CSUMB producing research scholars aiming for post-doctoral studies

By Mark Muckenfuss

For two years running, Cal State Monterey Bay has produced a record number of Sally Casanova Scholars. This academic year, as with the last, five students received the coveted scholarship.

That doesn’t happen by itself. It’s the result of an ongoing and well-established effort headed by Natasha Oehlman with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center. A CSUMB alumna, Oehlman was part of the university’s second class of graduates and has been working on campus since 2000. Since 2015, she has worked with Myrsha Garcia at the Provost's Office to support the California PreDoc Program, a Chancellor's Office initiative that helps CSU students with faculty aspirations by fostering access, preparation and success in doctoral education. 

In recent years, CSUMB has been punching well above its weight in terms of the number of students being awarded research scholarships. For 2025-26, it had more Casanova Scholars than such schools as Cal State Fresno and Cal Polys San Luis Obispo and Pomona. 

The deadline for applying for the 2026-27 scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 for activities that support doctoral preparation, is Feb. 13.

Oehlman said that having her office as part of UROC is an advantage in promoting the scholarship programs since the students utilizing the undergraduate research programs are largely the population she is looking for. 

“It's a great place for students to learn what scholarships are available and what their life could look like post-CSUMB,” said Oehlman.

The Casanova scholarship was established in 1989 by Sally Casanova, a CSU administrator who worked both in the Chancellor’s Office and at Cal State Dominguez Hills, specializing in curriculum and academic policy. The scholarship is designed to support students who are preparing for doctoral studies. Funds can be used for travel to academic symposia or professional meetings to present research or engage with other scholars; graduate school application and test fees; visits to doctoral-granting institutions to learn about their programs and connect with potential faculty mentors; memberships in academic organizations, subscriptions to scholarly journals and other professional resources; and an eight-week summer research experience at a major research university. Scholars are also able to network with other researchers and mentors. 

Oehlman said the Casanova award is one of the ways she’s trying to “expose students to research culture and help them attain a PhD to support the goal of becoming CSU faculty.”

This year’s Casanova Scholars are: Melanie Abarca, Reina Yorba-Rico, Abraham Porras-Vargas, Ava Besecker and Heaven Smith. The students, four undergraduates and one graduate student, represent the psychology, marine science, and biology disciplines.

The Casanova award is available to graduate students, but CSUMB’s efforts are aimed at helping undergrads who are preparing for graduate study. Some have been awarded scholarships after earning a bachelor’s and moving on to graduate studies elsewhere. 

Being tied to UROC, Oehlman said, “is a great way for us to say, ‘Hey, have you heard about this scholarship?’”

And that seems to be working well. 

“We are getting more applicants,” she said. “Last year, we got between 15 and 20. It's usually been closer to about 10.” 

Numbers of applicants for other scholarship programs are also on the rise. Besides the Casanova awards, Oehlman oversees applications for the McNair and Goldwater scholarships – both are also geared toward students doing research – as well as the Fulbright program, which is open to graduates. 

The McNair scholarship is named for Ronald McNair, one of the astronauts who died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion, and is aimed at students who are first-generation and coming from low-income backgrounds. The scholarship is part of the TRIO program and Oehlman works closely with the staff there to identify and encourage potential applicants. 

Those who win the award can receive up to $5,600 for summer research, plus money for conferences and networking events. 

The $7,500 Barry Goldwater Scholarship helps students who are preparing for grad school in a research field. 

Oehlman said she and Garcia are ready to help any students who are interested in applying to the PreDoc program and are looking for scholarship opportunities that support research and graduate studies. Reach out predoc@csumb.edu to set up a consultation and learn more.