Rising Tide

Rising Tide Program
Caltech is committed to promoting diversity within its educational programs and activities. Rising Tide is a research techniques training program that is directed at increasing the participation of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in science and engineering Ph.D. programs by making Caltech's programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. The program is extended, but not limited, to underrepresented minorities, first-generation college students, geographically underrepresented students, educationally or financially disadvantaged students, women (in certain fields), and students with disabilities. This program is open only to visiting (non-Caltech) students with little to no prior research experience. In its pilot year (2023), the program is restricted to applicants from Pasadena City College.

Rising Tide participants will receive chemistry research techniques training from Caltech graduate students or postdoctoral scholars (Co-Mentors) in subgroups of two or three students per Co-Mentor. The research techniques training will focus on three primary areas: synthetic, analytical, and computational chemistry.

Rising Tide Participants will:

• Carry out their work full-time throughout the 5-week program
• Work under the guidance of Caltech graduate students and post-doctorate scholars (Co-Mentors) to learn fundamental research skills
• Keep a detailed laboratory notebook during the program
• Attend academic and professional development workshops focused on developing a research career, effective writing and oral communications, and other topics of interest to future researchers
• Write a detailed report of the techniques learned in the program
• Receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program
  
  The 2023 Rising Tide program award is $3,550 for the five-week period. The 2023 Rising Tide program dates are July 24 through August 25.

Rising Tide Participants must:

• Be currently enrolled freshmen, sophomores, or juniors‡
• Have completed at least two terms of general chemistry courses, including the laboratory component (e.g., CHEM 001A/B or equivalent)
• Have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. in science
• Have little to no prior research experience
• Not be under any academic or disciplinary sanction
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have DACA status, or are permitted to work with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  
  ‡Students need to be matriculated in a degree-granting undergraduate program. High school students who are co-enrolled in college courses are not eligible.

Applications consist of:

• Faculty letter of nomination to program
• Completion of the application portal (including the written statement attesting to why the student wishes to participate in the program)
• The applicant's unofficial transcripts
  APPLY HERE by March 31st, 2023.

The Rising Tide program is generously supported by on-campus partners, including:

• The Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (CCE DEI) Committee Fund
• Carina Initiatives through Caltech's office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility