CSULB RISE M.S. to Ph.D. Application
Due 5:00 PM, 15 April 2015 to RISE.MS2PhD@csulb.edu
The mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to advance scientific knowledge and
technology contributing to the improvement of every individual’s health in the U.S. as well as around
the world. NIH research training programs are committed to training future biomedical and behavioral
scientists by providing opportunities and skills training for students who will become the next
generation of biomedical/behavioral research scientists and engineers. The programs consider all
qualified applicants, strongly encouraging application by students from groups traditionally
underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral research workforce, such as first generation
college students, those with financial need, students with disability, members of racial/ethnic minority
groups, and students who have experienced life challenges that can contribute to the diverse
perspectives needed in biomedical and behavioral research.
CSULB Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) M.S. to Ph.D. Program
The CSULB RISE program seeks to increase the capacity of students underrepresented in the
biomedical sciences to complete Ph.D. degrees in these fields. The program activities are
designed to strengthen students' academic preparation, research training, and professional
skills. MS students will complete a two-year Master’s degree program that culminates in the
defense of a Master’s research thesis. In addition, RISE M.S. to Ph.D. students will present their
work at professional conferences, take part in six Graduate Academy workshops, be active in
the Graduate Learning Community and take the Biomedical Colloquium to increase skills in
reading primary literature and scientific writing. Completing a research degree in two years will
require discipline and commitment, and will produce students ready to tackle biomedical Ph.D.
programs at research-intensive universities.
RISE http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/cnsm/sas/rise/
To be eligible for the RISE M.S. to Ph.D. program, you must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or
permanent U.S. resident.
You must also apply and be accepted to the degree program you wish to pursue (Department of
Biological Sciences OR Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry) AND California State University, Long
Beach to be considered for funded support.
http://www.csulb.edu/depts/enrollment/admissions/graduate_programs.html#anchor3
CSULB RISE M.S. to Ph.D. Application 2015-2016
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
□ Application and Acknowledgment & Authorization Forms
Complete the attached application form as well as the Acknowledgment & Authorization.
Please scan and save as a pdf.
□ College Transcript(s)
Official and sealed transcripts from all institutions you have attended must be submitted. If you
are a CSULB student, submit a copy of your unofficial CSULB transcript. No other transcripts
need to be submitted if the CSULB transcript shows all transferred credits (courses, units, and
grades) from other post-secondary institutions.
□ General Record Exam (GRE) General Test Scores
Please arrange to have a copy of your GRE General Test Scores sent to the Department you are
applying to. No particular GRE score is required for admission into the M.S. to Ph.D. RISE
program, but serves as a general indicator of your interest in pursuing a Ph.D. If unable to take
the GRE prior to the application deadline, please arrange to take the exam at the earliest
available date. Please see https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register/centers_dates/ to
sign up for the GRE.
□ Personal Statement
The RISE M.S. to Ph.D. program is an intensive two-year program that provides financial
support which allows participants to complete a research project while preparing for admission
into Ph.D. programs. Introduce yourself in 600 words or less. We are particularly interested in
learning why you are motivated to obtain a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences. Describe your
discipline and commitment towards completing the RISE M.S. to Ph.D. program. Describe
research experiences you have had -- what research questions you pursued, what you did and
what your results meant. Explain any discrepancy between your grades in academic
coursework (and/or GRE scores) and your talents and potential. Save as a pdf file.
□ Confidential Data Form (CDF)
The information provided in the CDF is for reporting purpose only and will NOT be used in the
evaluation of your application. Please make sure to submit it separately from your application.
□ Letters of Recommendation to be sent by the letter writers to RISE.MS2PhD@csulb.edu
Fill out the Form on the next page, sign, scan, and save as pdf that will be added to your pdf
application file. If you have participated in research, one letter should be from your research
mentor. These letters should address your ability to succeed (intellectual ability,
determination, maturity, etc.) in an intensive M.S. to Ph.D. program that leads to entrance into
a Ph.D. program. Please list on Letter of Recommendation page.
CSULB RISE M.S. to Ph.D. Application 2015-2016
Letters of Recommendation
Arrange to have three Letters of Recommendation written on your behalf by science, engineering or
math faculty members. Please have referees send letters to RISE.MS2PhD@csulb.edu. Identify your
letter writers in the table below.
Referee Name
Institution
Email Address
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & AUTHORIZATION
Please sign, scan, save as a pdf and combine with your application file.
I acknowledge that the information provided by me in this application is correct to the best of my
knowledge. I agree that if I begin to receive funding from another grant or fellowship source outside
of RISE, I will immediately notify the contact person for the NIH Research Training Program
Application. Failure to comply may result in dismissal from the program.
In order to complete the evaluation process, it may be necessary to obtain information from
MyCSULB so that we may verify your CSULB academic records and student profile.
Please check one:
□ I authorize the program to review my CSULB academic records for information needed to
complete the evaluation of my application by the selection committee.
□ I do not authorize the program to review my CSULB academic records for information needed to
complete the evaluation of my application by the selection committee
Note: If you are invited to join one of the programs, you must abide by that program’s specific requirements.
Applicant’s Signature: _____________________________________
Date: _________________
All application materials must be submitted in one package (combined pdf for the Application Form,
Personal Statement, Letter of Recommendation Waiver, and Acknowledgement and Authorization
Form) by 5:00pm on 15 April 2015 to RISE.MS2PhD@csulb.edu
CSULB RISE M.S. to Ph.D. Application 2015-2016
RISE M.S. TO PH.D. APPLICATION
Personal Information:
Last Name:
First Name:
Street Address:
City, State, Zip:
Cell phone:
Email:
Date of Birth: ___ / _____ / _______
Undergraduate Degree:
School graduated from:
Major:
Cumulative GPA:
Major GPA:
General GRE Score:
My educational objectives? □ Master’s Degree (Field ____________ )
□ Doctoral/Ph.D. Degree (Field ____________ )
□ Professional Degree (Field ____________ e.g., M.D., Pharm.D.)
□ Other ______________
□ Unsure
I am a: □ U.S. Citizen □ Permanent Resident □ U.S. National □ Other: ___________________________
Are you currently eligible to receive financial aid? □ Yes □ No If you check ‘yes’, include a
copy of your FAFSA score or financial aid award letter whether or not you have unmet need.
Do you and your family qualify under the 2015 poverty level as defined by Health and Human Services
(HHS)? Please check the HHS listing before answering this question.
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/15poverty.cfm □ Yes □ No
Indicate your parent’s highest level of education: □ No College □ AA or some college or vocational
/trade school □ BA/BS □ MA/MS □ PhD □ Professional School (MD, DDS, Pharm. Etc.)
Have you served in the U.S. armed forces? □ Yes □ No
How did you hear about the program you are applying to?
□ Fliers/Posters □ Course Instructor/Faculty □ Academic Advisor □ Website
□ Current student trainees □ Other ___________________
CSULB RISE M.S. to Ph.D. Application 2015-2016
Confidential Personal Data
The following information is used for demographic purposes for NIH and will not be used for program
participant selection. (Please turn in this form as a hard copy to: M.S. to Ph.D. RISE program, c/o Dr.
Judy Brusslan, Department of Biological Sciences, CSULB, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA
90840-9502.
Student Name: _______________________________________________
1. Gender: □ Male □ Female □ Decline to State
2. Do you have a diagnosed disability or impairment? □ Yes □ No If yes, please indicate the
disability nature: □ Hearing □ Visual □ Mobility □ Other: _______________________________
3. Currently employed? □ Yes □ No
a. If yes, please provide additional information about your employment.
Hours per week: __________ hours per week
Employer: ____
2. Ethnic/racial background information (please indicate all that apply):
 African American/Black
 Your Family’s Country(ies) of Origin: ________________________________________
 European American/Caucasian/White
 Your Family’s Country(ies) of Origin: ________________________________________
 Native American/Eskimo
 Your Family’s Country(ies) of Origin: ________________________________________
 Hispanic/Latino(a)
 Your Family’s Country(ies) of Origin: ________________________________________
 Native U.S. Pacific Islander
 Your Family’s Country(ies) of Origin: ________________________________________
 Asian American
 Your Family’s Country(ies) of Origin: ________________________________________
 Other ________________________
 Declined to state