Keck Undergraduate Research Experiences (KURE) Incubator

Applications Now Available

The KURE Summer Bridge Program (SBP) is for high school students who are planning to enroll in a science or math major at CSULB or 1st- or 2nd-year students majoring in science or math at CSULB. Participating students will be part of a team conducting research on environmental toxins that are common in household items or products, then joining a CNSM faculty lab for the summer internship.

Deadline to apply is May 19, 2025.

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Early authentic research is the number one experience that helps retain students in STEM, particularly students from 1st-generation and minoritized groups. CSULB's College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (CNSM) is already a leader in undergraduate research with 300+ students (mostly upper division) participating in faculty-mentored research annually.

Many at-risk students, however, leave the sciences before they can have such an experience. Furthermore, most students who persist in science majors never move beyond classroom experiments to experience true scientific discovery.

A KURE to the Problem

The Keck Undergraduate Research Experiences (KURE) Incubator program infuses our curriculum with authentic research experiences in key lower division laboratory courses. We make these experiences available to all freshmen and sophomore science students.

KURE is one way our college has taken on the work of the Beach2030 strategic plan. Key priorities of the plan include becoming a Student-Ready University (i.e., evolving teaching and learning modalities to ensure we are ready for growing non-traditional learner populations) and Promoting Intellectual Achievement, using research to amplify student learning and enhance student retention and success.

As a minority-serving institution with a historical commitment and record of support for the advancement of underrepresented populations, we are poised to succeed in this endeavor. Moreover, CSULB's strategic priorities align with Foundation interests:

  1. Helping 1st-generation and low-income students graduate by supporting student success programs, and
  2. Providing opportunities for students to explore concepts and careers in STEM fields.

Student Research Program Opportunities

KURE offers the following programs the 1st- and 2nd-year students:

  • KURE Summer Bridge Program (SBP) is for high school students who are planning to enroll in a science or math major at CSULB or 1st- or 2nd-year students majoring in science or math at CSULB. Participating students will be part of a team conducting research on environmental toxins that are common in household items or products, then joining a CNSM faculty lab for the summer internship.
  • KURE Research in Semester (RIS) is a semester-long research experience for students who are in their 1st or 2nd year at CSULB. In this program, students will meet once a week for 3 hours for 8 weeks, to conduct research on environmental toxins that are common in household items or products.