Katalyst 2026: Korean-American Mentorship and Leadership Immersion for Young Scientists and Technologists was hosted by the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) and held February 27 through March 1, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Now in its third year, Katalyst is an annual, nationally competitive conference designed exclusively for Korean-American undergraduate students in STEM — bringing together rising student leaders with accomplished professionals for an immersive weekend of mentorship, career development, and community building. The 2026 edition was organized around the theme “Project You: Prototype Your Professional Journey,” framing career exploration as an iterative, design-thinking process rather than a fixed destination.
Approximately 100 participants attended, including selected undergraduate students, invited mentors spanning software engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, pharmacy, healthcare, business, bioinformatics, and the startup world, along with KSEA leadership and organizing staff. The program featured plenary speaker remarks, career myth-buster discussions, a structured mentorship session, a poster session, small-group breakouts, and a networking dinner — all designed to expose students to diverse post-graduate pathways and help them build meaningful professional relationships. Travel and meal support were provided to reduce financial barriers to participation, reinforcing Katalyst’s commitment to broad and equitable access.