Doing science requires a certain level of perseverance, a great deal of independence and self-motivation, and a whole lot of optimism. Coincidentally, these characteristics are epitomized by most of the immigrant workers that come to the United States in search of jobs and a better quality of life. Paradoxically, these people are very underrepresented in science.

That is why the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship is helping underrepresented students succeed in science. It offers the scientific community a different perspective on life and research.

In June, I will be among the first group of students to graduate from the new biophysics department at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), having worked on a number of research projects including fungal genomics, immunobiology, imaging and most recently cancer immunotherapy under the mentorship of Manuel Penichet. My training has been fruitful, resulting in a number of co-authored publications, a first-authored article and an American Association for Cancer Research-Thomas J. Bardos Award. My two-year project was also my inspiration for the proposal that helped me earn a Gilliam fellowship.

But research was not always part of my agenda. My goals were shaped by participation in programmes such as the National Institutes of Health-sponsored MARC (minority access to research careers) programme, which has sent minority students to graduate studies in top universities. This autumn I will begin graduate studies as the first Whitcome Fellow in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental PhD programme at UCLA. My plan is to master the intricacies of multidisciplinary research, combining quantitative approaches and molecular biology to address important fundamental questions that lead to a better understanding of disease.

Having a Gilliam fellowship has opened many doors for me, as it has for many other motivated and independent students. I hope that other programmes will also seek out underrepresented students and further diversify the scientific community. Increasing the presence of minorities in science will provide valuable input from people with diverse points of view. Likewise, minority communities will gain from the wealth of opportunities that science careers can provide.