The Cal State Fullerton Research Careers Preparatory (RCP) Program provides freshmen, sophomores/juniors, and new transfer students the opportunity to explore research as a career through a specially designed pro-seminar course, a laboratory skills training course, and field or laboratory research activities. Senior year students may be considered in some instances.
Why Join The RCP Program?
The goals of the RCP are to:
- raise student awareness of research careers and mentoring opportunities at CSUF and elsewhere in the country;
- provide students with the hands-on experience and skill sets they need to be successful in their chosen career especially in research; and
- move more CSUF graduates into research-based graduate or professional programs in the U.S., or into the workforce within Orange County and throughout California. Participants in the program receive extensive research mentoring and academic support (see below for details).
Please note that RCP participants must take 2 units of BIOL 280S (RCP Laboratory Skills) class during spring, and 1 unit of BIOL 280R during fall and spring.
Benefits
Participants will carry out undergraduate research with a faculty member in the Departments of Biological Science, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Psychology, or other departments undertaking biomedicine- or science-related research (e.g. Health Science, Computer Science, or Mathematics). Specific benefits include:
- Recommendation letter from faculty (mentor and/or RCP Director)
- Recognition through a Certificate of Completion
- Increase competitiveness for any advanced research scholarship or fellowship program here at CSUF and elsewhere
- Enrollment in courses especially designed to prepare students to conduct research and become effective scientists, physician-scientists, or other professionals
- Mentoring from various faculty in the NSM, HSS, or HHD college
- Academic guidance on: enhancing communication skills, as well as analytical and critical thinking skills; information on undergraduate research opportunities, culture of science, career prospects, graduate schools, etc.
- Conference attendance to a local or national scientific meeting, when possible and if funds are available
- Entry point to BIOL 499L (Independent Research) for Biology majors; CHEM 395/495 for Chemistry/Biochemistry majors; entry point to PSYC 498/499 for Psychology majors
What's next after the RCP program?
Students who successfully completed the program are strongly encouraged to apply to other fellowships, and a good number of former RCP students have been accepted into the following research scholarships or fellowships:
Some programs that RCP participants can join after completing their training.
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MHIRT: The Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program is an NIH-sponsored program that provides students with the opportunity to carry out research during the summer under the direction of world-renowned biochemists and molecular biologists at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, York, and London in Great Britain, the Chiang Mai University in Thailand, and Institutes of Basic and Clinical Research in Argentina.
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BSCR: The Bridges to Stem Cell Research is a one-year program that provides students with research experience in Molecular and Cell Biology in the areas of stem cell and regenerative medicine. Students are immersed in various cell biology techniques while at CSUF, and then the following year, they will undertake an internship in one of four participating research institutions (USC, UCI, CHOC, UCR). Students in this program are typically in their Junior or early Senior year.
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LSAMP: The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation supports student research during academic and summer months.
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McNair Scholarship: Scholarship for students who wish to become academic researchers as a career.
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U-RISE: This 2-year program provides research experience and mentorship for students who are interested in biomedical researcher career.
Current RCP Students
Biviano, Nicole, Burgueno, Arlet, Guzman, Esbeydi Merari, Guzman, Jolie Bella, Lopez,Nadia, Marquez,Jack, Mazuco Jaroszewski,Leonardo, Mina,Matthew Arnold, Ngo, Luca Quinn Nguyen, Charlyne Vo, Rajesh, Sowmya, Reyes,Tenoc, Sigua,Jurnee, Soroosh, Sasha, Troutt,Ian Christopher, and Yanez,Yolanda
Application Materials
Expectations
- Prior to applying to the program or upon acceptance to the RCP program, you have to set aside up to 2 units during the fall semester (for BIOL 280R and 299L), and 3 units during the spring semester (for BIOL 280R, 280S, and 299L) when planning your courses (see below for details).
- All participants must take BIOL 280R (Introduction to Scientific Research) and BIOL 280S (RCP Laboratory Skills). One lab unit of BIOL 280S will count towards the Biology major UD lab requirements. You will also need 1 unit of a research course (e.g. BIOL 299L) once you are accepted into a research laboratory.
- For participants majoring in Biology or Chem/Biochem, you must enroll in 1 unit of BIOL 299L (Directed Research). Chem/Biochem majors who wish to take CHEM 395 instead of BIOL 299L may be permitted. Psychology majors wishing to enrol in BIOL 299L but doing their research work in the Psychology department, may do so.
- For Psychology majors who have taken PSYC 201/202, you must enroll in 1 unit of PSYC 498 (Directed Research). You may concurrently take PSYC 202 with PSYC 498, or get a Psychology instructor’s permission to take PSYC 498 alone without having taken PSYC 202.
- Participate in activities and presentations with fellow RCP program participants, and complete all assignments.
- You cannot defer acceptance to the program. Students who defer or withdraw from the RCP program may re-apply in the following semester, but your previous (accepted) status does not carry forward, and it is not a guarantee for re-acceptance.
- Failure to register on-time after you received your registration permit for one or more of the required courses (BIOL 280R, BIOL 280S, and/or a research course such as BIOL 299L) means automatic withdrawal from the program.
- Acceptance in the second semester is not guaranteed unless you obtain a grade of “B” (or better) in BIOL 280R. Likewise, if you are doing research, you must get a “credit” or (at least) a C+ in BIOL 299L/499L, or PSYC 498/499, or CHEM 395/495 after your first semester in the program.
Reminder for Applicants
- BIOL 280R meets every Friday in MH-287 (fall and spring). BIOL 280S is only offered in spring. BIOL 280S is specifically designed to enhance basic skills in cell and molecular biology techniques. If you are a Biology major, the lab unit obtained from this class will count towards the Biology major UD lab requirement. For non-Bio majors, the units will count towards your university degree unit requirements
- You can not be accepted into the RCP program if you are not able to enroll in BIOL 280R and/or BIOL 280S for whatever reason.
- If you cannot commit to the RCP program, but you are very interested in doing research, please contact the faculty member you are interested in and inquire about joining his or her research laboratory.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Download the application form: RCP Application Form (MS Word).
Fill out the form and answer three short essay questions. Note that when answering/filling in the box on the application form, you must place the cursor on the box and "right click" until you see a window. Click on "checked" as an option on the window.
Save a copy of your TDA as PDF, and submit with your application in Doc/Docx or PDF format.
Application due date extended!
The application form and TDA must be submitted via email on the due date: May 1, 2026 11:59PM
Send the application materials to the RCP Director: Dr. Laura Arce at larce@fullerton.edu
