Attending a college or university will lead to a career in which you can succeed and love what you do. But school is so much more than sitting in class and listening to lectures! The Thrive Event Series offers opportunities to College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM) students for skill building in academic, professional, and personal development. Here you will find free events and workshops from a variety of CNSM and campus services.
For questions about the Thrive Event Series, please contact Sonia Santos (Sonia.Santos@csulb.edu).
Spring 2021 Schedule
All events will be hosted via Zoom.
First in the Family Panel
March 17, 6:00pm-7:30pm.
Come meet students and alumni who are the first in their family to attend a university to pursue a degree in science and math. They would like to lend you a hand in your college journey because they understand what it is to step into unfamiliar territory. Thus, they will share their experiences, offer you guidance, and give you practical tools to persevere in college. "If we can do it, so can you!"
Meet the Panelists:

Ernesto Leon
CSULB Alum, Class of 2017
- B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
- Minor in Chemistry
- Certificate in Biotechnology
- Ph.D. Candidate in Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kathleen Leon
CSULB Alum, Class of 2020
- B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
- Ph.D. Candidate in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, UC Irvine.

Kenny Calderon
Class of 2020
- Candidate in B.S. Biochemistry
- RISE Fellow
- Long Beach City College Alum in Biology

Kylee Cortez
CSULB Alum, Class of 2020
- B.S. Math Education
- Candidate in Single Subject Credential Program for Mathematics to Teach Middle School

Jon Balcazar
CSULB Alum, Class of 2017
- B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
- Candidate for Transitional Care Unit and University of North Texas Health Center School of Medicine
Creating a CV/Resume for Graduate School
April 7, 3:00pm-4:30pm.
This workshop will focus on how to create a Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé for graduate school applications. The session will cover strategies on how to approach formatting, organizing, and highlighting relevant experiences that can help strengthen your graduate application.
How to Become a Highly Qualified Professional as a College Student
April 13, 4:00pm-5:00pm.
Decided on a career but unsure what you need to do besides getting good grades to get there? The biggest thing to do when it comes time to getting ready to become a professional is to start while you are a still a student. By starting early, you will give yourself time to prepare and gain the confidence for career success. In this workshop, you will learn the six components to setting yourself up to becoming a highly qualified professional.
Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations, please contact the CNSM Academic Advising Center at CNSM-Advising@csulb.edu 48 hours prior to the event. Please indicate in email subject, Accommodation for Thrive Series. CSULB is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Education Institution.
Previous Events
Did you miss an event the semester, or want to watch it again? The following recordings or documents are available. You will need to be logged in to Zoom to watch recordings.
Getting Started in Research
February 16, 2021. Join us to learn about the various undergraduate research opportunities at CSULB, tips for finding a research mentor, and external summer research experiences. Meet our panel of student researchers as they share their research journey and answer your questions about what it's like to conduct research as an undergraduate.
(recording not yet available)
Strategies for Success: Online Learning
February 2, 2021. This workshop will cover how to create a productive learning environment, strategies for learning and staying motivated in online classes, and ways to prepare for and perform in online exams.
Industry Spotlight: Allied Health Careers
November 19, 2020. Join a virtual panel of professionals that will share their insight on Allied Health Professions. You'll learn more about this emerging industry and the rapidly growing career opportunities from those that are currently in the field.
Getting Started in Research
November 4, 2020. Join us to learn about the various undergraduate research opportunities at CSULB, tips for finding a research mentor, and external summer research experiences. Meet our panel of student researchers as they share their research journey and answer your questions about what it's like to conduct research as an undergraduate.
Discover your Dream Career
October 15, 2020. This workshop is designed for students who are exploring career options in Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Learn about the career decision-making process and what it takes to succeed.
Applying to Grad School 101
October 8, 2020. This workshop covers the important steps of preparing for and applying to graduate school. This session is ideal students wanting to learn about how to apply to masters, credential, and doctoral programs and is open to undergraduates, graduate students, and non-CSULB students!
Like a Boss: Women in Science and Math Panel
September 30, 2020. Come meet a panel of successful professionals from the fields of science and mathematics. They will share with you their invaluable experiences working as a professional in the science and math industry. They will provide insight on how their majors helped them to make an impact in these dynamic industries. You can expect for the panel discussion to be about their experience(s) as an undergraduate/graduate student; share their career path; and their overall experience in the professional world.
Strategies for Success Online Learning
September 16, 2020. Online learning is a challenge many are facing for the first time this fall. This workshop will cover how to create a productive learning environment, strategies for learning and staying motivated in online classes, and ways to prepare for and perform in online exams.
Thrive This Semester, Conversation with CNSM Faculty
August 31, 2020. Thrive this semester! College classes – especially during this time of remote learning – can be a crazy transition. This workshop will feature a CNSM faculty panel to answer all of your questions about academic resources, learning via Zoom, study tips and more. Bring your questions and get advice from faculty about how to perform your best in the classroom environment.
Watch 8/31 Recording. Recording is available until 12/4/20.
Resources
The following resources are available to you as a CNSM student to help you with success.
Jensen SAS Center
The James L. Jensen Student Access to Science and Mathematics (SAS) Center serves to support, prepare, and advance the education of students in all fields of science and mathematics through active participation in research, scholarship, and co-curricular activities. The Jensen SAS Center is committed to meeting students' needs by offering individual tutoring and mentoring, academic and career workshops, and resources designed to encourage student success.
Health Professions Advising Office
Pre-health is a designation for those who seek admission to health professional programs upon completion of a baccalaureate degree (B.A., B.S.). The Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO) serves students interested in pursuing graduate level health professions including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary, and physician assistant. HPAO provides a wide range of advising and support services designed to meet the needs of CSULB students as they navigate through the often-complex process of preparation and application to a health professional program.
Research in Science and Math
Research is the creation of new knowledge. At CSULB students are highly encouraged to collaborate with faculty on research projects. The projects may be related to the faculty member's research program or initiated by the student. Participation in research is a way to learn more about a scientific sub-discipline and to learn about the scientific method: observation; explanation of those observations through formulating hypotheses; design and performance of experiments to test the hypothesis; analysis of experimental results; and finally communication those results, the conclusions that can be drawn from them, and their significance.
Resilience Project
CNSM's Resilience Project focuses on personal stories from science and math undergraduates detailing their struggles, their successes, and what they learned along the way. The goal of this project is to show our current CNSM students that you are not alone in your struggles and that there are multiple paths towards recovery and resilience. Resilience is your capacity to tolerate disturbance without collapsing, to withstand shocks, to rebuild yourself when necessary, and to improve yourself when possible.
How to Succeed - CNSM Academic Advising Center
The goal of the CNSM Academic Advising Center is to help you learn effectively in science and mathematics classes at California State University, Long Beach. While we provide academic advising, other services on campus are available to help you find academic support, get involved, take care of your health, and find career guidance. One of the most impactful ways you can affect your academic studies is to develop a growth mindset--the belief that you can grow your abilities through dedication and hard work.
Career Development Center
The mission of the Career Development Center (CDC) is to guide students through the process of educational, career and personal discovery in preparing them for success in the global workforce. The Career Development Center staff provides assistance regarding career exploration and development tailored to your specific professional needs. We can help during every step of the career-decision making process, whether it is learning about majors and career options or finding the right internship or career position. We are your best resource for job outlook, salary and employment trend information and are equipped to provide you professional career advice.
HSI-STEM
The HSI STEM Sí Puedo project works in collaboration with the College of Engineering & College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The grant aims to close the achievement gap in STEM baccalaureate degree attainment for Hispanic and low-income students.
Graduate Studies Resource Center
The Graduate Studies Resource Center (GSRC) provides graduate school related resources and events for prospective and current post-bac students related to graduate studies.
Learning Skills Program - The Learning Center
The Learning Skills program views learning as a life-long process. Students, regardless of their perceived capabilities, are able to learn, grow and develop at all stages of their academic career. The Learning Center supports this vision by providing students, staff, and faculty services to enrich, enhance, and facilitate the learning experience. The Learning Skills program provides support to the campus community with individual appointments, workshops for classes and organizations, and additional resources.