Eligible Degree Programs
Currently two CSULB departments, Chemistry and Biochemistry and Biological Sciences, participate in the Bridges to the Doctorate (BTD) program. More information about the specific M.S. programs can be found on the department's web page.
Master's Programs | Advisor/Coordinator | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
Biology (M.S.) | Advisor: Kevin Sinchak Kevin.Sinchak@csulb.edu Coordinator: Jennifer Carrillo Jennifer.Carrillo@csulb.edu | February 15 |
Microbiology (M.S.) | Advisor: Kevin Sinchak Kevin.Sinchak@csulb.edu Coordinator: Jennifer Carrillo Jennifer.Carrillo@csulb.edu | February 15 |
Chemistry (M.S.) | Advisor: Young-Seok Shon YS.Shon@csulb.edu | April 1* |
Biochemistry (M.S.) | Advisor: Deepali Bhandari Deepali.Bhandari@csulb.edu | April 1* |
*Chemistry and Biochemistry application deadlines are June 1, but BTD acceptance is dependent on acceptance by the department.
Potential Research Mentors

Chemistry and Biochemistry applicants should identify possible research mentors as soon as possible after admission to their degree program. Biology and Microbiology applicants must have a research advisor to be admitted to their degree program. Always check NCBI for the most current list of research publications as some lab websites may not be up-to-date.
Biological Sciences Faculty
Department Website: Biological Sciences
Faculty | Research Interest | Website or Contact |
---|---|---|
Dr. Bengt Allen | marine community ecology | Bengt.Allen@csulb.edu |
Dr. Renaud Berlemont | microbial genomics and bioinformatics | Berlemont lab |
Dr. Judy Brusslan | plant molecular biology | Brusslan lab |
Dr. Marcell Cadney | integrative physiology | Marcell.Cadney@csulb.edu |
Dr. Michael Carlson | biological oceanography | Michael.Carlson@csulb.edu |
Dr. Ashley Carter | theoretical and empirical evolutionary biology | Carter lab |
Dr. Amanda Fisher | plant evolution and systematics | Fisher lab |
Dr. Deborah Fraser | molecular mechanisms of the innate immune response | Deborah.Fraser@csulb.edu |
Dr. Michael Harris | physiology | Michael.Harris2@csulb.edu |
Dr. Raisa Hernandez-Pacheco | population ecology | Hernandez-Pacheco lab |
Dr. Erika Holland | aquatic toxicology | Holland lab |
Dr. Darren Johnson | ecology and evolutionary biology of reef fishes | Johnson Lab |
Dr. Jiae Lee | developmental and cell biology | Jiae.Lee@csulb.edu |
Dr. Douglas Pace | ecological physiology | Pace lab |
Dr. Bree Putman | urban ecology and urban evolutionary biology | Putman Lab |
Dr. Peter Ramirez | viral pathogenesis, molecular cell biology | Peter.Ramirez@csulb.edu |
Dr. Bryan Rourke | integrative animal physiology | Bryan.Rourke@csulb.edu |
Dr. Kevin Sinchak | reproductive behavioral neuroendocrinology, neuroscience, neurosteroids | Kevin.Sinchak@csulb.edu |
Dr. Ted Stankowich | evolutionary behavioral ecology | Stankowich lab |
Dr. Houng-Wei Tsai | epigenetic neuroendocrinology | Houng-Wei.Tsai@csulb.edu |
Dr. Christine Whitcraft | wetlands ecology | Christine.Whitcraft@csulb.edu |
Dr. Kelly Young | reproductive biology | Kelly.Young@csulb.edu |
Dr. Mason Zhang | host-pathogen interactions | Mason.Zhang@csulb.edu |
Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty
Department Website: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Faculty | Research Interest | Website or Contact |
---|---|---|
Dr. Deepali Bhandari | cell biology, protein biochemistry | Bhandari Lab |
Dr. Christopher Brazier | physical and computational chemistry | Brazier Profile |
Dr. Xianhui Bu | inorganic, structural, solid state, and materials | Xianhui.Bu@csulb.edu |
Dr. Paul Buonora | organic synthesis and catalysis | Buonora Lab |
Dr. Shahab Derakhshan | inorganic synthesis and structure | Derakhshan Profile |
Dr. Elena Grintsevich | biochemistry | Grintsevich Profile |
Dr. Lijuan Li | inorganic chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, nanomaterials | Li Profile |
Dr. Eric Marinez | molecular recognition and catalysis | Marinez Profile |
Dr. Stephen Mezyk | physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, biophysical chemistry | Mezyk Lab |
Dr. Vasanthy (Vas) Narayanaswami | biochemistry, biophysics, structural chemistry, neurobiology | Vas Lab |
Dr. Michael Schramm | supramolecular chemistry, molecular recognition | Schramm Lab |
Dr. Jason Schwans | enzymology | Schwans Lab |
Dr. Young-Seok Shon | macromolecular chemistry, materials science, nanoscience | Shon Lab |
Dr. Katarzyna Slowinska | analytical chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, bioengineering | Slowinska Lab |
Dr. Eric Sorin | computational biochemistry and biophysics | Sorin Lab |
Dr. Enrico Tapavicza | computational chemistry and materials science | Tapavicza Lab |
Dr. Hadi Tavassol | materials chemistry, catalysis | Tavassol Lab |
Dr. Fangyuan Tian | materials chemistry and instrumental analysis | Tian Lab |
Dr. Sharmila Venugopal | biochemistry, biophysics, computational, and neural systems | Venugopal Profile |
Dr. Julie Wahlman | asymmetric catalysis and organic | Wahlman Lab |
Dr. M. Paul Weers | biochemistry, structural biology | Weers Lab |