Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center

UROC Student Engagement Statistics

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) at California State University, Monterey Bay is a cross-campus center that engages students in undergraduate research. Since 2009, UROC has worked towards promoting scholarly identity, intellectual vibrancy, and the development of social capital by facilitating mentored undergraduate research, scholarship and creative activity. Learn more about how UROC has engaged CSUMB undergraduates in authentic research experiences.

Group picture of UROC students and staff at 2018 SACNAS annual conference
UROC students and staff at the 2018 SACNAS National Conference in Houston, TX

15+ Years of Exemplary and Inclusive Undergraduate Research

Creating New Knowledge

2020 UROC Scholars / McNair Scholar Cohort
2020 UROC Scholars / McNair Scholar Cohort

$20 Million

Support for student programming, research scholarships, research materials, and student conferences from external grants and private donations including:

  • Department of Education (HSI-STEM, Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program)
  • National Science Foundation (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), IUSE)
  • United States Department of Agriculture
  • Apple
  • Chevron
  • Koret Foundation

2,300+ Undergraduate Research Presentations

  • 1,300+ student research presentations at UROC's campus-wide research events
  • 1,000+ presentations at national conferences funded by UROC
  • 90+ student delegates have represented CSUMB at the CSU Research Competition

Expanding Opportunities

82% of UROC students have been from traditionally underserved groups including:

  • 42% Historically underrepresented minority
  • 45% First-generation in college
  • 44% Pell Grant recipients
  • 41% Transfer students

11,000+ students participated in a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) at CSUMB in a year

  • Over 70 faculty developed these CUREs through the CURE Fellows Program
  • New cohorts of CURE faculty fellows will continue to develop and offer course-based research experiences to thousands of students at CSUMB
  • Learn more about the campus-wide impact of the CURE Faculty Fellows program

Achieving Academic Distinction

$4.6 Million in Scholarships and Fellowships

  • 37 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awards
  • 12 Goldwater Scholars
  • 1 Ford Foundation Fellowship
  • 23 Sally Casanova Pre-doctoral Scholars
  • 4 CSU Trustee for Outstanding Achievement Awards

Graduate School Attainment

  • More than 20% of UROC alumnae have graduate degrees
  • ~50% of McNair alumnae have graduate degrees
  • 120 UROC alumnae have earned graduate degrees to date
Jordin Simmons and Jorge Cabrera posing as Sally Casanova Scholars
2018 Sally Casanova Pre-doctoral Scholars Jordin Simmons and Jorge Cabrera