Who We Are
Welcome to Summer GRaPEs: the UCR-VSU summer Graduate  Research and Preparation Experiences 2022

We are a diverse group of scientists passionate about breaking down barriers in STEM. 
Summer GRaPEs is a one-year project sponsored by the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) HBCU initiative, designed to improve diversity and strengthen our graduate programs by investing in undergraduates early. This program begins at Virginia State University with co-PIs Drs. Sarah M. Witiak, Andrea Beyer, and Brian Sayre. During Fall 2021, we will admit up to four VSU students dedicated to learning more about biology, using plants as their model organisms. Then during Summer 2022, these students will intern in one of several participating labs (Larios, Litt, Nagel, Nabity) to partner with current graduate students, postdoctoral scientists, and lead PIs as they learn new skills. During the following fall, the students will hone their projects and data as they prepare to present at the conference in Washington DC. If necessary, research experiences and conference attendance will be modified for remote engagement to accommodate COVID. 
Costs: time, interest, commitment
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Immediate Benefits:
  • Free travel to and from Riverside, CA
  • Lodging and Summer stipend provided
  • Fall stipend upon return to VSU to polish your work

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Long-term Benefits:
  • Competitive funding packages (up to 4y of funding) if admitted to a University of California school
  • Skill development and networking for future careers​​ (including biotechnology, medicine, agriculture)

Meet the Team!

Loralee Larios ​                  Lab website
Amy Litt           
Dawn Nagel                Lab website
Paul Nabity                 Lab website
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Sarah Melissa Witiak           
Andrea Beyer                    
Brian Sayre           

Meet the Projects!