Objectives:

Provide Cal State students already engaged in research with experience from an R1 university in order to facilitate application to graduate school in a STEM discipline.

Expectations and Outcomes:

• Continue their research under the direction of their Cal State PI at their home campus

  • Engage in hands-on research to enhance their graduate school application

• Stay in contact with their CUSP near-peer mentor

  • Receive practical advice on applying to graduate school

• Participate in weekly lab meetings of their UCR faculty mentor by Zoom

  • Experience how an R1 lab operates

• Have a one-on-one meeting with their UCR faculty mentor

  • Get answers to questions about graduate school applications & life with a PhD

• Attend the annual CUSP/BB2P networking/orientation event in April 2026

  • Become part of the larger CUSP/BB2P network