New MIND Institute pathway connects HBCU students with research careers

In June, five undergraduate students from Xavier University of Louisiana will arrive at the UC Davis MIND Institute for a summer dedicated to biomedical research. The hope is that the students will be inspired to pursue a graduate degree in neuroscience, molecular biology or related field at a University of California campus. Xavier is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, often called HBCUs.

The program, MIND Graduate Admissions Pathway, or MINDGAP, is funded by the University of California Office of the President. It launched last summer.

"This experience has been amazing! I learned so much about myself as a scientist," said Xi A. McWilliams, a 2025 scholar. She gained experience working in a lab, which altered her career aspirations.

"I was always under the impression that you had to choose between asking questions or solving the problem. But after coming to UC Davis, I have realized that you can do both. That has solidified my career in medicine and research."

McWilliams is a neuroscience major with a concentration in biology and chemistry and graduates this May. She hopes to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. program, perhaps at a University of California.

A pathway to a research career

Scholars are co-mentored by faculty from both Xavier and UC Davis. They work with MIND Institute researchers for eight weeks and present their work at a national conference.

"We want to build confidence and help students see themselves as scientists," explained Roy Ben-Shalom, an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology who co-directs the program. "If we want a research workforce that reflects our communities, we have to build the pathway to get there. When students see people who look like them leading studies and get real lab access, it builds trust. That means increased participation and better science for everyone," he said.

Ben-Shalom notes that diverse research teams ask different questions and recruit more broadly, producing findings that translate more widely in the real world.

David Segal, professor and chair of the Department Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, co-directs the program with Ben-Shalom.

"It's been gratifying to see the impacts of this program, even after just one year," Segal said. "And it's not just a one-way street. The scholars are learning about research careers while we're learning from them, getting new perspectives and new ideas."

Graduate research areas of focus include:

• Integrative Genetics and Genomics
• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Pharmacology and Toxicoloy

MINDGAP scholars receive a summer stipend, lodging and transportation, and application fees are waived for those who apply to a UC graduate program. MINDGAP is open to Xavier University of Louisiana juniors. The new class will visit UC Davis in May and begin the program in mid-June.

Building confidence and community

"MINDGAP was even more rewarding than I expected," shared Kaidyn White, who was a scholar last summer. "Some of my favorite moments have been learning Western blotting and Luminex assays, interpreting real patient data and getting to ask questions directly to leaders in the field."

She especially enjoyed weekly meetings with researchers who discussed their career paths, shared how to prepare for a Ph.D. and shed light on fields of research she hadn't considered.

White, who is from Tampa, and McWilliams, from New Orleans, lodged with the other scholars in Davis during the summer program.

"It was amazing, with tons of exciting things to do and explore," said McWilliams. She particularly enjoyed the Davis Farmer's Market.

"The MIND Institute community has been especially welcoming," White added.

White, who is a neuroscience pre-med major at Xavier, said personal experiences in her family and community cemented the importance of understanding mental health and neurological conditions.

She plans to graduate in May and wants to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. program. Thanks to MINDGAP, she has narrowed in on a field of research: the intersection of neuroscience and immune-related mechanisms in neurodevelopmental conditions.

The pathway now feels tangible.

"I've learned new lab techniques, connected with incredible mentors and seen firsthand how collaborative and impactful this kind of work can be," White said.