Scholarships and Funded Support

U-RISE Reinstated and Accepting Applications

The Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) program has been reinstated as of July 2025 and is now accepting applications.

Apply by August 8, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

See U-RISE program for more information.

The following opportunities exist for students in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM) to receive scholarships and other funded support.

On this page:

Scholarships

As a continuing CNSM student, you may be eligible for a number of scholarship opportunities. These scholarships are applied to through the BeachScholarships system, the centralized database of scholarship opportunities at California State University, Long Beach.

BeachScholarships deadline is March 11, 2025.

After submitting the general application, you will automatically be considered for dozens of scholarships! Consideration is based on eligibility criteria noted in the scholarship description.

A small number of scholarships also require supplemental information or documentation in addition to the general application. If you meet the criteria for these scholarships, you will be asked to provide additional documentation when you complete the general application.

TIP: Use the "Show Filters" button at the top right of BeachScholarships and select "College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics" or your department in the "Scopes" field to see relevant scholarship opportunities.

Please contact CNSM for any questions about these scholarships.

Departmental Scholarships

Departmental scholarships are available at the department links listed below. These scholarships are more specific to the majors that fall under the department.

METRIC Scholarship Program

Mentored Excellence Toward Research and Industry Careers (METRIC and METRIC 2) students receive need-based scholarships and participate in activities designed to facilitate their scholastic and professional development and to prepare them for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. See METRIC Scholarship Program for additional information about the program.

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 College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Application period has closed.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Demonstrated merit and strong potential to carry out research in one of the following departments:
    • Biological Sciences
    • Chemistry & Biochemistry
    • Physics & Astronomy
  • Continuing graduate or undergraduate student with planned enrollment for Fall 2025 semester.
  • Research plan approved and signed by faculty research mentor.

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 includes the following assistantships, by department:

  • Biological Sciences
    • Richard Thomas Dunlop Parker Summer Research Assistantship - Undergraduate
    • Alan and Della Wells Endowed Summer Research Assistantship - Graduate
  • Chemistry & Biochemistry
    • Dr. Leslie K. Wynston Summer Research Assistantship
    • John H. Stern Summer Research Assistantship
    • Dr. Roger A. Acey Endowed Summer Research Assistantship
  • Physics & Astronomy
    • Margaret Heeb Summer Research Assistantship in honor of Wilma Jordan
    • Google Summer Research Assistantship
    • Department of Physics and Astronomy Summer Research Assistantship
    • Gisela and Wilfried Eckhardt Summer Research Assistantships
    • Keung Lai Luke Undergraduate Summer Research Assistantships
    • Keung Lai Luke Graduate Summer Research Assistantships

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.

  • CSULB MD Alumni Research Program is funded by a CSULB MD Alum, with the goal of supporting undergraduate students who plan to enter and succeed in medical school programs.
  • Doctoral Diversity Initiative (DDI) partners with UCSD to broaden participation 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.
  • KURE Summer Bridge Program (SBP) is 1st- or 2nd-year students majoring in science or math at CSULB or for high school students who are planning to enroll in a science or math major at CSULB. Participating students will be part of a team conducting research on environmental toxins that are common in household items or products.
  • Undergraduate Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (U-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.

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.