STEM

Applied Studies: STEM research program

College Prep’s STEM program is for students interested in getting hands-on research experience in a broad array of STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

The course begins with a spring semester seminar (STEM Research Part I) that provides foundational scientific knowledge and analytical skills. During discussion-based classes, students learn how to read primary scientific literature, analyze and critique raw data, and work as a productive member of a research team. The core of the program takes place during the summer when students are matched with research mentors for full-time, six-week internships. In the fall, the program concludes with a semester-long seminar (STEM Research Part II) during which students prepare a poster about their summer research and deliver a formal scientific talk. Most placements are in labs at UCSF or UC Berkeley.

Past STEM research topics include:

Capturing host-virus protein interactions in human cells infected with HIV-1
Design and optimization of lipid nanoparticle drug delivery systems
Identification of region-specific functions in spatial transcriptomics datasets
Data management ethics and policy setting in FemTech-reliant studies
Characterizing the evolution of neural crest gene regulatory networks in cranial skeleton development
Theoretical simulation of internal energies and heat capacities of magnetic lattices
Building a portable cryoablation device to treat cervical pre-cancer
Designing a 2-D antiferromagnet for ultra-low power electrical switching for MRAM technology
Optimizing the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of biodegradable plastic wrap alternatives
Estrogen regulation of SHH signaling and neural progenitor cell biology in the embryonic forebrain

I have always enjoyed science class, and STEM has allowed me to pursue my love for the sciences in a more serious manner. STEM has also shown me what being a scientist entails.”
— Alum