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Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience

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2025 CURE Students
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Steven Chen, a Biotechnology major, researches genome-stabilizing protein senataxin in Jacqueline Barlow’s lab. He focuses on how loss of senataxin function leads to reactive oxygen species, genome instability, and immune activation. After graduation, Steven plans to pursue a graduate degree in cancer biology or stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, advancing our understanding of these critical areas of biology.
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Celia Tan, a Genetics and Genomics major from San Francisco, CA, works in Wolf-Dietrich Heyer’s lab, studying Rad51 and BRCA2 gene functions. She plans to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. dual degree program after graduation, combining her research experience with medical training to contribute to advancements in genetics and genomics.
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Miranda Do-Tran is majoring in Cell Biology, and she is conducting research in Dr. Henry Ho’s lab where she is studying Wnt5a, a gene which has been implicated in many different types of cancers. After she graduates, Miranda aspires to go to medical school and ultimately provide evidence-based patient care, as well as teach future scientists in the classroom and clinic.
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Lucia Ortiz Calva is majoring in Human Biology. She works in Dr. Gerardo Mackenzie’s lab where she is studying drug development to treat pancreatic cancer. After she graduates, she hopes to attend medical school and become an oncologist to pursue her passions within cancer-related healthcare.
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Alice Lee is majoring in Molecular and Medical Microbiology. She conducts research in Dr. Ted Powers’ lab, where she is studying the evolution of LST8, a subunit of mTORC, which is a complex that regulates cell growth and survival in response to nutrient, energy, redox, and hormonal signals. Alice plans to pursue a PhD after she graduates and pursue a career in biomedical research.
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Elina Kuang is majoring in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and minoring in Public Health Sciences. She is a member of Dr. Laura Fejerman’s lab, where she is developing culturally tailored educational approaches to disseminate information about Human Papillomavirus Virus (HPV) vaccine in Chinese-American communities. After she graduates, Elina plans to go to medical school and have a career focused on making health care accessible for all.
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Rishith Gopisetti is majoring in Molecular and Medical Microbiology and conducts research in Dr. Alan Lombard’s lab. He is characterizing PARP inhibitor response in prostate tumor cells. After he graduates, he aspires to go to medical school, complete an MD/PhD, and become a pediatric oncologist and cancer researcher.
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Iliya Voytsyshyn is majoring in Systems and Synthetic Biology and works in Lifeng Xu’s lab where he is studying telomerase recruitment to Cajal bodies. After graduation, Iliya plans to go to graduate school, complete a PhD, and then pursue a career where he can innovate tools for precision genome editing and biological engineering.

The Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Program addresses the pressing need for a cancer research community that is sensitive to the needs of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center catchment area.

The CURE Program covers two years of training in cancer research for UC Davis undergraduates in their junior and senior years, with the ultimate goal of student entry into the professional pipeline in cancer research as scientists, physicians, or veterinarians.

The CURE Program is funded by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Curriculum

CURE is a one- to two-year program for upper division students.

Junior Year

  • The summer will include (a) full-time research in a UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center member laboratory; (b) professional development activities offered in weekly meetings; and (c) poster presentations at the Summer Poster Symposium.
  • The academic year will include (a) part-time research; (b) participation in the junior professional development seminar (BIS 198); (c) attendance of weekly Cancer Biology Research Seminars, hosted by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center; (d) presentation of work at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Symposia & the UC Davis Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference

Senior Year

  • The summer will include (a) participation in a second summer of full-time research; (b) professional development activities offered in weekly meetings; and (c) poster presentations at the Summer Poster Symposium
  • The academic year will include (a) part-time research; (b) participation in the senior professional development seminar (BIS 198); (c) attendance of weekly Cancer Biology Research Seminars, hosted by the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center; (d) presentation of work at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Symposia and the UC Davis Undergraduate Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities Conference

Support

CURE:

  • provides a stipend of $4,000 per summer
  • provides a stipend of $1,000 per academic quarter
  • provides professional development opportunities and advising

CURE Participant Obligations

  • commit 12-24 months to the program
  • engage in research 10 hours per week during the academic year
  • engage in research 40 hours per week during the summer
  • attend all regularly scheduled meetings, program workshops and functions
  • meet regularly with the CURE adviser
  • register for and attend the BIS 198 seminar quarterly
  • maintain competitive GPA
  • actively engage in their research lab, attend lab meetings etc.