Undergraduate Research Lab
Enhance Your Undergraduate Journey Through Research
Your Story Matters.
The Undergraduate Research Lab provides all students the opportunity to immerse themselves in academic research and experience a high-impact practice that takes their skills to the next level. Our lab provides a graduate-level experience for undergraduates, including the opportunity to present at academic symposiums. We particularly welcome first-generation, minoritized, and transfer-undergraduates who aspire to acquire critical skills for graduate school and explore the real-life applications of interdisciplinary/cross-disciplinary research.
Why Join?
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Connect with SDSU faculty researchers you admire, both internal and external, and learn how to proactively write a letter of interest to their labs.
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Develop competitive skills for graduate and professional school applications and job opportunities by building up your research experience.
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Learn how to foster and maintain reciprocal relationships as a key to success in your academic career.
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Get coaching and mentoring from peer mentors who have traveled a similar path or are current grad students, and see how what you learn in our seminars and workshops is truly useful in the field of research.
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Expand your worldview and ignite a passion for new research methods that could even help you grow in your career choices.
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Collaborate with others to contribute to research gaps and make an impact in your community.
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Gain practical steps towards participating in the SDSU Annual Student Research Symposium through our lab.
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Join us for a timeline of workshops that will teach you valuable skills and techniques.
2024-2025 F-SMP Application is Open!
We Aspire To Inspire
Undergraduate Research & Mentorship
Faculty-led by Dr. Cynthia Park, the Faculty-Student Mentoring Program (F-SMP) supports student engagement and development through undergraduate research, scholarship and creative initiatives. F-SMP scholars dedicate themselves to their projects throughout the academic year, and we are proud to see them present their work to the SDSU community.
Discover Student Excellence
The Health Careers Opportunity (HCO) Summer Undergraduate Research Scholars Program provided financial and academic support for low-income, first-generation, culturally diverse college students as they prepared for post-secondary education in health-related fields.
Meet The F-SMP Scholars
Our program is dedicated to fostering the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and leaders through hands-on research experiences. At the core of our program are our undergraduate research scholars, who represent the bright minds and diverse perspectives that drive our research community forward.
Introducing the 2023 - 2024 F-SMP Cohort:
Major: Psychology
Year: 4rd year/Senior
Research Interests: Neurology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Kinesiology-Pre-PT
Minor: Cognitive & Behavioral Neuroscience & Interdisciplinary Studies
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Physical Therapy
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sara Gombatto
Major: Psychology
Minor: Counseling and Social Change
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: School Psychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Tonika Green
Major: Psychology
Minor: Interdisciplinary studies
Year: 2nd year/Sophomore
Research Interests: Neuropsychology.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Psychology
Minor: Statistics
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Neuroscience or Neuropsychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Public Health
Year: 1st year/Freshmen
Research Interests: Medicine Psychology, Public Health, Forensic Science, Emergency Medicine
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Psychology
Year: 4rd year/Senior
Research Interests: Latina mother/daughter dynamics, narrative studies
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Elva Arredondo, Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Psychology with a Neuroscience emphasis
Minor: Spanish
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Neuroscience or Neuropsychology
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jessica Mueller-Coyne, Dr. Katherine Turner
Faculty Research Lab: LEAF Lab
Major: Biology
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Biology, Biochemistry, Neurological disorders and diseases, specifically Alzheimer's
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Computer Science/Psychology
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Bridging technology and healthcare.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Luwen (Vivian) Huangfu
Faculty Research Lab: AI4Business Lab
Major: Psychology
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Criminal Psychology, narrative research.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cynthia Park
Major: Psychology
Minor: Interdisciplinary Studies
Year: 3rd year/Junior
Research Interests: Clinical Psychology, child development, counseling.
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Sara Gombatto, Dr. Cynthia Park
Faculty Research Lab: GOALS/Metas
Major: Chemistry
Year: 4rd year/Senior
Research Interests: Pharmaceutical research
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Robert Luallen
Faculty Advisor Lab: Luallen Lab
Embracing Your Unique Journey & Empowering Others Along The Way
2024-2025 Scholar Application is now open!
Celebrating Student Achievements in Research Conferences
Scholars engage in a wide range of projects spanning various disciplines, from cutting-edge scientific research to impactful social science inquiries. F-SMP scholars are expected to present their preliminary research at the SDSU Student Research Symposium in Spring 2024. The symposium was held March 1, 2024 from 9AM - 5PM at SDSU in Montezuma Hall.
Research Title:
Navigating Success: The Impact of the Henrietta Goodwin Scholars Program on Academic Excellence and Student Transition at San Diego State University
Intersecting Identities: Empowerment through Undergraduate Autoethnographies
An Exploratory Study on the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Need for Closure
Medical Question and Answering System Review
Association Between Pain Severity and Low Back Movement During Functional Activities in Latino People with Chronic Low Back Pain
Searching for New Bacterial Pathogen with a Host-Bacteria Interactions Workshop
Scholars In Action
Exposure to Diverse Perspectives
Presenting research out-of-state exposes students to a wider range of perspectives, enriching their understanding of their field and fostering interdisciplinary connections. One of our scholars will be traveling to Philadelphia to present at the 45th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions March 13th - March 16th:
Research Title:
Building Professional Networks
By presenting research in new locations, students have the opportunity to network with professionals and peers from different regions, expanding their professional connections and potential collaborations. A small group of scholars will be traveling to Long Beach, CA to present their research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) April 10th - April 13th:
Research Title:
Breaking Barriers, Building Aspirations
Congratulations to all scholars who showcased their research! Your dedication & hard work have inspired us all.
Under the guidance of Dr. Cynthia Park and the F-SMP Guidance Team comprised of Valeria Reese, Alexandra García, and Reychel Joy Robles, and their assigned faculty mentors, scholars embark on a journey to shape the future of research and innovation. We extend our sincere gratitude to Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Jose Preciado and the office of Faculty Advancement and Student Success for providing access and resources essential for conducting this research.