Cal-Bridge Summer

Program Description

The Cal-Bridge Summer program is designed to allow students from California State Universities and California community colleges to participate in undergraduate research projects for 8-10 weeks in the summer at one of our partner world-class research institutions. Students are paid a stipend; travel and housing expenses (and sometimes meals) are included.

Program Details

What is it?

Students will work for 8-10 weeks (depending on the site) in the summer with scientists at one of our partner world-class research institutions on projects spanning a variety of STEM disciplines.

Selected students will receive a stipend. In addition, participants will be provided with housing and reimbursement for travel from home or campus to the relevant research site. Some sites also provide meals.

Who should apply?

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by the beginning of the program. Applicants must be enrolled as a STEM major at a CSU or California Community College at the time of their application. Participants may not have graduated from their 4-year institution before the beginning of the summer internship, but community college students may be in the process of transferring to a 4-year institution. Citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply to all sites. AB540/DACA students are eligible to apply to sites with an asterisk next to their names, and all UC sites (for current Cal-Bridge academic year scholars. 

There are two separate programs under the Cal-Bridge Summer program:

1) Research at one of the sites listed in the upper righthand list is open to all CSU and CCC applicants. The research at those sites is in all areas of physics, astrophysics, planetary science, and astrobiology. For additional information about each research site, click on the links to the upper right.

2) Research at the UC sites listed in the lower righthand list is open only to current Cal-Bridge academic year scholars. Research opportunities in all areas of physics and astronomy, computer science and engineering, and mathematics are available. You will be asked to rank your preferences for specific faculty mentors, so please read the research descriptions in the links to the lower right carefully before starting your application.

When and How to Apply

Applications are due February 1, 2024. To apply to the program, go to the Application Home Page. In addition, you must ask two faculty members (or others familiar with your academic or work background) to submit two letters of reference. Indicate their names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses in your on-line application where appropriate. 

Contact Information

If you have any questions about the program, please contact us at calbridge@cpp.edu.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants DUE-1741863, AST-1636646, and AST-1836019.