Cal State L.A. Receives Collaborative Grant for Chemical Research

California State University, Los Angeles, recently received a prestigious grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen the University’s chemical research program. One of only four institutions awarded nationwide, the $2.7 million, five-year NSF grant focuses on developing a Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) collaborative with the California Institute of Technology.
Directed by Professor Frank A. Gomez (Montebello resident) of the Chemistry and Biochemistry department at Cal State L.A., the collaborative integrates student research experiences, scientific seminars, mentoring and advising.

“We are very happy and honored to have been awarded this grant. The funds will allow us to further strengthen the research in the department as well as expand the research opportunities for our students. It is my hope that this program will serve as a model for similar initiatives throughout the United States,” says Gomez.

The five-year grant focuses on strengthening the materials science research linkages between CSULA and Caltech. Along with Gomez, CSULA professors Matthias Selke and Yong Ba (chemistry and biochemistry) join Caltech professors Stephen Quake (applied physics) and Julie Kornfield and John Bercaw (chemistry and chemical engineering), in creating a collaborative research and educational effort between the two colleges. The grant will also support summer research experiences for students from Roosevelt, Garfield, and Wilson High Schools.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Cal State L.A. has a long tradition of involving students in research. During the past two decades hundreds of Cal State L.A. graduates, including many underrepresented minorities, have continued on to Ph.D. and professional degree programs.

“I take great pride in directing this program and providing our students and high school students from the surrounding community opportunities to conduct state-of-the-art science. The linkage with Caltech is particularly important and will allow us to offer CSULA students research experiences in collaboration with one of the premier institutions in the world,” says Gomez.

Contact: Margie Yu, Public Affairs, (323) 343-3047