’26) has been selected as a 2026–27 Winston Churchill Scholar, making her Berkeley’s first recipient in a decade. Awarded by the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States, the Churchill Scholarship supports a year of master’s study at Churchill College, Cambridge, for students pursuing advanced work in science, mathematics, and engineering.

A double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Business Administration (Haas), Nguyen is passionate about advancing next-generation therapeutics. At Berkeley, she conducts research in Dr. James Nuñez’s...

Seeing the Other Side

January 23, 2026
Daniela X. Sandoval, M.J. ’26

United we stand. United, we are not.

As tensions have flared over events ranging from the 2020 murder of George Floyd to the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, our nation’s divisions seem to grow more and more stark. Against that backdrop, Berkeley’s new course “Openness to Opposing Views” aims to foster dialogue across ideological divides.

The asynchronous, self-paced course launched in the summer with just 50 enrollees. Since then, it has grown to roughly 700 students, with thousands more Cal faculty, staff, and alumni taking advantage of the free, non-...

https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/2025-fall-winter/seeing-the-othe…

Economics and cognitive science student discusses AI startup to solve global blackouts with UC Regents

January 20, 2026
By Jessica Ballardo

For millions of people, reliable electricity is not a guarantee. In many communities powered by solar mini-grids, evening demand surges routinely trigger blackouts, pushing operators to fall back on costly, polluting diesel generators.

Evardi Energy, a startup co-founded by economics and cognitive science student Diva Bhartesh Shah, aims to transform this broken system into one with reliable power that is resistant to blackouts. Their solution involves using AI to predict demand surges before they occur, allowing operators to adjust usage as needed.

Shah co-founded Evardi in...

From ‘too much’ to just right: How one student found a home at Berkeley

January 7, 2026
Yesenia Ochoa

Growing up in Sonoma, California, Victoria Hernandez Padilla always felt like she was too much. Too curious, too loud, too bold. She was always asking questions. As a toddler before she’d learned English, she’d spend hours arranging bright magnetic letters on the fridge, asking her mom again and again if it spelled a word.

In school, her classmates would whisper about her, saying she talked too much. She felt she couldn’t ask questions, otherwise she’d be cast into the “loud Latina” stereotype. But Victoria wanted answers and would push until she got them.

“I never felt...

https://news.berkeley.edu/2026/01/06/from-too-much-to-just-right-how-one-student…