<div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-30375073-7fff-4109-1eb3-89f33bcabc17"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear Fellow Graduate Students, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We would like to remind you that the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Graduate Student Association (BcMBGSA) is hosting </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">the Inspire Science Symposium on January 29, 2026</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">at HUB 302</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. We will bring together high school students, first- and second-year undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty to demystify science careers and graduate education. Additionally, the program aims to build early connections with highly engaged, research-interested undergraduates for potential recruitment into CNAS research labs through our April undergraduate research recruitment-mentorship program.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We are excited to inform you that, in collaboration with the Dean’s office of CNAS, participating graduate students will receive</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> a </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Certificate of Recognition for Outreach and Mentorship Excellence</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">in April 2026 in recognition of their effort in the Inspire Science Outreach Symposium and the April mentorship program. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">How can you get involved in the symposium?  </span></p><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:10pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Give a 5-minute rapid talk</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. If you RSVPed but did not submit a 2–3 sentence abstract or your one poster-style slide, please email them to <a href="mailto:BcMBGSA@ucr.edu">BcMBGSA@ucr.edu</a>. Talks should be accessible to students aged 14–19. Please use about 2 minutes to share your personal story—when or how you were inspired to pursue science (a class, teacher, challenge, or encouragement). Any genuine story about your journey and motivation will be meaningful to students.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Present a poster.</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> You may use an existing poster; no edits are required.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;margin-left:11pt"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt" role="presentation"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Serve in networking sessions</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (1:00 - 2:00 PM or 3:00 - 4:00 PM). The first session focuses on Q&A with faculty/graduate students. During the </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">3:00 - 4:00 PM session</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, undergraduate and high school students will visit posters and discuss what they learn from them and the questions they have about the posters at the table. The graduate student(s) and/or faculty at each table will decide who is the winner of that table (instructions will be provided). Undergraduate winners will be selected to participate in the April mentorship workshop without going through the selection process; high school winners will receive a pen pal and may have the opportunity to volunteer in a research lab during the summer. </span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt;padding:0pt 0pt 12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As the symposium approaches, participants will receive additional information on how to take part in the April workshop. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-ae736c41-7fff-7f42-0b39-7aad1600a5f3"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">If you are interested, </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOV0eIzg-pt729ITIKXTPJCo_5qU-X6r8ADii15xVFyFv_fg/viewform" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(70,120,134);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline">RSVP</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> by Wednesday, January 21st. </span></span></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">Thank you, </p><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Nelli</span></font></p></span><div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;color:rgb(34,34,34);line-height:18.4px;font-size:12pt;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(153,153,153);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:small">Nelli Khudaverdyan</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;color:rgb(34,34,34);line-height:14.95px;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"><font color="#999999">PhD Candidate<br>President – BcMBGSA<br>Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology<br>University of California, Riverside<br>Mentoring Hours: by </font> <b style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><a href="https://calendar.app.google/iviczZefnGhnDMVa9" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank"><font color="#3d85c6">appointment</font></a></b></p><img src="cid:ii_mkhqj5a21" alt="Inspiring Science Flyers (UCR)01162026.png" width="405" height="524"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:14.95px;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif"></p></div></div></div></div>