Scholarships and Funded Support

The following opportunities exist for students in the Biological Sciences Department to receive scholarships and other funded support.

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Scholarships

As a continuing biology student, you may be eligible for a number of scholarship opportunities. These scholarships are applied to through the BeachScholarships system, the centralized database of scholarship opportunities at California State University, Long Beach.

BeachScholarships deadline is March 12, 2024.

After submitting the general application, you will automatically be considered for dozens of scholarships! Consideration is based on eligibility criteria noted in the scholarship description.

A small number of scholarships also require supplemental information or documentation in addition to the general application. If you meet the criteria for these scholarships, you will be asked to provide additional documentation when you complete the general application.

TIP: Use the "Show Filters" button at the top right of BeachScholarships and select "Biological Sciences" in the "Scopes" field to see relevant scholarship opportunities.

The following scholarship is also available. This scholarship is not in the BeachScholarships system.

Handloser Scholarship

Handloser Graduate Tuition Grant Program in Marine Biology For Entering Graduate Students

The primary goal of the Handloser Graduate Tuition Grant Program in Marine Biology is to support entering graduate students pursuing a Master's Degree, who have been accepted under the supervision of a marine biology faculty. The tuition grant is offered on a competitive basis for the Fall of each year to at least one outstanding entering graduate student accepted to the Department of Biological Sciences, who will be working on marine biology-related research. The award will cover the cost of California in-state tuition for the recipients first two semesters at CSULB. Recipients are expected to acknowledge the Handloser Graduate Tuition Grant Program in Marine Biology in any public presentations and publications resulting from their thesis work at CSULB.

Criteria for Award and Selection Process

The tuition grant is to be offered to outstanding entering graduate students in the field of Marine Biology at CSULB and is to be used to pay their in-state tuition costs for a the first two semesters. The awardees will be chosen based upon academic merit according to the following criteria:

  • The student must be accepted into the graduate program of the Department of Biological Sciences at CSULB to be eligible for the award. All application materials (University application submitted via Cal State Apply, and Department application, transcripts, and Handloser Tuition Grant application essay submitted via email to BioGradAdmission@csulb.edu, including the words "Handloser applicant" in the subject line) must be complete and received by February 15 to be considered for the tuition grant.
  • An eligible student will be evaluated and ranked based on his/her undergraduate science/math GPA, one letter of recommendation that the student must request from the supervising CSULB Marine Biology faculty member, other letters of recommendation that are submitted as part of the Department graduate program application, evidence of publications or other research experience, and the quality of Handloser Tuition Grant application essay. The application essay will consist of a 750-word narrative where the applicant will describe her/his research interests and career goals (see application form).
  • The awards are to be granted only to students starting in the fall semester and must be used in their first year. The award is to cover only the cost of in-state tuition for the first two semesters.

Award recipients will be notified of the tuition grant offer by mid-April along with the Department acceptance letter. The prospective awardee(s) will have until May 14 to respond in writing declaring their intention to attend CSULB and accept the tuition grant.

Out of state prospective students are eligible to apply for the tuition grant and, if offered, will be awarded the equivalent of California in-state tuition costs. The supervising CSULB Marine Biology faculty member can request an out-of-state tuition waiver from the University for the applicant. These awards are also made on a competitive basis.

Application Form

Handloser Tuition Grant Application (DOCX)

All application materials MUST be received by the Department of Biological Sciences no later than February 15.

Financial Aid and Scholarships Office

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office is the official hub for scholarship information at CSULB. The office collects, organizes, and distributes information on hundreds of external scholarships as well as administers university scholarships for the campus. Explore CSULB Scholarships.

Summer Research Assistantships

Summer Research Assistantships are awarded to students seeking opportunities to pursue paid mentored research opportunities with faculty in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

The application period for this cycle has ended.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Demonstrated merit and strong potential to carry out research in one of the following departments:
    • Biological Sciences
    • Chemistry & Biochemistry
    • Physics & Astronomy
  • Continuing graduate or undergraduate student with planned enrollment for Fall 2024 semester
  • Research plan approved and signed by faculty research mentor

Note: summer research assistantships are paid employment and subject to state and federal taxes. Opportunities for employment are competitive and will be awarded following committee review.

The application includes the following assistantship in the Biological Sciences Department:

  • Richard Thomas Dunlop Parker Summer Research Assistantship - Undergraduate
  • Alan and Della Wells Endowed Summer Research Assistantship - Graduate

Fellowships

Newly-admitted graduate students in both Biology and Microbiology have the opportunity to receive competitive funding for their first year of admission. This funding aims to provide financial assistance and includes the following fellowships:

  • John and Elizabeth Clark Endowed Fellowship
  • Richard Thomas Parker Dunlop Fellowship
  • Ken L. Owen Endowed Fellowship
  • Jerry and Debra Zack Endowed Fellowship

Criteria for Award and Selection Process

To be considered for these fellowships, applicants must meet the following criteria and adhere to the selection process:

  1. Application Submission: Submit all admission application materials via Cal State Apply by the February 15 deadline.
  2. Eligibility and Evaluation:
    • Applicants must be eligible for admission.
    • Evaluation and ranking will be based on: undergraduate science/math GPA, letters of recommendation, and evidence of publications or other research experience.

Notification and Acceptance

Recipients will be notified by April 14. Awardees must accept admission by May 16 to receive funding starting in the Fall semester.

Funded Research Programs

The following student research programs may offer stipends, provide tuition support, cover the costs of travel and attendance to conferences, or offer other funded support for CSULB students. Many programs have a joint application with other similar programs. Please see the individual programs for more details.

  • Bridges to the Doctorate (BTD) partners with UC Irvine to produce a seamless and supportive bridge to the Ph.D. for underrepresented and underserved CSULB graduate students interested in biomedical research careers. Funded by NIH.
  • Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) offers intensive, hands-on research and training opportunities for undergraduate students designed to prepare them to excel in doctoral programs, as well as health-related research careers. Funded by NIH.
  • Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is part of a statewide effort to enhance the math and science skills of undergraduate students who have faced or face social, educational, or economic barriers, and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Funded by NSF.
  • MD Alumni Research Program supports undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds who plan to enter and succeed in medical school programs. Funded by a CSULB MD Alum.
  • Undergraduate Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (U-RISE) is designed to support motivated undergraduate students interested in developing careers as professional research scientists in biomedical and behavioral science fields. Funded by NIH.

On-Campus Funding

The Graduate Center maintains a list of on-campus funding opportunities. Most of the opportunities are aimed at graduate students, but a few are also available to undergraduate students.