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An Active Learning-based Educational Program for Hispanic STEM Students through Industry-University Partnership (LEAP)

With a $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, California State University Long Beach is launching a new research program to train a new generation of highly skilled Hispanic scientists and engineers.

Dr. Banafsheh Behzad, an Associate Professor in the Information Systems Department, is a Co-PI of this NSF funded grant. The objective of this grant is to increase the representation of Hispanic students in STEM fields. According to the NSF, while Hispanics make up 16 percent of the U.S. workforce, they account for only 6 percent of those working in Science and Engineering. LEAP is a collaboration between the colleges of Business, Engineering, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Participating students will have a chance to conduct applied research, guided by a team of mentors from both academia and industry. Each student will receive a noticeable financial support by accomplishing the applied project. Each research team will have access to a business advisor and a compliance advisor as a supplemental tool to meet the established benchmarks of the research project. LEAP will carry out multiple projects over the next five years in close coordination with industry partners. For each project, a team of four undergraduate CSULB underrepresented minority students in STEM fields will work under the supervision of a CSULB faculty mentor from the College of Engineering or College of Natural Science and Mathematics, depending on the nature of the project. Industry partners will have a chance to work in CSULB research facilities and help develop low-cost solutions to technological and economic challenges. In addition, a mandatory business course is offered to prepare students to better understand the economic aspects and business-related challenges in their future careers. With a multidisciplinary focus, LEAP will be aimed at solving societal problems in the areas of advanced manufacturing, energy, the environment, telecommunications, and transportation. Knowledge developed during the research will be shared with the public, presented at national conferences, and published in peer-reviewed educational journals.

For more information, please visit Leap