UC Merced Magazine | Volume XIX, Issue VII

“Without Summer Bridge, it would have been really difficult to move here,” he said. “I am on my own. I don’t have any family support, so the idea of moving here during the school year would have been bad. I would have struggled a lot.” Adams said CESB gave his research a boost. “You’re not able to be in the lab without a laser safety training. And because of Summer Bridge, we were able to do the training and start in the lab a month sooner than most,” he said. He recalled working with Ghosh, his advisor, and other faculty to write and refine his research proposal. “It was just an idea, and I presented a 10-minute talk at the end of Summer Bridge,” he said. “I nurtured the idea, which turned into the fellowship that I now have with the Department of Defense on water remediation with lead-free semiconductors. Summer Bridge was a big part of getting that fellowship.” Making the Peer Connection The GradEXCEL Program at UC Merced began in 2017 as a comprehensive initiative designed to foster success among first-year doctoral students through structured peer mentorship and professional development. e program pairs a more experienced graduate student with a less experienced student to provide support and advice. It emphasizes active engagement, with mentors responsible for helping new students navigate campus life, graduate program culture and academic challenges. “Peer mentoring can help graduate students feel more connected to their programs and improve their academic performance and career readiness,” Ghosh said. “ rough this structured support system, GradEXCEL aims to build a strong community of scholars while providing professional development opportunities for mentors and mentees.” e mentors, preferably third-year doctoral students or beyond, commit to regular bi-weekly meetings with their mentees and participate in seven mentorship development training workshops. Adams said graduate student mentor Subhaya Bose checked in on him and the other first-year physics students and made sure they had access to all resources available. For mentees, the program o ers numerous advantages, including a smoother transition to graduate education, enhanced campus resource access and the development of self-advocacy skills. “To have the GradEXCEL in the first year, especially to have a mentor who’s in your program and a year or two above you who’s had experience, is valuable,” Adams said. “ ey know how you feel, they know the requirements and they know what you are going through. It really pushes you a lot.”

Honored for serving Our Community In 2025 UC Merced was recognized with several awards for supporting student access.

2025 HEED Award Recipient

2025 Seal of Excelencia &HUWLȰFDWLRQ

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