BioEngineering Association of Students
Research·Engineering·Pre-Health·Community Service/Nonprofit·Academic Societies
BEAST is the student organization for the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Graduate Program in Bioengineering. Every PhD student is automatically a member. The club runs BioEngineering Student Talks (BESTs) for practice quals presentations, organizes the annual departmental retreat, coordinates prospective student visit weekends, and hosts social events like a welcome BBQ. Membership is open and informal: there are elected officer positions, but any student can volunteer with any activity.
485
Student directory entries (dissertation lab records)
3.0
Minimum cumulative GPA requirement
1
10-hour Graduate Student Instructor assignment required
20
Typical GSI weekly hours (50% appointment)
3
First-year research rotations required (4th rotation added if needed)
14
Treasurer term length in months, beginning June 1st
Events They Host
BioEngineering Student Talks (BESTs)
Regular seminars held at Stanley Hall (Berkeley) and Byers Hall (UCSF). Most talks are practice qualifying exam presentations. Food is provided and talks are advertised to the broader BEAST group.
Annual Retreat
Multi-day off-site conference featuring keynote talks, alumni and industry speakers, a student poster session, research breakout sessions, comedy sketches, a t-shirt competition, outdoor activities, and evening parties. Past venues include Asilomar, Granlibakken, Walker Creek Ranch, and Sierra Conference Center.
Prospective Student Visit Weekends
BEAST organizes visit weekends for prospective PhD students, coordinated by the Visit Weekend Committee.
BEAST Alumni Speaker Series
Alumni talks organized by the Industry and Alumni Liaisons, listed on the BEAST calendar.
Member Experiences
Welcome BBQ
Held in August for incoming first-year students to meet older students. Recent years have used Ohlone Park in North Berkeley.
Professional Meet and Greet (Meet over Meal)
Funded 1-on-1 or small-group meals with alumni or industry professionals of the student's choosing. Up to $50 for 1-on-1 meetings; $25/person for group meetings of 4-5 students. Rolling applications with limited funding.
Fall Advising Roundtable
October event for first-year students to ask questions about choosing classes and rotations.
Quals Advising Roundtable
January event for second-year students to learn about the quals format, procedure, and how to choose a committee.
Choosing a Thesis Lab Roundtable
April event for first-year students seeking advice on deciding on a dissertation lab.
Holiday Parties and BEAST Cruise
Large annual social events organized by the Social Committee.