The Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program offers research training to participating students to help prepare them to compete successfully for entry into graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in biomedical sciences. Funded through the National Institutes of Health, the MARC program’s goals are to increase the numbers and capabilities of underrepresented scientists and to prepare students for careers in biomedical research.

Program Director

Amount & use
  • Monthly payments of $1160
  • Must be able to commit to at least 12 months (up to 24 months) period on MARC
  • Guaranteed placement in a UCSC research Lab
  • Partial tuition and fees (varies depending on financial aid eligibility)
  • Travel to conferences to present research and learn about graduate school
  • Support for an extramural research experience in the second summer of the program
  • General Record Exam (GRE) course
  • Program support for graduate school applications
Eligibility
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled as full-time undergraduate students at UCSC or accepted transfer students in the upcoming Fall. 
  • Must be interested in pursuing a Ph.D. degree after the bachelor’s degree
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident eligible for work in the U.S.
  • Some upper-division biology or chemistry coursework experience is desirable but not required.

MARC is open to all students and is consistent with state and federal law, the UC Nondiscrimination Statement, and the Nondiscrimination Policy Statement for University of California Publications Regarding Student-Related Matters. 

Deadlines
The annual application deadline to apply for the MARC program is the second Friday of every February.
Selection criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of staff, faculty, and students. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with staff and current scholars. Final candidates will be interviewed by the MARC faculty director. Candidates will be evaluated based on a holistic review process of their applications, education/ career goals, and aspirations.

How to apply

You can apply to the MARC, UC LEADS, and CAMP Programs simultaneously with one application. Only COMPLETED applications will be reviewed.

The application for the STEM Diversity Programs will be available in December of every year.

Click here to access the application

The application components include:

Online application & supplement documents (to be uploaded with the online application) – Due Friday, February 7th at 11;59 pm.

  • Completed online Application (this includes essay questions, see questions below)
  • Resume or CV (Career Center Resume Guide)
  • Copy of Your Unofficial Transcripts (UCSC and/or community college, just print them from your student portal)
  • Copy of Your Unofficial Financial Aid Support (if you do not get financial aid, you ARE still eligible for the programs, please state in the online application.

Two letters of recommendation – Due Friday, February 21st at 11:59 pm: from a faculty or staff member (These should be emailed directly from the recommender to stemdiv@ucsc.edu).

Essay Questions: Please limit your responses to 200 words for each question (see questions below).

ESSAY QUESTION #1: Please describe your personal background and what experience(s) led you to where you are today in your education? Do not hesitate to express relevant extracurricular activities, any interesting or unusual circumstances or obstacles in your personal or academic background.                                                                                                                                                                               

ESSAY QUESTION #2: Please describe any UCSC relevant work experience in the sciences, research, or as a volunteer. Also, what you have learned from these experiences, and how these experiences make you a good candidate for the program? 

ESSAY QUESTION #3: After you obtain your bachelor’s degree, what are your long-term academic/career aspirations? If you are unclear about a specific career/academic path, please share a number of possibilities you foresee in your future. How do you plan to reach these goals?                                                                                                                                                                                        

ESSAY QUESTION #4: All programs housed in the STEM Diversity Research Programs office aim to diversify the field of science by serving students from underrepresented communities, what is your approach to working with diverse student bodies and how will you contribute to this mission?

ESSAY QUESTION #5: How are the STEM Diversity Research Programs going to support your academic/career goals? What do you hope to gain from this experience?

For questions and additional information about the application process, please contact our office at 831-459-4770 or send an email to stemdiv@ucsc.edu.