Funding Opportunities for Undergraduates

• Department of Biological Sciences Scholarships

  • Each fall scholarships from $200-$1000 are awarded. For more information about eligibility and the application process see the Department of Biological Sciences Scholarship page.

• College of Science Scholarships

  • You may qualify for scholarships administered through the College of Science. 

• San José State University Scholarships

  • You may qualify for scholarships administered through the SJSU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office . 

• Alumni Association Scholarships

  • You may qualify for scholarships supported by the SJSU Alumni Association.

• Scholarships for Undocumented Students

  • The UndocuSpartan Student Resource center updates student financial aid opportunities. You can also sign up for their newsletter to get reminders about upcoming deadlines and additional resources.

• Research Related Scholarships and Awards

  • Students interested in pursuing PhDs are eligible to apply for the CSU Chancellor's Doctoral Incentive Program and the Sally Cassanova Pre-Doctoral Scholarship. Research active students can also compete in the SJSU Research Competition for a chance to compete in the CSU Research Competition.

• SJSU Provost's Office Undergraduate Research Grant (URG)

  • Every spring, the Provost's office supports undergraduate research grants of up to $1000. For details on how to apply see the URG application instructions. 

• Maximizing Access to Research Careers Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (MARC U-STAR)

  • The MARC U-STAR program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research training program for honors junior and senior level undergraduate students. The program is designed to increase the number of individuals from groups that are underrepresented in biomedical sciences by preparing students for high-caliber graduate training at the Ph.D. level.

• McNair Scholars Program

  • The Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program at San Jose State University (SJSU) is an exciting effort designed to encourage low income individuals who are first generation college students and / or underrepresented in graduate education to pursue doctoral study. The McNair Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, proposes to motivate and prepare promising undergraduate students for graduate study. Named for the Challenger space shuttle crew member, the Ronald E. McNair Program serves as a living memorial to a man who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to be awarded his Ph.D. in physics and later, to realize his dream of becoming an astronaut for NASA.

• Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Program (RISE), Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), CoSRaTS

  • The RISE Program aims to help reduce the existing gap in completion of Ph.D. degrees between underrepresented and non-underrepresented students. The RISE Program Director is Dr. Karen Singmaster in the Chemistry Department. Dr. Singmaster runs additional programs to support STEM students, primarily targeted to students from underrepresented groups and those eligible for need based financial aid. Contact Dr. Singmaster (ksingmaster@jupiter.sjsu.edu) to see if you qualify.

• CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology (COAST)

  • The CSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science and Technology (COAST) was established in 2008 to integrate system-wide resources and promote interdisciplinary multi-campus collaborations to advance our knowledge of natural coastal and marine resources and the processes that affect them. COAST provides funding for student fellowships, travel awards, and internships. 

• CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology

  • CSUPERB’s mission is to develop a professional biotechnology workforce by mobilizing and supporting collaborative California State University (CSU) student and faculty research, innovating educational practices, and responding to and anticipating the needs of the life science industry. CSUPERB supports student travel awards, research fellowships (CSUPERB President's Commission Scholars Program and Howell-CSUPERB Scholars), Glenn Nagel Undergraduate Research Award, CSU Student I-Corps Challenge, and travel to the CSU Annual Biotechnology Symposium.

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

  • The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

• Summer Research Opportunities

  • Many institutions offer paid summer research experiences for undergraduates. You can search at institutions you are interested in working at or see this list by Cientifico Latino that provides eligibility information.