The Cal-Bridge FAST Program

Committed to the success of California Community College students in STEM

The Cal-Bridge FAST program is designed to provide students from California community colleges (CCC) with access to early science research experiences. Cal-Bridge FAST is built on a two component approach: a one-week research training workshop in the winter and an 8-week research internship component in the following summer. Both the Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop and Cal-Bridge FAST Summer are hosted at California State Universities (CSU) local to their home CCC institutions. Currently, these CSU hosts, aka “Cal-Bridge FAST Hubs,” include: San Jose State University, CSU East Bay, CSU Stanislaus, CSU Northridge, Cal Poly Pomona, and San Diego State University.

Originally founded as the FAST workshop by a CCC alumna and past Cal-Bridge scholar, this is a program built by community college students for community college students with a focus on their future success.

Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop

The Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop is a week-long program run in mid-December to early January at each of the six CB FAST Hub campuses across California. It contains 3 main types of programming:

  1. Python coding
  2. Three “mini” research projects in subjects such as physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, and mathematics/statistics
  3. Professional development focused on preparing scholars to apply to summer research opportunities

Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop scholars are paid a stipend for participation in the workshop and lunch is provided each of the five days. No housing or travel expenses are provided.

Students who are accepted into and participate in the Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop are eligible to apply to the Cal-Bridge FAST Summer program.

Cal-Bridge FAST Summer

The Cal-Bridge FAST Summer program is built to provide a unique opportunity for CCC students to participate in summer research outside of the competitive system of traditional REUs. Hosted by CSU faculty at our six Cal-Bridge FAST Hubs, scholars participate in undergraduate research over 8 weeks in the summer following the Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop.

Cal-Bridge FAST Summer scholars will have the opportunity to choose between four main research disciplines: physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, and mathematics/statistics. Potential research topics include but are not limited to:

  • Astronomy: computational astrophysics; star formation and stellar feedback; the formation, evolution, and observable properties of star clusters; numerical methods,
  • Physics: radiation oncology physics, radiation biology, particle physics,
  • Computer Science: data science, applied machine learning, cyber-physical systems
  • Math: low-dimensional topology, geometric group theory, n-dimensional cube stacking

All research projects are developed specifically for Cal-Bridge FAST Summer scholars and scholar researchers are paid a competitive stipend as well as local travel expenses. No housing is provided.

Only scholars who are accepted to and complete the Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop training are invited to apply to the Cal-Bridge FAST Summer research opportunity.

Who Should Apply & Why

Who should apply?

The Cal-Bridge FAST program is open to all California Community College students interested in STEM research or hoping to pursue a career in STEM fields. At this time, Cal-Bridge FAST opportunities are limited to research topics in physics/astronomy, computer science/computer engineering, and mathematics/statistics.

How to apply?

The Cal-Bridge FAST program consists of two components. You must first apply to and complete the Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop. Scholars who successfully complete the workshop will be invited to apply to Cal-Bridge FAST Summer.

Applications for the Cal-Bridge FAST Workshop are due October 30th for participation in the December 2026 – January 2027 workshop. Acceptance decisions are sent out on November 15th. Details on how and when to apply can be found here:

Apply Now

Applications for Cal-Bridge FAST Summer are due February 1st for participation in summer 2027. Acceptance decisions are sent out on March 1. Details on how and when to apply can be found here:

Apply Now

Why should you apply?

The Cal-Bridge FAST program is an excellent way to gain research experience. Emphasis is on providing experience necessary to assess interest in and successfully engage in STEM research. In addition to gaining research experience, each site in the Cal-Bridge FAST program provides professional development and community building activities, and you will join a large and growing community of Cal-Bridge FAST scholars across California. Many Cal-Bridge FAST scholars apply to the main Cal-Bridge Undergraduate program to get support for applying to PhD programs in STEM disciplines.

Expectations

Cal-Bridge FAST scholars are expected to fully commit to all elements of the program and to learn how to plan, design, and conduct high-quality scientific research. They are expected to actively communicate with their mentors, engage in the projects, and report on their work. Summer research activities include, but are not limited to, weekly meetings with individual research mentors, weekly “group” meetings with summer scholar cohort, and at least two cohort-community building activities throughout the summer. At the end of the program, all scholars will attend a virtual symposium and present their summer research.

Research Training and Summer Research Opportunities

We are excited to offer research opportunities to all CA Community College students.

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