This article appeared in Catalyst Magazine, Spring 2026
When donors support the College of Chemistry, they are not only supporting research, but shaping every stage of the undergraduate journey.
When Aly Montiel arrived at UC Berkeley's College of Chemistry at sixteen, she had just left a small town in Mexico and was beginning college farther from home than she'd ever been. The rigorous curriculum and a growing sense of homesickness overwhelmed her in her first semester. What saved her was Berkeley's built-in set of guardrails for chemistry undergraduates. She turned to an academic advisor, took advantage of the College's peer tutoring program, picked up snacks in the community kitchen between classes, and got constructive feedback on graduate school applications.
This year, Montiel heads to a Ph.D. program in nuclear engineering.
"The College of Chemistry sustained me during moments when I needed direction, stability, and community throughout my education," she says. "I carry that foundation with me as I move into the next stage of my career."
That support was only possible because of donors. Peer tutoring, summer research stipends, the Community Kitchen, and career advising exist because they are funded through philanthropic donations, year after year. While supporting the latest research breakthrough might be what typically leads to headlines, giving money toward undergraduate support systems like those described by Montiel —and below—is what leads to the next generation of chemists.
Career Advising
The College of Chemistry's dedicated undergraduate career counselor, Najet Carrick, works with students from their first year through two years post-graduation. She helps them identify career paths, build résumés, prepare for interviews, navigate graduate school applications, and connect with employers and alumni through College-specific programming. Carrick's position, as well as the resources she offers students, are funded through philanthropy.
"Thanks to the generosity of donors, I am able to enhance career services for students," says Carrick. "These contributions enable individualized advising, programming, and expanded access to resources that help students clarify their goals and successfully transition into careers and graduate programs."
For students already managing demanding coursework and research commitments, having someone help navigate these transitions is crucial.
"I am certain that without her help I would not have gotten my job offer," one student wrote after a recent appointment. Another credited Najet with alleviating "so much of my anxiety about preparing for grad school."
Summer Research Stipends and SURD
For many College of Chemistry undergraduates, the leap into a research lab requires more than curiosity—it requires being able to make ends meet without a typical summer job. The summer research stipend program addresses that directly, providing $4,000 to students who spend at least eight weeks conducting faculty-mentored research. In 2026, 47 students received stipends totaling $188,000, working alongside 36 principal investigators. Roughly 30 percent are first-generation college students, and 21 percent are transfer students.
"This stipend makes a meaningful difference in my academic journey," says Jun Yu, Chemistry '27. "It reduces financial pressure and allows me to devote more time and energy to research during the summer."
The SURD program — Summer Undergraduate Research Diversity — extends the same opportunity to underrepresented students from colleges around the country. Marissa Yáñez, the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of the College of Chemistry, recruits students for SURD at diversity conferences, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUI's), and community colleges. This summer, seven SURD fellows will receive $6,000 each.
"Our goal is that these students become empowered to succeed in chemistry and go on to graduate school in advanced sciences — here at Berkeley, or elsewhere," says Yáñez.
Peer Tutoring
The College of Chemistry's peer tutoring program started in 2017 with just three or four tutors sitting at a single table in the advising office. Now, it has grown into a dedicated center staffed by nearly 20 undergraduates. Students can drop in for help with both entry-level and upper-division courses across all three majors—chemistry, chemical biology, and chemical engineering—as well as the math and physics courses woven through every curriculum. All of it is free for students who come for help, and tutors are paid for their time. The program is nearing a $2 million fundraising goal, and donor support is what keeps tutors on staff as demand grows.
Director Shamaya Pellum points to the peer-to-peer dynamic as the program's core strength: tutors haven't forgotten what it felt like to be lost in general chemistry. "That connection is important," says Pellum.
Montiel agrees; the center, she wrote, "fostered an environment where seeking support felt constructive rather than stigmatized."
Community Kitchen
Launched in the fall of 2024 and funded entirely by donors, the Community Kitchen offers College of Chemistry undergraduates food, drinks, a microwave, and a quiet place to sit between lectures or labs. The area has become one of the more popular spots in the building, says undergraduate advisor Tina Truong, who manages the kitchen. Students who need to feed themselves in the midst of stressful, busy days often end up staying to study or talk with staff.
"It started because we received feedback that students were hungry and couldn't really focus on their classes at certain times of the day," says Truong. "But it's become a place for community building, and an easy way to approach the advising office."
Montiel, who struggled with stress-related eating during difficult stretches of her undergraduate years, says the kitchen was incredibly helpful. "Resources like the kitchen," she says, "address something often overlooked in conversations about academic success: basic well-being."
Thank you to the donors who have already helped support these undergraduate programs. They are all still accepting support in the form of both one-time and ongoing gifts. To give toward these efforts and help them meet their fundraising goals, please reach out to Zareen Khan, Associate Director of Leadership Giving, at znkhan@berkeley.edu.
