Meet the 2026 UC Santa Barbara NIH-MARC Cohort: Fostering the Next Generation of Biomedical Research Careers

The UC Santa Barbara Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships (CSEP) is proud to announce the 2026 cohort of the NIH-Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholars.

July 8, 2026

The NIH-MARC program is a prestigious undergraduate research fellowship designed to support highly motivated students from all backgrounds who are pursuing careers in biomedical research. This year's outstanding multidisciplinary cohort features 18 scholars representing a wide array of STEM disciplines:

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology: Callie Thai, Catherine Hardy, Sasha Simakov

  • Biological Sciences: Emily Kugelmann, Iosla Finn, John Abraham, Parker Stephens

  • Biology: Anvi Murarka, Perrine Changkuon, Sambhav Jain

  • Biopsychology: Adrian Alonso, Jay Curtis, William Le

  • Chemical Engineering: Emrys Xu, Joseph Salceda

  • Chemistry/Biochemistry: Annika Bai 

  • Cell and Developmental Biology: Hannah Levin

  • Pharmacology: Stephaney Myint

Over the next one to two years, these scholars will engage in intensive faculty-mentored research, professional development workshops, and leadership training to prepare them for competitive Ph.D. and MD/Ph.D. programs.

Congratulations to the incoming cohort! We look forward to seeing the breakthroughs and contributions you will bring to the scientific community.

2026 MARC Cohort