Physical Sciences

Conduct a research project with professors and graduate students in your field and build a portfolio for graduate school or the private sector. On this type of program, you'll take your skills, ideas, and perspectives to a new location abroad and learn new methods for developing and presenting your work. This type of program is ideal for pursuing a research idea independently under the guidance of a mentor. Choose this type of program if you want to work in facilities and with equipment not available on your home campus.

The Gene and Susan Lucas Undergraduate Research Fund was created to help first-generation undergraduate students experience research alongside UCSB faculty. The program supports research for first-generation undergraduate UCSB students in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). Funds may be used for stipend, required research materials, travel, conferences, or field experience.

The UCSB Edison STEM Research Scholarship is designed to aid talented undergraduate students to participate in research under the direction of a UCSB faculty mentor/research affiliate in one of the following fields: Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Earth Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or Statistics.

This program is designed to engage and educate California’s future leaders by preparing promising students for advanced education in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM). The program is designed to identify upper-division undergraduate students with the potential to succeed in these disciplines, but who have experienced situations or conditions that have adversely impacted their advancement in their field of study.

The McNair Scholars Program prepares qualified undergraduates for entrance to graduate programs in all fields of study. The goals of McNair are to increase the number of first-generation, low-income and/or underrepresented students in Ph.D. programs, ultimately diversifying academia, government, and industry, among other fields.

The mission of the SACNAS Scholars Program is to train the next generation of diverse STEM leaders. SACNAS Scholars will have the opportunity to engage in both hands-on research training in a UCSB STEM faculty lab during an 8-week intensive summer program, and academic year leadership development. Scholars also receive funding and support for professional development or training that will inform and prepare Scholars for post-graduation career opportunities or advanced academic pursuits.

The Quantum Foundry research internship program brings science and engineering California Community College, California State University, and other primarily undergraduate institution undergraduate students to the UC Santa Barbara campus for an 8-week summer research experience. Undergraduate interns gain first-hand experience in scientific investigation via a dynamic, collaborative research environment. They are matched individually with Foundry faculty and graduate student lab mentors who provide ongoing training and support.

The EUREKA! program is designed to enrich the academic experience of undergraduates at University of California, Santa Barbara in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) disciplines early on in their educational careers. The program is focused on introducing students in their first year to the broader science community on campus and providing exposure to research through academic year internships.

The California Alliance for Minority Participation provides resources and opportunities to under-represented students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The program is sponsored by the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation at the National Science Foundation, and is part of the statewide CAMP program. CAMP has several programs that support undergraduates including Summer and Academic year Research Internships and CAMP Scholars support towards successful completion of a degree in STEM.

The Undergrad RA Directory is your go-to place for discovering new research projects taking place on campus. Professors can submit projects on a rolling basis to have their listing hosted on the directory. Although the Directory is categorized by department, don’t allow that to limit you. Many projects in the directory look for students from across the disciplines, so feel free to explore your interests and skills outside of your major or minor and get involved in interdisciplinary research.