Mary Fontana
Class of 2006
Immunology and Pathogenesis

I spend a lot of time in lab—it’s what I came here to do, after all. But no Berkeley grad student can resist the allure of the wider Bay Area.

Bryan Schmidt
Class of 2007
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology

I was struck by how open and friendly people in the department were, and how the traditional barriers between students and faculty didn’t seem to exist. Plus, the students actually seemed happy here!

Teresa Lee
Class of 2007
Genetics, Genomics, and Development

Grad students here are given the freedom to pursue their interests, to explore rotations with as broad or narrow a focus as they want, and to establish collaborations that drive their projects forward. I found that, even in the bars after midnight, current students were just as eager to share their latest experimental results as they were to talk about their weekend skiing trip.

Margaux Bennett
Class of 2008
Cell and Developmental Biology

I chose MCB here at Berkeley because of the people that I get to do science with and learn science from, starting with the graduate students in my own class and up to the visiting scholars.

Adam Session
Class of 2009
Genetics, Genomics, and Development

When it came time for graduate school, I applied around the country, but no school had a comparable number of faculty with awesome research projects, plus the graduate students here seemed way happier than other schools.

Charlene Bashore
Class of 2009
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology

Learning new techniques and acclimating to the Bay Area….sometimes felt like a trapeze act. I love it. Every lab is tackling some fascinating problem, so there is expertise in every field and technique just down the hall….It’s a phenomenal place to be a scientist, and an equally amazing place to be a person.

Priscilla Erickson
Class of 2010
Genetics, Genomics, and Development

While visiting graduate programs, I was especially impressed by the dynamic students I met here at Berkeley. They all seemed to work on fascinating research, lead active lives outside of lab, and truly love being graduate students at Cal…. Berkeley really has it all: world-class science, engaging classmates and faculty, stunning natural surroundings, and a vibrant social scene.

David Arroyo
Class of 2010
Neurobiology

Here, experiencing new things is accepted and encouraged….Being in Berkeley has helped me progress as a scientist like never before and grow as a person in the same way.