Graduate Student Appreciation Week

The first week in April is Graduate Student Appreciation Week and we want to celebrate you! We are thankful for our graduate students who make UCSF a better place. This is a nationwide week, the goal of which is to celebrate the important role that graduate students play on campus. Thank you for being part of GEPA!

Events are open to UCSF graduate students. No registration needed (except where indicated). All items are while supplies last. Please bring your UCSF ID to scan!

Calendar of Events

Monday, April 6, 2026

Kick-off Lunch and GEPA Swag!

Noon to 1 p.m. | Koret Quad, Mission Bay

Kick off the week with lunch on Koret Quad at Mission Bay. Enjoy lunch and network with fellow students as we get the celebration started.

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Mentorship Matters: Breakfast Social

9 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Grad Lounge, Genentech Hall - Floor 2, Mission Bay

Start your morning with coffee and breakfast bites while connecting with your fellow graduate community. Don't forget to bring your PI or faculty adviser!

Career and Professional Development Writing Retreat

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. |  Mission Hall 2105, 2106, 2107, and 2108, Mission Bay

We know that writing can be hard to find time for, especially when you’re writing something non-scientific. If you are working on applications for jobs, internships, fellowships, or anything else, now is the perfect time to join us!

We’ll provide you with a work station, outlets, coffee, snacks, lunch, a structured schedule, and a consultation room where you can get help from CPD staff if you hit a roadblock. All you need to bring is your laptop, charger, and a writing project you’d like to work on.

This event is not a workshop, it's more choose-your-own-adventure. Our goal is to provide a supportive environment for you to make progress on a writing goal that’s important to you. Come for a single 45-minute writing “sprint,” or stay for the full retreat.  Offered by Career and Professional Development (CPD)

Register here!  

*You will need to activate or log in to your Handshake account to register for the event.

Grad Slam

4 to 6 p.m. | Byers Auditorium, Genentech Hall - Mission Bay Campus + live stream via YouTube

Join us at our annual Grad Slam competition at Genentech Hall. You won't want to miss the event where PhD students describe their research in three minutes or less. Open to all in the UCSF community. No registration needed. Find event details.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Lunch at Parnassus

Noon to 1 p.m. | Student Success Center, Parnassus

Join us for lunch at Parnassus. Enjoy lunch and network with fellow students as we celebrate you! Students who didn’t receive swag on Monday can pick them up here.

International Graduate Student Social Hour

3 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Koret Quad, Mission Bay

Join us for the International Graduate Student Social Hour on April 8 from 3–5 PM at Koret Quad (in front of Genentech Hall). The ISSO would like to show our appreciation for all the international students at UCSF. So, please stop by to enjoy some light snacks, connect with fellow international graduate students from across UCSF, and take a moment to celebrate our vibrant global community. We hope you’ll join us!

Register here!

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Breakfast Social

9:00 a.m to 10:00 a.m. | Student Success Center, Parnassus

Start your morning with coffee and breakfast bites while connecting with your fellow graduate community. 

Boba and Bingo!

2:00 to 3:30 p.m. | Mission Hall 1400, Mission Bay

Join us for bingo, boba, and bragging rights. Sip milk tea, mark your card, and compete for fun prizes. Come for the boba, stay for the wins, leave with loot.