Est. 2020 · Education Nonprofit

Building pathways into science for the students furthest from them.

First-generation Low-income High school → PhD

By the numbers
150+ FLi Sci Scholars served across three cohorts
20+ States reached across the United States
95% Report an increase in their science identity
100% College enrollment rate among alumni scholars
Our Story

Founded in response to a gap that should not exist.

FLi Sci — short for first-generation / low-income scientists — was founded by Gabriel Reyes in June 2020. The premise was direct: students in poverty are systematically under-resourced when it comes to accessing, pursuing, and engaging with scientific opportunities. Almost no organization was building a deliberate pipeline to change that.

What began as a virtual summer research program — created for The Opportunity Network during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic — quickly revealed a deeper truth: programs of this kind needed to reach students in places where science was either unreachable or entirely absent. FLi Sci was built to be that program, and to make those pathways permanent.

Today we serve scholars from high school through graduate training, providing mentorship, research exposure, and the kinds of relationships that change careers and lives.

Read the full story


Programs

Three tracks, one mission: prepare scholars for scientific careers.

Track 01

FLi Psy

A psychology and behavioral-science track that introduces scholars to the foundations of research design, measurement, and the study of human minds and behavior.

Explore track
Track 02

STEM

Our broadest track, offering exposure to biology, chemistry, engineering, and the scientific method through hands-on research mentorship with graduate fellows.

Explore track
Track 03

Data Science

A quantitative track that builds data literacy, statistical reasoning, and the technical confidence required in today's data-driven scientific fields.

Explore track

New cohorts recruit every spring · Applications

Scholar Voices

In their own words.

I really enjoyed the program. We learned something new every week and I think those meetings were really valuable — I especially loved the discussions and Journal Club.

Jessica GiangScholar, Cohort 2

Attending this program was consecutively the highlight of my week. We talked about school, our weeks, topics of interest — all while staying goal-oriented.

Ruth KendallScholar, Cohort 2

I learned a lot about a research question I was interested in, and I enjoyed speaking to other students who are interested in STEM but might face the same obstacles as me.

Jaylene FranciscoScholar, Cohort 2

The program helped me to have conversations I typically wouldn't have, which made it very enjoyable and, honestly, formative.

Youssf HegazyScholar, Cohort 2
With support from
Albuquerque Community Foundation Skillman Foundation Roddenberry Foundation Westly Prize ECMC Foundation McCune Charitable Foundation Camelback Ventures NewSchools Venture Fund True Ventures The Philadelphia Foundation Park City Community Foundation Echoing Green EdLoC · Boulder Fund EGF Accelerator 4.0 Schools
Join Us

Become a scholar, an ally, or a partner.

Whether you're a student ready to apply, a scientist willing to mentor, or a funder who believes the scientific pipeline should look like the country — there's a role for you here.