Scholarships and Funded Support

The following opportunities exist for students in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department to receive scholarships and other funded support.

Deadlines Just Around the Corner!

  • Summer research assistantships have a March 24, 2023 application deadline (extended).
  • Some of the funded student research programs listed here have a April 1, 2023 application deadline.

On this page:

Scholarships

Beach Scholarships

Continuing chemistry and biochemistry students may be eligible for a number of scholarship opportunities. Most of these scholarships are applied to through the BeachScholarships system, the centralized database of all scholarship opportunities at California State University, Long Beach.

The following scholarships are typically available in early spring. Spring 2023 deadline is March 13, 2023. Please see individual scholarships for eligibility criteria. Students may be eligible for more scholarships than are listed here. Please contact the department for any questions about these scholarships.

Dr. Dot Goldish Endowed Scholarship

NEW as of Spring 2023!

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

Dr. Dot Goldish Endowed Scholarship, established in 2023, is to provide to scholarship support to undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry students, and to honor the leadership, mentorship, and service of Dr. Dot Goldish, one of the first two female professors of chemistry at CSULB. Minimum GPA 2.5; Pre-majors and majors in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry; Class standing at the time of application Sophomore, Junior or Senior; Full-time, 12 units or more; Students reapply to receive the scholarship for renewal; Apply top question: Tell us about your experiences as a leader and/or as a mentor to others, on or off campus; Evaluation rubric weighted toward criterion of a student who has shown leadership ability and/or mentorship of others.

James L. Jensen Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

The Jensen Undergraduate Research Fellowship has been established to recognize and support an outstanding undergraduate student engaged in research with a faculty member in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This fellowship is awarded in honor of Dr. James L. Jensen, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics during the years 1993-1995, who as a faculty member was known for his excellence in teaching and mentoring students engaged in research. See James L. Jesnsen

John and Elizabeth Leonard Endowed Fellowship

NEW as of Spring 2023!

Contact graduate advisors for more information. Biochemistry: Deepali.Bhadari@csulb.edu, Chemistry: YS.Shon@csulb.edu.

The purpose of the Leonard Recruitment Fellowship is to incentivize promising CSULB students to pursue graduate studies in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The award will disburse ~$25,000 for one student and will rotate between the Chemistry & Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, and Mathematics & Statistics departments. For academic year 2023-24, it will be given to an incoming graduate student in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department. Students will submit their application materials through the Cal State Apply system; the deadline for Fall applications is June 1.

Kenneth L. Marsi Endowed Scholarship

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

This scholarship began in 1996 when Dr. Marsi retired as Chair of the department after 21 years of service. A teacher-scholar, Dr. Marsi twice earned the Mayfield Outstanding Professor Award by vote of the students at the college. He was the CSULB Outstanding Professor in 1984 and the CSU System Outstanding Professor in 1985. This award is given to an outstanding junior or senior majoring in chemistry or biochemistry. See Kenneth L. Marsi Endowed Scholarship for eligibility criteria.

Leslie K. Wynston Endowed Award in Biochemistry

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

Dr. Wynston was a biochemistry professor in our department from 1965-1998. He served as Chair of the Pre-Professions Health Advisory Committee for many years and was active in both the Western and National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions. The award recognizes an outstanding Biochemistry major who is planning to enter a health–related professional school the following year. See Leslie K. Wynston Endowed Award in Biochemistry for eligibility criteria.

Love Outstanding Teaching Assistant Scholarship

NEW as of Spring 2023!

Application Deadline 3/20. Submit application materials to the Department Chair, Dr. Li: Lijuan.Li@csulb.edu.

The Love Outstanding Teaching Assistant Scholarship, established in 2023, recognizes Teaching Assistants (TAs) who have made distinguished contributions to the Mathematics and Statistics, or Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry by demonstrating excellence in significant instructional capacities, such as classroom teaching, laboratory instruction, leading recitation or activity sections, or assisting faculty members with high-enrollment courses. The Scholarship (~$2000) is designed to recognize and promote effective teaching practices, to celebrate the work of outstanding teaching assistants, and to inspire future science and mathematics educators.

McAbee-Overstreet Research Scholarship

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

The McAbee-Overstreet Research Scholarship was established in 2008 from an endowment made to the department by Dr. Cathie Overstreet, a former MS Biochemistry student with Dr. Douglas McAbee from 2000-2003. The scholarship recognizes a graduate student in the M.S. Chemistry or M.S. Biochemistry program for excellence in scholarship and strong commitment to research in chemistry or biochemistry. See McAbee-Overstreet Research Scholarship for eligibility criteria.

Monahan Chemistry Research Endowment

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

This award was established through a bequest of Dr. Michael Monahan, an alumnus of our department who received his B.S. in Chemistry in 1963. After receiving his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1968 he joined the Salk Institute and was subsequently a Senior Research Scientist with Beckman Instruments. Dr. Monahan was founder and President of California Medicinal Chemistry Corporation and a member of our faculty during the period 1985-1987. This competitive award is presented to an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student in chemistry or biochemistry to support summer research. See Monahan Chemistry Research Endowment for eligibility criteria.

Robert B. Henderson Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Application Deadline 3/13. Apply through BeachScholarships.

Dr. Henderson was one of the founding faculty of our department.  He was a distinguished scientist and a teacher of organic and general chemistry (1955-1982). Dr. Henderson also served as Chairman of Physical Sciences and as Associate Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This award is given to a student best exemplifying Dr. Henderson's scholarship and commitment to the profession of chemistry and who plans to enter a Ph.D. program. See Robert B. Henderson Memorial Endowed Scholarship for eligibility criteria.

Additional Scholarships for Science and Math Majors

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics maintains a list of additional scholarships that are available to science and math majors.

Financial Aid and Scholarships Office

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office is the official hub for scholarship information at CSULB. The office collects, organizes, and distributes information on hundreds of external scholarships as well as administers university scholarships for the campus. Explore CSULB Scholarships.

Summer Research Assistantships

Summer Research Assistantships are awarded to students seeking opportunities to pursue paid mentored research opportunities with faculty in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Demonstrated merit and strong potential to carry out research in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department.
  • Continuing graduate or undergraduate student with planned enrollment for Fall 2023 semester.
  • Research plan approved and signed by faculty research mentor.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, March 24, 2023 by 11:59pm (extended).

Apply Now to Summer Research Assistantships

Note: summer research assistantships are paid employment and subject to state and federal taxes. Opportunities for employment are competitive and will be awarded following committee review.

The application above includes the following assistantships in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department:

  • Leslie K. Wynston Summer Research Assistantship
  • John H. Stern Summer Research Assistantship

Leslie K. Wynston Summer Research Assistantship

The Leslie K. Wynston Faculty-Mentored Summer Research Student Assistantship Award was established in 2022 from an endowment made by a generous gift of the estate of Leslie K. Wynston. Dr. Wynston was a biochemistry professor in our department from 1965-1998, and served as Chair of the Pre-Professions Health Advisory Committee for many years. Dr. Wynston was active in both the Western and National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions. The award is to support faculty-mentored summer research.

John H. Stern Summer Research Assistantship

Dr. Stern was a member of our faculty from 1958-1987 and a distinguished teacher of physical and general chemistry. He was internationally known for his work in solution thermodynamics and as an author of many publications in that field. Several of his research students have become college and university professors through his influence and example. The award is to support faculty-mentored summer research.

Funded Research Programs

The following student research programs may offer stipends, provide tuition support, cover the costs of travel and attendance to conferences, or offer other funded support for CSULB students. Many programs have a joint application with other similar programs. Please see the individual programs for more details.

  • Bridges to the Doctorate (BTD) partners with UC Irvine to produce a seamless and supportive bridge to the Ph.D. for underrepresented and underserved CSULB graduate students interested in biomedical research careers. Funded by NIH. Review of applications starts April 1, 2023.
  • Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) offers intensive, hands-on research and training opportunities for undergraduate students designed to prepare them to excel in doctoral programs, as well as health-related research careers. Funded by NIH. Deadline to apply: March 3, 2023.
  • Doctoral Diversity Initiative (DDI) partners with UCSD to increase diversity of students successfully completing Ph.D. programs and entering leadership positions in academia in the field of materials science. Available to CSULB undergraduate students. Funded by the UC Chancellor's Office. Deadline to apply: April 1, 2023.
  • Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is part of a statewide effort to enhance the math and science skills of undergraduate students who have faced or face social, educational, or economic barriers, and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Funded by NSF. Deadline to apply for funded support: March 3, 2023.
  • MD Alumni Research Program supports undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who plan to enter and succeed in medical school programs. Funded by a CSULB MD Alum. Deadline to apply: March 3, 2023.
  • Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) is designed to support motivated undergraduate students interested in developing careers as professional research scientists in biomedical and behavioral science fields. Funded by NIH. Deadline to apply: March 3, 2023.

On-Campus Funding

The Graduate Center maintains a list of on-campus funding opportunities. Most of the opportunities are aimed at graduate students, but a few are also available to undergraduate students.