Molecular and Cell Biology Undergraduate Student Association
Pre-Health·Research·Education·Academic Societies
mcbUSA is UC Berkeley's oldest MCB department-affiliated student organization, built around helping biology students navigate research, classes, and career paths. Members join committees that run events like Emphasis Night (a faculty panel on MCB tracks), the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), and a semesterly Undergraduate Research Symposium open to all undergrads. The club also maintains BRINE, student-written summaries of Berkeley MCB professor research, and runs Cal Bio Counseling, a peer mentorship program pairing underclassmen with upperclassmen mentors.
ApplicationsSpring 2026 General Membership Applications Close (11:59 PM) Saturday, Feb 21
Events They Host
Undergraduate Research Symposium
Semesterly public event open to any undergraduate student interested in presenting a poster on current, past, or proposed future scientific research, including literature reviews and group projects. Features guest speakers from MCB faculty and Berkeley labs. Spring 2026 edition held April 24th.
Emphasis Night
Panel event for undeclared intended MCB students where faculty from each MCB emphasis area present and answer live questions about their tracks.
Summer Opportunities Symposium
Event covering summer research and opportunity options for biology students. Past edition co-hosted with MCBcDNA.
SURP Info Session
Annual info session presenting SURP project descriptions and timeline details. 2026 session held February 24th, 7-8pm in VLSB 2063.
Networking Workshop
Workshop for students on professional networking skills. Held in Fall 2023.
Biology and Beyond Workshop
Workshop exploring biology career paths beyond academia. Held Spring 2023.
FaculTea-Cell Time
Faculty panel or casual Q&A event with MCB professors. Held Spring 2023.
Med School Night
Panel or info session for students interested in medical school. Held Spring 2023.
Faculty Luncheons
Monthly casual lunches where students can talk with MCB and biology professors in a small-group setting. Lunch is provided and open to students of all majors. Spots are first come, first served.
Berkeley Bio 101 Workshop
Workshop helping students navigate biology coursework and student life at Berkeley. Held Spring 2023.
Literature Review Workshop
Workshop on how to read and write scientific literature reviews. Held Spring 2023.
The Princeton Review Workshop
Partnership workshop with The Princeton Review, likely covering MCAT or standardized test prep. Held both Spring 2023 and Fall 2022.
Postdoc Pizza Panel
Panel featuring postdoctoral researchers sharing their experiences. Held Spring 2023.
Class Planning Workshop
Workshop to help students plan their biology course sequences. Held Fall 2022.
Member Experiences
Bob Ross Painting Social
Social event for members centered around painting. Held Spring 2023.
New Member Orientation
Orientation event for newly admitted committee members.