Keck Undergraduate Research Experiences (KURE) Incubator

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.

Bridge Program Opportunity

The KURE Semester Bridge Program is a semester-long research experience for students who are in their first or second year at CSULB. In this program, students will meet once a week for 3 hours, from late September until Thanksgiving, to conduct research on environmental toxins that are common in household items or products.

To participate, students will enroll in BIOL 296 with Dr YuanYu (Kent) Lee. Please see KURE Semester Bridge Program for more information.

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.