Student Groups & Representatives

CGSC communicates and advocates for the rights, concerns, and objectives of the graduate students in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UC San Diego.

Here are the 2024-2025 CGSC Student Representatives:

Executive Board:

• Chair:                                   Hilliary Frank
• Vice-Chair:                           Darius Yohannan
• Communications:                 Kelly Isbell
• Budget:                                Javier Sanlley

Committees:

• Social:                                      Nichelle Camden & Luke Miller              
• Mental Health:                          Komal Mittal & Luke Miller
• Student Research Seminar:     Sarah Wax
• Faculty Journal Club:               Hannah Castro
• Survey:                                     Javier Sanlley
• GPSA Rep:                               (vacant)

Student Representatives:

• Second Year:         Komal Mittal
• Third Year:             Sarah Wax
• Fourth Year:           Darius Yohannan
• Fifth Year:              Javier Sanlley
• MS Rep:                (vacant)
• International Rep:  (vacant)

Email: cgsc@ucsd.edu
Visit the CGSC website

The GPSA is the official student government representing graduate and professional students. Functions of the GPSA include allocation of the graduate student activity fee, the appointment of graduate students to campus‐wide committees, and the sponsorship of academic and social events.

• Department Reps:
  • Ashlyn Murphy - armurphy@ucsd.edu
  • Swan Van - nvan@ucsd.edu 

If you are interested in becoming a GPSA Rep, please contact Ashlyn (armurphy@ucsd.edu), Swan (nvan@ucsd.edu), and Kelly (kisbell@ucsd.edu).

Email GPSA:chemgsa@ucsd.edu

Our mission is to foster a community for inspiring the pursuit of gender equality in STEM. We work toward our mission in four areas. First, we raise gender bias awareness and teach prevention of unconscious bias in STEM workplaces. Through professional development we prepare for success through informative career-building events such as seminars and networking opportunities. With outreach we inspire the next generation of scientists, with an emphasis on underrepresented groups. And finally we promote well-being by improving mental and physical wellness through community activities, social gatherings, and individualized mentorship. Our goal is to promote the advancement of women in STEM through engagement, evidence based education, and taking an active role in creating a better, more equitable and accessible community.

• Desirae Mellor, President - damellor@ucsd.edu
• Caitlin Hudecek, Vice President - chudecek@ucsd.edu
• Katy Wnuk-Fink, Event Coordinator - kwnukfink@ucsd.edu
• Nicola Osgood, Communications Director - nosgood@ucsd.edu

Looking to get involved? SWIGS has several volunteer and board positions currently available. Please contact any of the board members to find out how you can join our team and support the community of women on campus! 

Visit the website at swigs.ucsd.edu
Facebook: SWIGS at UCSD
Twitter: @ucsdswigs

• A safe space that welcomes Chem grad students from all social, cultural and religious backgrounds, to share your experience, exchange thoughts, and feel supported. 

• 3rd year: Debaditya “Deb” Sinha (Ortony lab) and Vivian Wu (Burkart lab)
• 4th year: Debolina Sarkar (Muller lab)
• 5th year: Lincoln Mehndiratta (Grassian and Slade labs) and Mac Kevin E. Braza (Amaro lab)

For more information please visit our website: http://cifg.ucsd.edu/

You can contact us at cifg@ucsd.edu.

GoSTEM@UCSD is an LGBTQ-affirming organization that aims to provide services and support for graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at UCSD and to create a dynamic network between students and professionals in industry and academia.

Visit the Grad oSTEM website at gradostem.ucsd.edu 
Join the Community 
Email: gradostem@ucsd.edu

1. To facilitate the exploration and discussion of non-majoritarian narratives - stories and ideas that highlight the experiences of minorities and historically oppressed groups - within our department and scientific communities.
2. To generate a safe space to discuss how forms of bigotry such as racism, classism, ableism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, etc. disrupt equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging within our department and field.
3. To reflect on ways in which we as individuals and a community can further cultivate a culture of engaged inclusivity, diversity, and equity within our workplaces and learning spaces.

Previous Readings:

• The Autobiography of a Transgender Scientist by Ben Barres (read in Fall 2023)
• An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison (read in Spring 2024)
• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (to be read in Fall 2024)