Introductory College Apprentice Research Experience
The Introductory College Apprentice Research Experience program (iCARE) partners with Monterey Peninsula College, Gavilan College, and Los Angeles Valley College to offer a summer-long, faculty-led research experience at CSUMB.
Students will participate in faculty-mentored undergraduate STEM research that is composed of rigorous, authentic, and calibrated scholarly activities by providing first-hand experiences through innovative and distinctive activities. The iCARE program will be a 10-week summer program geared towards students with no to very little research experience.
Participating students will work in guided teams with a CSUMB faculty research mentor and senior CSUMB undergraduate researchers to learn how research is conducted by reading scientific literature, contributing to original scientific research, and learning how to present research findings. Participating students will also engage in a series of weekly workshops that focus on written and oral communication, community building, graduate school preparedness and career development as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) summer professional development program.
Program Contact: Dr. Jessica Bautista, UROC Research Programs Associate, jbautista@csumb.edu
Program Overview
- Students will have the opportunity to participate in 10 week research projects during the summer.
- Program date:
- 10-week program: June 1 to August 7, 2026
- Research projects are available in a variety of STEM disciplines (Agriculture Plant and Soil Science, Biology, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Mechatronics Engineering, Marine Science, Math, and Statistics)
- Weekly professional development workshops (virtual)
- Research presentation at the UROC Summer Research Symposium on August 7, 2026
- Required for all students participating in the 10 week program
Program benefits
- 10-week hands-on research guided by CSUMB faculty
- Support from senior CSUMB undergraduate researchers
- Advising and support for transfer to a 4-year institution
- Research scholarship for 10 week participation
- Limited research supply funding
Eligibility
- U.S. citizen
- Applicants must be currently enrolled at their community college
- Preference will be given to community college students who will transferring to CSUMB in Fall 2026
- High school students who are co-enrolled in college courses are not eligible.
- Willing to make a full-time commitment to the 10-week program
- Must be majoring in a STEM discipline
- Students are expected to have a 2.75 GPA or higher
- Successful completion of two college-level STEM courses by June 2026
- We are particularly interested in supporting those who have little or no experience with research.
- Women, minorities, veterans, first-in-family to attend college, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.