Student Testimonials
Hear from our Past Students!
BUILD has been amazing in improving as a student academically and professionally. Being in this program surprised me because I have been achieving things that never seemed possible to me like presenting a research poster or going to graduate school. It has been very important in my growth, and I am so grateful I took the chance to join BUILD because I was missing out on a supportive research community. BUILD offered advice and guidance through the whole process of applying to graduate school from essays, application waivers, finding potential mentors, and the interview process. Without BUILD, it would have been very difficult to apply to graduate programs because I have no personal experience being the first one in my immigrant family to attend college. BUILD offers an extremely supportive cohort and staff that mentored me through my research experience, and I had no experience to begin with. I lacked confidence in my ability to conduct research, but after being in BUILD, I am more comfortable and interested in health-related research. Being able to share our experiences and difficulties we experienced in research as a cohort has boosted my confidence knowing I was not alone. I have been able to achieve academic and professional goals with the help of BUILD that seemed impossible a year ago.
Lynn Ha
2021 Fellow Cohort
College of Health and Human Services
BUILD has been such a great experience with how many resources and opportunities they have provided me. I have been able to grow my skills as a researcher through being a research assistant in Dr. Araceli Gonzalez's lab and receiving financial support to attend and present at national scientific conferences such as ABRCMS and WPA. I was also able to conduct research at UCI over the summer due to BUILD's partnerships with UCI. Through BUILD, I have been able to sharpen my professional development skills about myself and my own personal research interests. Compared to where I was two years ago, I feel so much more prepared and confident in my abilities to succeed in research and graduate school due to all the help I was able to receive. BUILD has been able to create a supportive community of undergraduate researchers and I enjoy being surrounded by diverse and driven students who are motivated to seek higher education and use research to improve today’s public health problems.
Tess Nguyen
2024 Scholar Cohort
College of Liberal Arts
BUILD has shaped and prepared me to take on challenges I never would have dreamed of. I have built confidence in my scientific identity and gained a support team!
Taylor Thomsen
2021 Scholar Cohort
College of Engineering
BUILD has provided me the chance to experience research as a pivotal step in my academic career. With the support of the staff and my peers, I have been able to explore various qualitative and quantitative research opportunities and build my interest in student outcomes as a result of public health on a socioeconomic level. My time in the program has empowered me to be the first in my family to pursue a PhD.
Victoria Min
2024 Scholar Cohort
College of Health and Human Services
BUILD has provided guidance and support during my time as an undergraduate researcher. BUILD mentors and guest speakers have taught me about research at the undergraduate, PhD, and professional level. Beyond research, BUILD faculty, my graduate student mentor, and research PI have all been more than willing to answer any questions I’ve had along the way. My mentors within the program have not only prepared me for graduate school, but helped me see the larger picture of why I’m doing research. The program’s emphasis on personal identity and health disparities has driven me to consider research within my own community, or underrepresented communities.
I am most appreciative of the numerous opportunities that BUILD has provided, which have allowed me to grow as both a person and scientist. For example, attending the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) in 2023 with peers from BUILD was an event I had never thought I’d experience. I sharpened my presenting skills, learned about various research in the biomedical community, and created memories with friends that I’ll remember long past my time at CSULB.
Wesley Chen
2025 Scholar Cohort
College of Engineering
