Ramp up to Research Summer Program

The Ramp up to Research Summer Program is a flexible and part-time summer program for enrolled MESA students. The program helps students prepare for internships, research, transfer, & careers in STEM! The flexible nature ensures that all students are able to gain extracurricular STEM experience, especially those who work full-time, have caretaking responsibilities, are unable to travel, or are not yet prepared for traditional internships. This Program is developed for you, our MESA students!

 

 

Through this program, students attend weekly workshops:

  • Week 1: Develop a research topic

  • Week 2: Find and evaluate journal articles

  • Week 3: Read and understand peer-reviewed scientific articles

  • Week 4: Write a literature review

  • Week 5: Meet with current researchers

  • Week 6: Presenting research to a diverse audience

  • Students also meet regularly with a faculty mentor and develop a research paper on a topic of their choosing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program Benefits

  • Learn skills that will be important for future internships

  • Gain STEM experience to list:

    • On resumes

    • On transfer applications

    • On REU applications

    • In Interviews

  • Build a relationship with a faculty mentor, possibly leading to letters of recommendation!

  • $500 stipend upon successful completion of the program

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Have completed 2 STEM classes at College of Marin

  • Active member of MESA or Friends of MESA cohorts

2025 Student Research Topics:

  • “Biofuels or EVs: Which one will Drive the Future of Transportation?” by Brandon A.

  • “Exoskeletal Enhancements: Surpassing Human Limits” by Andy C.

  • “The Renewable Energy Paradox” by Marcelo G.

  • “The Need for Diversity: Latina Women in Aviation” by Yanira G.

  • “Environmental and Health Effects of Chemical Waste in Academic Laboratories” by Lisette G.

  • “A Life of Dérive Reprieve” - The effects of nature on mental health & well-being by Hailey M.

  • “Heartbeats and Hardware: How Pacemakers and Defibrillators Revolutionized Heart Disease Survival” by Nelson M.

  • “A Psychogeographical Analysis of Latine Youth Development and Access to Outdoor Recreation” by Karen R.

  • “AI powers more Intelligent Electric Vehicles” by Alvaro R.

  • “Quantum Computing for Climate Solutions” by Mateus V.

 

2026 Dates: TBD in Spring 2026 

 

 

This program is made possible by generous support from the BioMarin Latinx Employee Resource Group & MESA state funds.