Students get to ask deep questions about the world and answer them on their own intellectual terms. As a first-gen college student who became a first-gen professor, I learned how to improve my speaking, writing, and thinking through SPIRL, a program that changed my life and introduced me to a community of peers and mentors that I still keep in contact with. Unlike other research programs where a student finds an advisor, you work with multiple mentors at the same time. This collaborative group effort has allowed SPIRL students to flourish and thrive and reach their full potential. I would not be where I am today and this is why I returned to direct SPIRL as a former participant.
Long T. Bui, Ph.D.
SPIRL Director
Student Testimonials
“They all believed in me, my potential, my aspirations, and my research. They provided their platform to stand on while I created my own. They have all spent their careers helping others and giving their expertise to all those who ask. I will forever be grateful for all they saw in me, and for them guiding me to the next step in my journey.”
— Michelle Story, Pscyhology, SPIRL Class of 2023
“I'm interested in mental health, but it was hard for me to find public datasets that addressed mental health in part because it's a taboo topic. Through SPIRL, I was able to find a dataset to examine the influence of environmental racism on perceptions toward health and wellbeing.”
— Jacqueline Zuñiga, Pscyhology, SPIRL Class of 2023
“SPIRL was my introduction to the research culture and a monumental time to ponder on my potential career path. It was the birth of my interdisciplinary museum scholar background. I am incredibly thankful for participating in a program that aims to increase the retention rate of first generation students in graduate school.”
— Valentina Toledano, Political Science & Language Science, SPIRL Class of 2022
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Policy mattersUC Irvine business economics and international studies double major Liming Dong sees the people behind the policies
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"SPIRL is an intensive, five-week on-campus summer research program. It is designed to enhance the academic experience of undergraduate students."
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