Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE)

Program Supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH)

The goal of CSUB's Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) program is to increase the number of well-trained students applying to and getting into Ph.D. programs in the Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences. The program supports undergraduate students who are underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences to enhance preparation for entrance into graduate programs at the Ph.D. level.  Applicants must be students majoring in the fields of either Chemistry, Biology, Kinesiology, or Psychology who have a real and committed desire to pursue postgraduate studies leading to a Ph.D. in the biomedical and behavioral fields. The period of appointment to the U-RISE program is a consecutive 24-month period during the final 2 years of undergraduate study when students are in their junior and senior years.   The cornerstone of the program is to support undergraduate student research and to support faculty that serve as faculty research sponsors.

URISE Important Information

Expand All

Eligibility Requirements

To Assure Eligibility Requirements, Students Must:

• Commit to at least 1 year and up to 3 years in the program
• Engage in research part-time during the regular school year and full-time during the 10-week summer period at either CSUB or at an partner UC campus
• Plan to pursue a Ph.D.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be enrolled full-time at CSUB
• Have earned a minimum of 60 university units and sophomore status
• Have an overall GPA of at least 3.2 or higher (also in the major)
• Have a Research Faculty Mentor doing research in the biomedical and behavioral fields

Student Support

• Up to $13,920 stipend to support research activity and $4,453 tuition yearly
• One-on-one research mentoring
• Funding for laboratory supplies
• Required summer research experience with a paid stipend either at CSUB or at a partner UC campus with lodging and travel paid
• Specialized workshops and seminars on promoting research skills, the understanding of bioethics, critical thinking skills, as well as leaderships skills
• Funding for travel to scientific meetings
• Funding to visit graduate programs
• Funding for graduate school application fees

Faculty Mentor Support

• A paid research trainee (20 hours/week) for two years
• Support for research/lab supplies $500 each year
• Mentor stipend of $1,500 each year

URISE Press

Article in Bakersfield Californian

To Apply:

• Official or Unofficial transcripts
• Two Personal statements (no more than one page each):
  1. Describing your educational and career plans in the biomedical/behavioral fields and how a biomedical/behavioral research experience would benefit you
  2. Describing your research experience and research goals
• Letter of recommendation from the Faculty Research Sponsor
• Faculty Mentor Research Plan (one page)
• Signed waiver for letter of recommendation

 

To submit application materials, either:

• Email completed application to: isumaya@csub.edu, agancarz@csub.edu, aalvarado27@csub.edu
  • email applications preferred
• Deliver completed application to Dr. Amy Gancarz, DDH H106

 

URISE Grant Faculty/Staff

Alam Alvarado

Project Coordinator

Email: aalvarado27@csub.edu

Dr. Amy Gancarz

Associate Professor, Dept. Pyschology

Email: agancarz@csub.edu

Dr. Isabel Sumaya

Primary InvestigatorInterim AVP Grants & Sponsored Research

Email: isumaya@csub.edu