Celebrating Undergraduate Research Excellence
CSI URF hosted its first Connect & Celebrate event, bringing together fellows and faculty to honor a year of research and present the inaugural CSI Awards.
On May 30, 2025, CSI hosted its first-ever “Connect & Celebrate” event at UCSB to honor the achievements of students in the CSI Undergraduate Research Fellows (URF) Program. This event brought together research mentors, undergraduate fellows, and campus allies to highlight the value of hands-on research and the power of mentorship in higher education. Fellows and faculty gathered to share insights, build connections, and recognize outstanding contributions with our first round of CSI Awards.
We are proud to recognize our 2025 CSI Undergraduate Research Fellow Award recipients: Veronica Garcia Zepeda, who received the Critical Contributions Award for her outstanding work in marine ecology and lab precision on a blue carbon research project, and Alexander Aviña, who received the Striving for Success Award for his exceptional growth and initiative in launching an independent project on educational policy and access.
