Undergraduate STEM Research Grants

ASCEND Logo

A.S.C.E.N.D. STEM RESEARCH SUPPORT GRANT

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) Student Success Center & Development (ASCEND) Program

AANAPISI Site: California State University, Long Beach (É«ÖÐÉ«)

U.S. Department of Education – AANAPISI Grant Part A

Opened until all grants awarded.

To apply, please click

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The ASCEND STEM research support grant application window is currently open until fund is fully exhausted. The application will be reviewed on the 20th of each month. ASCEND program addresses needs to elevate research experience to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and ASCEND target students by offering $2,000 ASCEND STEM research grant coupled with $500* research materials and supplies to assist student academic retention and accomplishment. Undergraduate students pursuing an undergraduate degree in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, that most benefit from the ASCEND research support are encouraged to apply. 

* research advisor’s approval required.

Questions? For more information, please visit our website (/ascend).
If you have questions about the ASCEND scholarship applications, please feel free to contact us at ASCEND.AANAPISI@csulb.edu.

  • U.S. citizens or legal U.S. permanent residents.
  • Undergraduate students with STEM majors from College of Business (COB)*, College of Health and Human Services (CHHS)**, College of Liberal Arts (CLA)**, College of Natural Science and Mathematics (CNSM), and College of Engineering (COE). 

          * Only Information Systems major.

          ** Please, check /ascend/faq before apply.

  • Junior or senior status and must graduate within 2 years after receiving ASCEND research support.
  • Enroll as a STEM full-time student during the research project period, and
  • Minimum overall combined cumulative GPA of 2.9.

  1. Complete the online ASCEND research support application ( or ).
  2. Degree planner until student’s graduation ()
  3. Research faculty advisor contact information.
  4. Statement of ASCEND research support grant impacts toward Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and underserved student’s success and ASCEND-AANAPISI program’s missions. This statement should include 
    • Needs for ASCEND STEM research support to enhance student academic and future success and impacts of ASCEND research support grant once awarded (maximum 300 words)
    • Academic and research goals. How does the ASCEND research support enhance students to achieve these goals? What would happen if students do not receive the ASCEND research support? (Maximum 300 words)
    • Potential to enhance ASCEND:AANAPISI’s missions. One of ASCEND: AANAPISI grant’s missions is to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility toward Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPI) and underserved populations in STEM research community. (Maximum 300 words)
  5. Applicants must provide consent for ASCEND research support grant review committee to obtain student academic records and financial aid eligibility on É«ÖÐÉ« system.

  1. Research needs justification.
  2. Impacts of ASCEND research support toward student’s goals and success.
  3. Potential to advance ASCEND-AANAPISI missions as well as ability to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility on STEM research environment.
  4. Ability to achieve and complete their proposed research plan.
  5. Quality of application package
  6. Letter of recommendation and commitment.

Once the research support is disbursed, ASCEND scholarship awardees

  1. must complete their research within one year after the support is disbursed.
  2. must disseminate research at a conference and/or publish your research findings.
  3. must declare all research support received at the same time of ASCEND project period.
  4. are highly recommended taking Asian American, Native American or Pacific Islander relevant General Educational courses (G.E. foundation, G.E. exploration or upper division G.E.) within one year after receiving ASCEND scholarship.
         If students have enrolled in one of suggested G.E. courses, students are not required to take an additional course if the students have taken or are taking one of the following courses. The courses under the following course prefixes are considered:
    1. Asian & Asian American Studies (AAAS)
    2. American Indian Studies (AIS)
    3. Asian American Studies (ASAM)
    4. Asian Studies (A/ST)
    5. Cambodian (KHMR)
    6. Chinese (CHIN)
    7. Filipino (FIL)
    8. Japanese (JAPN)
    9. Korean (KOR)
    10. Vietnamese (VIET)
  5. are required to complete at least one ASCEND professional and leadership workshops..
  6. must meet their academic advisor after the research support is awarded to balance classwork and research’s responsibilities.
  7. must grant ASCEND team permission to track student’s academic performance to evaluate ASCEND’s impacts towards student’ success.
  8. must complete annual ASCEND evaluation and survey forms.
  9. must agree to be included in the ASCEND email list, ASCEND discord group and ASCEND LinkenIn group.
  10. must agree to share their name and É«ÖÐÉ« ID to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to verify the award allowance.

The ASCEND program eliminates barriers, gender, race, national origin, color, disability, or age and assures equitable access to, and participation in the program.