The Discovery Initiative is proud to present a new space for tiered research at Berkeley, the “Discovery Research Hub.” Through partnerships with several research units across campus, Discovery is gathering several research hubs to foster an expanded relationship between graduate student researchers, undergraduate mentees, and Berkeley’s distinguished faculty.
Background
Since its inception in the Spring of 2025, Discovery’s partnership with the Kavli Institute has supported nine graduate students, each with small research clusters of 2-4 undergraduate students. For AY2025-26 and beyond this pilot is extended into a full year-long program.
For the next cycle of Discovery Fellows at the Kavli Institute, we are seeking 15 to 20 graduate students to gather research clusters for the entirety of the academic year. This larger and more sustained endeavor is aimed at the expansion of the depth and intensity of both graduate and undergraduate training and professionalization.
Program Overview
A Discovery Research Hub works with on and off-campus partners to fund and administer research leadership programs for affiliated graduate students and Berkeley undergraduates. These programs enable graduate students to:
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Develop crucial leadership skills
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Conceptualize, propose, and lead research projects
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Gain real-world experience creating budgets, managing projects, and mentoring undergraduates.
Additionally, to simulate real-world conditions, participants are provided with funding for necessary resources and have the autonomy to recruit undergraduate students as research assistants.
For Berkeley undergraduate students, these hubs provide:
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An experience of graduate research that deepens their studies within their major curriculum
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An expanded scope for these studies, ushering them into the professional world.
Partnership dependent, a Discovery Research Hub can also provide professional development to these undergraduate students, offering them panels and interactive seminars on graduate applications, presentation skills, and getting started on their own research projects.
General Program Structure
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Application Timeline: Hub applications for Graduate Fellows open in spring and close in mid-summer, with decisions by mid-July.
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Pre-Semester Meeting: Grad Fellows meet in early August to make a plan for hiring undergraduates and develop mentorship materials.
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Year-Long Activities: Throughout the program, Grad Fellows meet regularly for leadership development and community building. These sessions feature topics ranging from how to secure funding, project management, postdoctoral applications, research translation, and more!
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Research Symposium: The program culminates in a showcase of each cluster’s work.