1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Mentorship and Scholars
  4. Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)
  5. Scholarships and Fellowships

Scholarships and Fellowships

UROC supports wrap-around services for a number of national scholarships and fellowships in addition to CSU-funded and community-based scholarships. Many of these funded opportunities are highly competitive and require applicants to spend months crafting a strong application.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)

There are numerous National and campus scholarships as well Fellowships students can apply to. National and campus scholarships are defined as funding that can support undergraduate endeavors, where as fellowships are funding opportunities that support post-baccalaureate endeavors, such as graduate studies, research, or teaching in the U.S. or abroad.

Interested? Email Natasha Oehlman at noehlman@csumb.edu. 

National and Campus Scholarships

National Scholarships

Barry Goldwater Scholarship

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program was established by Congress in 1986 to honor Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U.S. Senate.

The purpose of the Foundation is to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue research careers in these fields.

 

National and Campus Scholarships

Nomination Process: Each campus can nominate 4 undergraduates and up 6 if one applicant is a transfer student and if one is a veteran; campus nominations due October (check with campus representative for calendar deadlines). No recommendations after October will be accepted. Nominations announced in December. Full application due last Friday in January. 

Selection Criteria: Extensive undergraduate research experience and a high GPA (usually greater than 3.7). Only sophomores and juniors can apply.

How to apply: Follow the steps in the nomination process or contact campus representative, Natasha Oehlman, for more information. See MyRaft for schedule of information sessions. 

Reina Yorba-Rico, McNair Scholar, Psychology, 2025; See article

Efrain Ramirez, McNair Scholar, Psychology, 2024; See article

Oscar Murillo-Espinoza, McNair Scholar, Mathematics, 2024; See Article

Anne (Annie) Hansen, Scholar, Marine Science, 2024; See Article

Ingrid Martinson, Scholar, Marine Science, 2023

Eva Scrivner, Scholar, Marine Science, 2022; See article

Spencer Winter, Scholar, Molecular Biology and Human Development and Family Sciences, 2022; See article

Kai Kaholoa'a, McNair Scholar, Marine Science, 2021; See article

Nicholas Heyer, Scholar and BD2K Scholar, Biology and Mathematics, 2020

Samantha Miller, Scholar, Biology, 2020

Victoria Assad, Scholar, Marine Science, 2019

Katrina Conen, Honorable Mention, Psychology, 2018

Malachi Alexander, Honorable Mention, Mathematics, 2017

Blake Hansen, Honorable Mention, Mathematics, 2017

Juan Cerda, Scholar, Biology, 2016

Jordan Collignon, Scholar, Mathematics, 2016

Emily King, Honorable Mention, Marine Science 2015

Beth Alger, Honorable Mention, Biology, 2015

CSU Pre-Doctoral Program, Sally Casanova Scholarship

Open to all CSUMB students, the California Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to increase the diversity of the pool of potential faculty by supporting the doctoral aspirations of CSU students who have experienced economic and educational disadvantages. Winners will be designated as Sally Casanova Scholars, as a tribute to Dr. Sally Casanova, for whom the award is named. With the aid of a CSUMB Faculty Sponsor, Sally Casanova Scholars are exposed to unique opportunities to help prepare them to succeed in doctoral programs. This award is open to all CSUMB undergraduates and graduate students.

The program provides travel funds to visit doctorate-granting institutions, options for summer research internships, and funds for other doctoral program related activities.

Eligibility

Must be matriculated upper-division or master's degree students enrolled at CSUMB as of the spring semester and who will also be enrolled at CSUMB for at least the fall semester of the following academic year or graduating the following spring

  • Award: $5000
  • Number Awarded: 75 total, includes undergraduates and graduates.
  • Application Due: mid-February.
  • Application Opens: December.
  • Application Review: Meet with a campus coordinator to determine eligibility and review of application before receiving access to submit an application.
Steps to Apply
  1. Contact a Pre-Doc Campus Coordinator to determine your eligibility for the scholarship.
  2. Contact a faculty sponsor (CSUMB Faculty in your field/discipline--an assistant, associate or full professor, preferred) who knows you well and is willing to support you as an applicant and serve as a mentor during the award year. Request a strong letter of recommendation.
  3. Revisit a Pre-Doc Campus Coordinator to create a personalized and individualized application timeline to chart your writing process for the essay portion of the application. Note: To ensure timeliness, steps 1-3 should be done by the first of February, to ensure submitting a competitive and complete application that has been reviewed multiple times.
  4. See CSU Pre-Doctoral Site, Instructions for Submitting--for more detailed information on the full process.
  5. CSUMB Internal Deadline: mid-February. Applicants must receive campus coordinator approval to submit an approved application. Once approved, the final application is due to the Pre-Doctoral Office. 

Campus Coordinators: For more information please contact Myrsha Garcia, Administration Support Coordinator, Office of the Provost or Natasha Oehlman, Writing & Professional Communication Associate, UROC, at predoc@csumb.edu.

2025~Melanie Abarca, Psychology, McNair Scholar; Kiley Appleby, Psychology, UROC Scholar; Reina Yorba-Rico, Psychology, McNair Scholar; Heaven Smith, Psychology, McNair Scholar; Abraham Porras-Vargas, Biology, UROC Scholar; Ava Besecker, Graduate Student; Nancy Espitia, Psychology, McNair Scholar, Honorable Mention; and Skye Cardoza, Marine Science, UROC Scholar, Honorable Mention.

2024~Laura Flores, Psychology; Saba Shah, Human Development and Family Science, Koret Scholar; Samantha Ulloa, Psychology, McNair Scholar; Yeritzi Victoria , Psychology and Spanish Language & Hispanic Culture, McNair Scholar; Alyssa Walter, Marine Science, UROC Scholar. 

2023~ Kimberly Smith, Collaborative Health and Human Services, McNair Scholar; Rosa Acevedo Duran, Psychology, McNair Scholar; Ramsha Iqbal, Social & Behavioral Science; Jianshan Chen Khalsa, Master's in School Psychology.

2022~ Nikole Babcock, Psychology, Sally Casanova Scholar; Spencer Winter, Human Development and Family Sciences & Molecular Biology, Sally Casanova Scholar; and Kimberly Smith, Collaborative Health and Human Services, Honorable Mention. 

2021~ Jesus Orozco, Humanities and Communication, McNair Scholar; Lily Amador, Humanities and Communication, McNair Scholar; and Mariana Duarte, Computer Science, McNair Scholar, Honorable Mention.

2020~ Selina Espinoza, Psychology & Statistics, McNair Scholar; Mariana Duarte, Computer Science, Honorable Mention, McNair Scholar.

2019~ Selena Velasquez, Psychology & Statistics, McNair Scholar.

2018~ Jordin Simons, Environmental Science, UROC Scholar; and Jorge Cabrera, Psychology, UROC Researcher.

2017~ Robert Castro, Biology, McNair Scholar; Jacob Green, Marine Science, McNair Scholar; Heriberto Marquez, Social and Behavioral Sciences, McNair Scholar; and Julia Barnett, Psychology. 

2016~ Karina Ruiz, Human Communication, McNair Scholar.

2015~ Julio Martinez, Biology; Avery Micheal, Marine Science, McNair Scholar; and Elisabeth Carrillo, Biology, McNair Scholar; Megan Golbeck, Mathematics, Honorable Mention.

2014~ Lilyana Gross, Mathematics; Jenny Brown, Biology; April (Makukhov) Garrett, Marine Science; and Alexis Ingram, Human Communication; Joshua Smith, Marine Science, Honorable Mention.

Please see full database of Sally Casanova recipients by award year.

Udall Scholarship

The Udall Scholarship awards $7,000 to students committed to environmentally-focused careers, or to Native American students interested in tribal policy or Native health care.

The Udall Undergraduate Scholarship honors the legacies of Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources.

Nomination Process: CSUMB may nominate up to 4 environment candidates and up to 4 tribal public policy and/or health care candidates.

Eligibility: 

  • sophomores or juniors
  • U.S. Citizens, nationals or permanent residents

Two Categories (applicant select one): 

1) Environmental Category: a. U.S. Citizens, Nationals, and Lawful Permanent Residents; b. Who are sophomore or junior-level students of accredited higher education institutions; c. Who intend to pursue careers related to the environment; and d. Who meet other appropriate eligibility requirements set by the Udall Foundation. 

2) Native American and Alaska Native Categories: a. U.S. Citizens, Nationals, and Lawful Permanent Residents; b. Who are enrolled members of one or more Federally Recognized Indian Tribes that are included in the annual list of Indian Tribes published by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to 25 U.S.C. § 5131; c. Who intend to pursue careers in health care or Tribal public policy; and d. Who meet other appropriate eligibility requirements set by the Udall Foundation. 

How to apply: Contact the CSUMB Udall Campus Representative, Natasha Oehlman, noehlman@csumb.edu to gain access to the Udall application.  See the steps to apply.

Application Deadlines: 

CSUMB Deadline for the Internal Udall Application: Early February

  • Completed Udall application.
  • Three letters of recommendation.
  • Transcripts.
    •  

Benjamin Gilman Scholarship

For students interested in studying or research abroad, the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship provides funding for current recipients of Pell Grants or students who are eligible for a Pell Grant to study abroad. Aims to encourage students to choose non-traditional study and intern destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Contact: Education Abroad Office

Fellowships

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is a premier study abroad fellowship for students interested in a.) research and graduate school abroad or 2.) English Teaching Abroad (ETA). Available for seniors and alumni. Applicants must apply for university nomination.

Award opens: March; Due in September (internal); final October.

The GEM National Consortium offers opportunities for underrepresented minority students to obtain MS degrees in engineering and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and the natural and physical sciences through a program of paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is a premier fellowship for graduate studies at Stanford University. Must apply to Stanford University at the same time as the award.

The Marshall Scholarship is a highly competitive scholarship, the Marshall provides for one or two years of study at one or two universities in Great Britain.  Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. Candidates must have superior academic ability, a record of service and leadership, and be will-informed on global issues. Candidates must be nominated by the USC committee. Applicants must apply for university nomination.

The Nancy Foster Scholarship Program is open to those currently pursuing or intending to pursue a masters or doctoral level degree in oceanography, marine biology, or maritime archaeology, including the curation, preservation, and display of maritime artifacts.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is tremier STEM research fellowship award to fund graduate studies. Must apply for graduate program at the same time as the award.  

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans is awarded to New Americans to support up to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States.