Program overview

Program Dates: June 2 – August 14, 2025

Program Requirements:

• Attend Orientation (June 2)

• Participate in weekly workshops (Wednesdays)

• Attend Social Event (July 24)

• Present at Mini Conference (August 14)

• Complete all required deliverables (IDP, presentation, etc.)

Time Commitment:

• Students: 20 hours/week of research or creative activity

• Faculty: Regular mentorship meetings and program engagement

Expectations:

• Be professional, punctual, and communicative

• Complete all assignments and forms on time

• Notify OSR if circumstances change

Workshops

All workshops are held virtually via Zoom at 12pm. If you are unable to attend or have issues accessing, please email osr@csusb.edu.

• Date: June 11
  Workshop Title: Using the IDP and Life Mission Statement to Build Core Competencies
  Description: Learn how to use the Individual Development Plan (IDP) and personal mission statements to guide your research, career planning, and skill development. This workshop will help you align your academic journey with long-term goals.
  Presenter: Dr. Guillermo Escalante

• Date: June 18
  Workshop Title: Getting the Most Out of Your Summer Experience – Do’s and Don’ts
  Description: Discover best practices for navigating the summer research program, including time management, communicating with mentors, and taking full advantage of program resources.
  Presenter: Dr. Ryan Keating

• Date: June 25
  Workshop Title: Data Analytics I
  Description: Gain foundational skills in analyzing and interpreting data relevant to your research. Topics may include basic statistical techniques, data cleaning, and software tools.
  Presenter: Drs. Essia Homouda, Benjamin Becerra, Joon Son

• Date: July 2nd
  Workshop Title: Evaluating Resources
  Description: Develop your research literacy by learning how to locate, evaluate, and ethically use academic resources. This session will be led by library staff and tailored to support diverse disciplines.
  Presenter: CSUSB Library Staff

• Date: July 9
  Workshop Title: Presenting an Oral Presentation
  Description: Learn how to design and deliver compelling oral presentations. This session will help students prepare for the Mini Conference and future academic conferences.
  Presenter: Dr. Guillermo Escalante

• Date: July 16
  Workshop Title: Introduction to Graduate Programs Workshop
  Description: Explore the world of graduate education—types of programs, the application process, funding options, and how undergraduate research supports graduate admissions.
  Presenter: Dr. Ryan Keating

• Date: July 23
  Workshop Title: How to Write a Personal Statement for Graduate School Workshop
  Description: Understand what makes a strong personal statement and begin drafting your own. This workshop will include examples, writing strategies, and common mistakes to avoid.
  Presenter: Dr. Ryan Keating

• Date: July 30th
  Workshop Title: Data Analytics II
  Description: Continue building on your analytics knowledge from the previous week with more advanced concepts, visualizations, and applications specific to student research projects.
  Presenter: Drs. Essia Homouda, Benjamin Becerra, Joon Son

• Date: August 6
  Workshop Title: Next Steps: Staying Involved in Research with the OSR
  Description: Learn how to remain engaged in research throughout the academic year, discover OSR opportunities, and find ways to present and publish your work beyond summer.
  Presenter: Danielle White

Mini-Conference 

The Undergraduate Summer Research Program Mini-Conference is an annual event that highlights the diverse and innovative research projects undertaken by our students. From environmental science to engineering, social sciences to humanities, our students' research spans a wide range of disciplines, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of our academic community. 

This year's conference will be held in person on Thursday, August 14th, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Obershaw Dining Room. It will offer students the opportunity to present and showcase their summer research experience. Students will present in groups, with an allotted time of 10 minutes per group and five minutes for Q&A. All teams are expected to attend the conference.

PowerPoint Instructions

Each group is required to present the results or summary of their summer research experience via a PowerPoint presentation. Students are asked to collaborate with their faculty mentor to determine who will present which portion of the research presentation (introduction, literature, conclusion, etc.).

The PowerPoint presentation must follow the guidelines below:

1. The first slide must contain the title of the project, the faculty mentor, and the name(s) of the student scholars.

2. At the beginning of the presentations, every student presenter must identify themselves and inform the audience of which portion they will be presenting.

3. Presentations are to be 10 minutes, followed by 3 minutes for Q&A. 

Registration Instructions

1. Each group is required to submit a summary of their research by July 28th. One person from each group should submit the form found below. Please make sure to double check for grammatical errors as this will be shared during the conference. One submission per team. 

2. Each program participant (students and faculty) must register to attend the conference no later than August 4th. 

The presentation schedule will be provided no later the August 1st. 

Announcements & UPdates Feed

6/10/2025 @ 4:18 PM

📢 Welcome RCC Students!

We are excited to welcome our Riverside City College (RCC) students to the 2025 Summer Research Experience at CSUSB! We're thrilled to have you join our research community and look forward to an engaging, collaborative, and inspiring summer together. 

5/30/2025 @ 2:11 PM (New)

📢 Workshop Dates Have Been Updated

5/29/2025 @ 3:26 PM

📢 Program Start Date Update & Required Orientation

The Undergraduate Summer Research Program (USRP) will now begin on Monday, June 9, 2025. Please mark your calendars with this new start date.

Despite the change, orientation remains required for all participants and will be held on June 2nd at 11am in CGI. Thank you for your flexibility, and please check back regularly for additional updates.

Contact us

Contact Details:

• Director: Dr. Ryan Keating (rkeating@csusb.edu) 

• Program Manager: Danielle White (dnwhite@csusb.edu)

• Department Email: osr@csusb.edu

• Phone: 909-537-3728

• Office Location: Office of Student Research, College of Education 357

• Office Hours: Monday - Thursday (8am - 5:30pm)