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FUTURE Ignited CCE

The goal of FUTURE Ignited is to support the ambitions of aspiring young scientists who identify as students of color* in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and related areas, who will go on to become part of a diverse generation of scientific leaders.
*We use an inclusive definition of student of color in STEM including, but not limited to, Black/African-American, Latin(x), Indigenous, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, etc.

Future Ignited CCE Logo


About FUTURE Ignited CCE

FUTURE Ignited CCE 2021 will be held online on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

This year's online/virtual conference will provide an introduction to life as a Caltech graduate student in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Participants have an opportunity to engage in science discussions with Caltech students and faculty, attend panel discussions on topical research areas as well as on graduate student life, and receive guidance on how to navigate the graduate school application process through mini-workshops. Programming includes short science talks and "day in a life" discussions from current students, panels with current students and faculty covering topics ranging from challenges, research topics, building community, the application process, and more. There will also be an opportunity for questions and additional discussion in each session.

Nominations and Eligibility

We welcome you to nominate your top rising Junior or Senior Undergraduate who identify as students of color* (and/or students of color* who are interested in pursuing a PhD in the next 1-2 years) to participate in a one-day online/virtual event. Rising juniors should have an interest in pursuing a PhD in chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry and molecular biophysics, and related areas, and want to learn more about graduate education and opportunities. Rising seniors should be planning to apply to graduate school in the Fall of 2020 and have a demonstrated interest in research in the above fields. We prefer nominations from faculty but will also fully consider non-faculty and self-nominations. We are committed to building an inclusive cohort that recognizes and celebrates the diversity of students' intersectional identities and experiences, and strongly encourage nominations of students historically underrepresented in our field.

There is no fee for participating in FUTURE 2021. 

Schedule Of Events

3:15 pm - 3:30 pm - Introduction to CCE by Brian Stoltz 

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Graduate School Admissions Faculty Panel, moderated by Theo Agapie and graduate student Levi Palmer. Faculty panelists: Hosea Nelson, Andre Hoelz, Linda Hsieh-Wilson and Mikhail Shapiro

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Student Research Short Talks, moderated by graduate students Gracie Zhang and Jean Badroos. 

Student speakers: Siobhan McArdle and Victor Garcia Ruiz

4:30 pm - 5:15 pm - Day in the Life of a Graduate Student (students only session)

Woman in lab

FUTURE Ignited Chemistry FAQ's

Organizing Committee:

Theodor Agapie (Faculty)
Mary Arrastia (Graduate Student)
David Cagan (Graduate Student)
Courtney Cechini (Graduate Option Program Manager in BMB)


Bil Clemons (Faculty)
Allison Kinard (Graduate Option Program Manager in Chemical Engineering)
Allison Ross (Graduate Option Program Manager in Chemistry)
Mikhail Shapiro (Faculty)
Brian Stoltz (Faculty)

About Caltech Chemistry

About Caltech Chemical Engineering

Have questions about the program? Contact us at future_ignited_cce@caltech.edu