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CREST Fellows

CREST Fellows Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program 

 

2025-2026 CREST Fellows Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

Program Description

The NSF-CREST Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines (CCBM) offers a research fellowship to UC Merced undergraduate students across STEM disciplines during the academic year. October 2025 - May 2026.

Program Flyer

Applications are due on September 21, 2025 - APPLY

CREST Fellows will have opportunities to:

  • Conduct research with CCBM faculty (see below) of their choice for at least 10-hours per week
  • Participate in CREST Fellows Research Symposium
  • Prepare for applications for internships, jobs, and graduate school

Program Benefits

  • Research experience in bioengineering, physics, chemistry and chemical biology, materials science and engineering, and molecular and cell biology
  • Experimental learning: On-campus research arrangements must be confirmed by chosen faculty advisor
  • Research and academic guidance and mentoring from CCBM faculty and graduate students
  • Professional development & networking activities 
  • Preparation for applications for summer research experiences (REUs) 
  • Award: $1,200 per semester

Eligibility

UC Merced enrolled full-time undergraduate students with at least two semesters of college experience (GPA 3.0 or above).
--U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States (to receive funding)

Apply

Application for the 2025-26 CREST Fellows Undergraduate Research Fellowship will be open through September 21, 2025. You may plan to apply by preparing the following items:
 
  1. Resume
  2. Contact information for one faculty reference (no need to submit a reference letter with this application)
  3. Unofficial transcripts
  4. Statement of Interest - Briefly describe your interest and how it overlaps with the research supported by CCBM. Why are you interested in this research? Are there particular faculty with whom you would like to work and why? Summarize the reasons why you are applying to this fellowship, what you hope to gain by participating, and how it fits into your future educational and career objectives. One page maximum.
    View CCBM Faculty here: https://ccbm.ucmerced.edu/people
     

Research experience is for the 2025-26 academic year. Faculty advisor must approve renewal for Spring 2026. Those who are selected are required not to engage in another research project. Participants will be expected to apply for summer research experiences (if not graduating May 2026) and willing to accept spot in program if offered. Previous participants must reapply. 

For questions or more information contact CREST Fellows Coordinator, Dr. Petia Gueorguieva: pgueorguieva@ucmerced.edu

CCBM Website: https://ccbm.ucmerced.edu

With support from the STEM Center.

Research Topics - Biophysics, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Biomaterials, Biotechnology, Mathematics in Biology

Applications are due on September 21, 2025