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Undergraduate Program
For CSU and CCC physics, astronomy, computer science, and mathematics majors interested in pursuing a PhD

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Cal-Bridge Summer Research
Participate in cutting edge research in a variety of STEM disciplines at a University of California campus or at research sites across the country

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Our Mission

Cal-Bridge creates opportunities for historically underrepresented groups,including women, underrepresented minorities (URMs), first generation students, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those with disabilities, to participate and advance in STEM fields in order to increase diversity in STEM PhD programs and the STEM professoriate in California and nationwide.

Cal-Bridge is a statewide network of all three segments of the California higher education system—CSU, UC, and community colleges—together forming a comprehensive, end-to-end pathway for the diverse undergraduates of California to successfully matriculate to PhD programs, achieve their PhD, and then join the STEM professoriate in California and nationally or become leaders in the California science and technology workforce.

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Undergraduate Program

Cal-Bridge Undergraduate program – open to applications from CSU physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, and mathematics/statistics majors (including those transferring from a California Community College) interested in pursuing a STEM PhD. We provide undergraduate scholars support, community, and guidance to successfully apply to and be accepted by PhD programs through substantial financial support; intensive, joint mentoring by CSU and UC faculty members; professional development workshops; and exposure to a wide variety of research opportunities.

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Summer Program

(Cal-Bridge Summer)

Cal-Bridge Summer program – open to applications from CSU and California Community College STEM majors interested in paid summer research opportunities in physics, astronomy, computer science, and mathematics. We match scholars with research opportunities for 8-10 weeks at a UC campus or other research programs nationwide. A stipend and complete support for travel and housing, along with participation in site-specific professional development and cohort-building activities is included. Research results are showcased at the Cal-Bridge Research Symposium held in the fall of each year. If not already a Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholar, many participants apply for the Cal-Bridge Undergraduate program the following year.

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Doctoral Program

Cal-Bridge Doctoral program – for Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars majoring in physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, and mathematics/statistics who matriculate to a PhD program, as well as UC LEADS undergraduates in those same majors who matriculate to a UC PhD program. All UC Cal-Bridge doctoral scholars receive financial support, mentoring, community, and professional development programming. Non-UC doctoral scholars are eligible for the professional development programming and community building events as funding allows.

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Postdoctoral Program

Cal-Bridge Postdoctoral program – offers 2-year fully funded postdoctoral positions to graduates of the Cal-Bridge Doctoral program. Cal-Bridge postdocs are hosted by a faculty member at either a UC or CSU campus; those hosted at a UC campus apply through the UC PPFP program and may be eligible for the activities and benefits of that program. These positions give scholars the independent research experience, and, in the case of CSU or other primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) faculty positions, the teaching experience necessary to become competitive faculty candidates.

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Cal-Bridge Impact

Since its inception in 2014, the Cal-Bridge program has had a major impact on the professional trajectory of its scholars through its financial support, programming, the research and other opportunities it creates, and perhaps most importantly, through the community that has developed among the program’s scholars.

The program has grown from 5 scholars in the first year to 67 scholars entering the program this fall, with over 350 total scholars throughout its 11 cohorts. Over 70% of Cal-Bridge undergraduate scholars are accepted into PhD programs on their first attempt, and there are currently 100 Cal-Bridge doctoral scholars in PhD programs throughout the UC system and across the nation. Two Cal-Bridge scholars have even become California public university faculty!

To read more about the impact of the program, check out our Impact page.

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Scholar Stories

Allie Dunkhase

Allie is an Astronomy student at San Diego State and wants to become a researcher at the NASA Ames Center.

Jonathan Delgado

As a first-generation college student, the Cal-Bridge program helped Jonathan's collegiate journey, inspiring him to become a professor.

Du Tran

Scholar Stories, Undergraduate Program

Being a Cal-Bridge scholar helped Du see the overlap between mathematics and other research like physics, computer science, and biology.

Have you visited the new Cal-Bridge Website yet? The website has been completely redesigned and reflects all four of our subprograms: Cal-Bridge Undergraduate, Cal-Bridge Summer, Cal-Bridge Doctoral, and Cal-Bridge Postdoctoral. The new site also better captures our mission and vision for how we plan to transform the #California #Science and #Technology educational systems and workforce.

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Have you visited the new Cal-Bridge Website yet? The website has been completely redesigned and reflects all four of our subprograms: Cal-Bridge Undergraduate, Cal-Bridge Summer, Cal-Bridge Doctoral, and Cal-Bridge Postdoctoral. The new site also better captures our mission and vision for how we plan to transform the #California #Science and #Technology educational systems and workforce.

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For #ThrowbackThursday we are excited to share this reel highlighting the 2024 Cal-Bridge Fall Conference, which was two months ago @ucirvine.

What was your favorite part of the conference? Let us know in the comments!

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For #ThrowbackThursday we are excited to share this reel highlighting the 2024 Cal-Bridge Fall Conference, which was two months ago @ucirvine.

What was your favorite part of the conference? Let us know in the comments!

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We hope you enjoyed the Cal-Bridge #ScholarSpotlightSeries featuring some of the newest scholars from Cohort 11. This cohort is made up of 58 scholars from 18 @thecsu campuses. Here is a photo of Cohort 11 from the 2024 Cal-Bridge Fall Conference!

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We hope you enjoyed the Cal-Bridge #ScholarSpotlightSeries featuring some of the newest scholars from Cohort 11. This cohort is made up of 58 scholars from 18 @thecsu campuses. Here is a photo of Cohort 11 from the 2024 Cal-Bridge Fall Conference!

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Cal-Bridge #ScholarSpotlightSeries: Meet Damaris Sanchez Meraz, a Computer Engineering scholar at @calpolypomona . As a kid, Damaris wanted to be a kindergarten teacher when she grew up. Now, her future career goals are getting into a #PhDprogram and working with hardware or in the robotics field.

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Cal-Bridge #ScholarSpotlightSeries: Meet Damaris Sanchez Meraz, a Computer Engineering scholar at @calpolypomona . As a kid, Damaris wanted to be a kindergarten teacher when she grew up. Now, her future career goals are getting into a #PhDprogram and working with hardware or in the robotics field.

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Undergraduate Program

Cal-Bridge Summer Research

Our Mission

Undergraduate Program

Summer Program

Doctoral Program

Postdoctoral Program

Cal-Bridge Impact

Scholar Stories

Allie Dunkhase

Jonathan Delgado

Du Tran

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Join the Cal-Bridge community of scholars pursuing advanced education in STEM today!