Take a look at what our Trainees are up to!

2nd Annual TUSCEB Symposium – April 12, 2025

A special thank you to our Speakers and Industry Partners!

(left to right) Oliver Pabonan, Jennifer Manilay PhD, Kelly Shepard PhD, Kevin Hicok, Xuecai Ge PhD, Kara McCloskey PhD

Our 2nd Cohort is completing the UROC Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI). This program is designed to introduce scholars to academic research alongside a UC Merced faculty mentor. It is a 9-week summer program that our trainees complete, and they will participate in the Annual Summer Research Symposium. During this summer program, our TUSCEB trainees also participate in a Stem Cell Culture Workshop provided by Dr. McCloskey, our Program Director and Full Founding Professor in the School of Engineering.

UROC SURI 2024 – Cell Culture Workshop at UC Merced

We hosted our first

TUSCEB Symposium

1st Cohort had the opportunity to present their research posters to Industry Partners, Colleagues, UC Merced Faculty, and Community members.

Patient Healthcare Engagement at the Community Hospital at Monterey Peninsula for Cohort 1

The trainees’ clinical experiences brought forth a range of emotions and insights. They encountered diverse patient cases, highlighting the importance of empathy and patience in healthcare. Some found motivation and a renewed interest in pursuing biomedicine careers, while others grappled with the emotional complexities of the profession. Despite their individual reflections, all trainees gained valuable insights into patient care and the challenges of the medical field.