Want to do EXCITING SCIENCE? GET A PhD. Want a PhD? First earn an MS at CAL STATE LA.

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1 Diane Scaduto Cal Poly Pomona PhD candidate in Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine Albert Rodriguez BS CSU Fullerton PhD candidate in Biology, UCLA Shandee Dixon BS Cal State LA PhD candidate in Biology, Univ of Michigan Jose Miranda BS UC Irvine PhD candidate in Biochemistry, Univ of Colorado,Boulder Damian Gilling BS Rutgers Univ, PhD candidate in Microbiology Univ of Arizona Want to do EXCITING SCIENCE? GET A PhD. Want a PhD? First earn an MS at CAL STATE LA. NIH RISE MS to PhD Fellowship : $ 17-19K year California State University, Los Angeles Why a PhD? This is an exciting time to do science. We face many challenges and opportunities. To participate in the most exciting science requires motivated talent that has been developed to the highest levels: PhD scientists get to decide which research questions get asked and answered. Come join us and develop your career. Why you? We need your unique perspective. Science is made richer by differences in gender, race, ethnicity, and culture among scientists. This human activity progresses in proportion to the quality and novelty of the research questions posed by its practitioners, and the creative efforts expended in answering these. The value of diversity to science is that we gain a better understanding of phenomena by having many investigators form and answer research questions from their varied perspectives, and to subject these to experimental verification and reproduction. Cognitive diversity in science requires diversity among scientists. Why Cal State LA? Cal State LA has some of the strongest MS programs on the West Coast. If you are motivated to pursue a career in research, and need to improve before beginning a PhD program, come develop your talents through a demanding two-year research intensive program. If you understand that hard work is necessary to hone your skills and achievement levels for success in strong PhD programs; if you want to do science, and are hungry for opportunities to develop your career, a research-based Cal State LA MS program is your best option. Why RISE MS-to-PhD? The mission of the Cal State LA RISE MS-to-PhD program is to enrich the American research enterprise by making available to top PhD programs the creativity and intellectual talents of minority individuals. After earning the PhD, we expect our alumni to establish careers as independent investigators and assume leadership positions in their disciplines. In the past decade, 80% of RISE MS-to-PhD students have entered top PhD programs nationwide, including 100 currently working on their PhDs. RISE is an important source of well prepared and motivated minority talent, and our students are heavily recruited. Scores of Cal State LA alumni have earned the PhD, are in postdoctoral appointments and professional positions in academia and industry. They are making a positive impact on American science. Intense laboratory research with productive faculty principal investigators is at the core of our training program. RISE students have published over 700 journal articles. Academic skills, cognitive background, and commitment to PhD-level success are further developed through a deliberate program of workshops; academic and career advisement; and integration into the rich Southern California biomedical research community. A special emphasis is on development of student presentation and scientific writing skills. Buying Protected Time to Excel. A major grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH provides a salary of $17,000 in the first year, increasing to $19,000 in the second so you can devote full time to your training activities. Also provided are funds for tuition and fees; for research supplies; and for travel to present your research results. Deadline for Completed Applications is March 1, By the deadline you must also have applied for admission to the University and to the department where you will pursue the MS. Additional information. Please see the application form that begins on the next page. Direct questions: contact Karla Carias, RISE Recruitment Specialist at kcarias@cslanet.calstatela.edu, tel. (323)

2 MORE Programs CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION NIH RISE MS-to-PhD NSF LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Please check all programs to which you are applying: RISE MS-to-PhD LSAMP BD Please print out and complete this form. This application is for fellowship support only. If you are not yet a graduate student at California State University, Los Angeles, you must also apply to the University (www. csumentor.edu/admissionapp/grad_apply.asp), and to the Department of your planned MS. Your applications to the University, department, and to the MORE Programs must be received by the respective offices not later than March 1, I. Background Information a. Name: b. Social Security #: CIN #: c. Address: d. City: State: Zip Code: e. Telephone: of Application: f. and Place of Birth: g. U.S. Citizen: (circle one) YES NO If NO, give country of citizenship: h. Permanent Resident (give visa symbol and number): i. Ethnicity: (check one) African American/Black Hispanic/Chicano(a)/Latino(a) Caucasian/White Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian American Indian or Alaska Native; Tribe Filipino(a) Other Asian (identify) ; Other (identify) j. Person to Contact in Case of Emergency k. Address: City: Zip Code: l. Relationship Telephone: II. Educational Background and Career Goals a. High School, Location, and Year of Graduation: b. Undergraduate College or University Major of Graduation C. Overall Grade point average (a=4.0, b=3.0, etc.): D. Grade point average in science/math/engineering courses:

3 E. Check Major of proposed Cal State LA M.S. degree : Chemistry; Biochemistry; Physics Geology; Mathematics; Computer Science; Environmental Science; Engineering (Area ); Biology; Microbiology Interdisciplinary MS (fields ); Other F. you expect to complete Cal State LA MS program E. Identify your highest planned educational level: MS; PhD; Post Doctoral Other (specify) G. If you wish to be considered for an NSF LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship, you must have participated in an undergraduate NSF Alliance for Minority Participation project. At CSU campuses these are known as LSAMP; at UC campuses these projects go by the name of CAMP. At other institutions they are known as AMP. Please provide below the contact information for your undergraduate LSAMP/CAMP/AMP Coordinator. Please have them the MORE Programs Office (morepro@calstatela.edu) verifying your participation in CAMP or LSAMP or other AMP program. LSAMP/CAMP/AMP Coordinator Name Institution Phone III. Please attach the following to complete this application: Transcripts of all your college and university work. If you are a Cal State LA student, send only transcripts from work at other colleges. We will obtain your Cal State LA transcripts directly from the Registrar. Attach or arrange to have a copy of your Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General Test Scores sent to the MORE Programs Office. We use the GRE as an indicator of your interest in pursuing the PhD. No particular score is required. The GRE may be taken after the application is submitted, but before an interview is granted. A current curriculum vitae/resume. If pertinent, include any academic (or other) honors received, research experience, and publications and presentations that resulted from that work. Attach additional pages, providing a deliberate response to EACH of the following. The Program Advisory Committee will use your responses to assess your interest in pursuing a research career, and also your ability to communicate through writing. Please describe any previous experience you have in research or related areas. These programs prepare students for entry and success in PhD programs immediately following MS program completion. How congruent is this with your educational goals? Discuss your career plans after you complete your formal education, particularly how research in science, engineering, or mathematics fits into these plans. If there is a discrepancy between your grades in academic coursework and your talents and potential, please explain. It is expected that you will complete the MS degree with a 3.5 GPA or higher. Explain how your selection as a RISE MS-to-PhD or LSAMP-BD Scholar will enhance minority participation in research careers. Arrange to have at least three letters of reference written on your behalf by science, engineering, or mathematics faculty members (and list these below). If you have participated in laboratory research, one of the letters would likely be from your research director. The letters should be delivered to you in sealed envelopes (signed 2

4 across the seal) and included with the application packet. If the faculty respondents prefer, they can mail the letters directly to the MORE Programs office. Referee Name Institution You must be a US citizen or Permanent Resident. If you are a permanent Resident attach a NOTARIZED copy (both sides) of your Alien Registration ( green ) card. Please be advised that no action will be taken on incomplete applications, including letters of reference. IV. Authorization to Use Records I hereby authorize the More Programs personnel to have access to my university records for purposes of admission to and continuation in any of the Cal State LA MORE Programs. All information will be kept in strict confidence. My file contains any and/or all of the following: A. Copies of my transcripts of College/University work B. Personal information from this application C. Letters of recommendation D. Other documents related to my admission or continuation in the Program. to revoke this authorization, I must do so in writing, and such revocation will apply as of the receipt date. Signature of Applicant Please return the completed application form not later than March 1, 2010 to: MORE Programs Office Physical Sciences 510 c/o Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry California State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Drive Los Angeles, California If you have any questions call: morepro@calstatela.edu Visit the MORE Programs website: This application is for a research fellowship only. If you are not yet an MS student at California State University, Los Angeles, you must also be admitted by the University prior to participation. Your applications to the University, the department of your planned Cal State LA masters program (if required) must also be submitted to the respective offices not later than March 1, University Graduate Admissions: Note that the departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; and Geological Sciences require separate applications to their graduate programs. You can reach departmental websites from the University Home Page: 3

5 FACULTY RECOMMENDATION FORM has applied for a graduate research fellowship through the NIH RISE MS-to-PhD and/or the NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Program at California State University, Los Angeles and has listed you as a reference. Please return the completed form to the student in a sealed envelope (signed across the seal) or if you prefer, directly to the MORE Programs Office, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, CA The deadline for completed applications is March1, You can also scan your letter, including this form, and it as an attachment to: morepro@calstatela.edu 1. In the table below, give us your assessment of the applicant s achievements and potential by checking the appropriate box for each category: Motivation for a research career Academic preparation Outstanding (top 5%) Excellent (top 10%) Good (top 20%) Average (top 50%) Below Average No opportunity to observe Analytical skills Probable creativity Potential for laboratory research Skills in written Skills in oral Perseverance to attain goals 2. In the space provided below (or on a separate page, if you prefer) please comment on the candidate's potential for success in a research career in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering Name Signature Title Institution Telephone number 4

6 FACULTY RECOMMENDATION FORM has applied for a graduate research fellowship through the NIH RISE MS-to-PhD or the NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Program at California State University, Los Angeles and has listed you as a reference. Please return the completed form to the student in a sealed envelope (signed across the seal) or if you prefer, directly to the MORE Programs Office, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, CA The deadline for completed applications is March1, You can also scan your letter, including this form, and it as an attachment to: morepro@calstatela.edu 1. In the table below, give us your assessment of the applicant s achievements and potential by checking the appropriate box for each category: Motivation for a research career Academic preparation Outstanding (top 5%) Excellent (top 10%) Good (top 20%) Average (top 50%) Below Average No opportunity to observe Analytical skills Probable creativity Potential for laboratory research Skills in written Skills in oral Perseverance to attain goals 2. In the space provided below (or on a separate page, if you prefer) please comment on the candidate's potential for success in a research career in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering Name Signature Title Institution Telephone number 5

7 FACULTY RECOMMENDATION FORM has applied for a graduate research fellowship through the NIH RISE MS-to-PhD or the NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Bridge to the Doctorate Program at California State University, Los Angeles and has listed you as a reference. Please return the completed form to the student in a sealed envelope (signed across the seal) or if you prefer, directly to the MORE Programs Office, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Los Angeles, CA The deadline for completed applications is March1, You can also scan your letter, including this form, and it as an attachment to: morepro@calstatela.edu 1. In the table below, give us your assessment of the applicant s achievements and potential by checking the appropriate box for each category: Motivation for a research career Academic preparation Outstanding (top 5%) Excellent (top 10%) Good (top 20%) Average (top 50%) Below Average No opportunity to observe Analytical skills Probable creativity Potential for laboratory research Skills in written Skills in oral Perseverance to attain goals 2. In the space provided below (or on a separate page, if you prefer) please comment on the candidate's potential for success in a research career in the sciences, mathematics, or engineering Name Signature Title Institution Telephone number 6