RISE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
To achieve the program goals RISE students will participate in activities at all levels of their undergraduate development to improve their competiveness for graduate-level studies. Prior to admission to the program as RISE scholars, freshman or sophomore transfer students are required to (i) complete a course (BIOL/CHEM/PHYS 1600) gives overviews of the skills, training, and education required for the various occupations in the sciences and includes a workshop on the responsible conduct of research, and (ii) achieve a good grade in at least one course in their major. Once admitted to the program, RISE Scholars must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better.
RISE scholars particpate in a series of hierarchical student-development activities:
 TILT - hands-on training in interdisciplinary biomedical laboratory techniques emphasizing advanced instrumentation. In the summer after their freshman or sophomore year, students will participate in this workshop which introduces them to the interdisciplinary nature of research and is not part of the traditional degree curriculum.
ASPIRE - off-campus and on-campus student research experiences which include summer internships. After successful completion of the TILT techniques workshop, students will get actual research experiences working on faculty-led projects. Students will have the opportunity to present their research at a regional or national meeting.
CURA - at the next level of their development, students who have completed TILT and have worked in a faculty research laboratory for at least one semester will be eligible to apply for a competitive undergraduate research award (“CURA”) to cover the cost of research supplies for the following summer or academic year. The program will award grants of up to $1,000 to students for the purchase of non-standard laboratory supplies and equipment necessary to complete a specific research project.
Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) to increase student achievement and lowering student attrition in introductory “gateway” biology, chemistry, and physics courses. RISE scholars will help teach these critical courses in their major and thus experience what it will be like to be a TA in graduate school.
GRASP - the capstone project which guides students through the graduate school application process including a GRE preparation workshop.
STUDENT BENEFITS
Opportunities to engage in university-level research.
Paid research internships at CSU during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Paid summer research internships both at CSU and off-campus at research universities.
Travel to scientific conferences to present research results.
The opportunity to develop your own research project, and grants of up to $1,000 for the purchase of non-standard laboratory supplies and equipment necessary to complete that project.
Learn research and teaching skills that will help you succeed in graduate school.
Assistance with GRE exams and graduate-school applications.
PROGRESS TOWARD ACHIEVING PROGRAM GOALS
Since the original funding of the CSU RISE Program in 1999, 49 students have been admitted to Ph.D. programs in biology, chemistry and physics. 153 RISE students have graduated with B.S. degrees in biology, chemistry or physics. Many of those who have not gone on to academic graduate programs have gone on to professional doctoral programs (pharmacy, medicine) or obtained employment in scientific and health profession areas both in the public sector (hospitals and medical laboratories) and in private industry (pharmaceutical companies). Participation in RISE activities or SCORE research projects is equated by many employers to job experience and gives CSU graduates a competitive advantage in the job market.
The measurable goal of the CSU RISE Program is to increase the numbers of graduates who successfully make the transition to biomedical Ph.D. programs. To view how we are doing in achieving this goal, click here.
For a list of students who were sucessful in being admitted to Ph.D. programs during the past five years, click here. |
The 2010 TILT introduction to research summer workshop ended on July 30. If you are interested in participating in next year's program, please download the fillable application form by clicking 
