Cal State L.A. gets $3.3 million for science program for minority students

Cal State Los Angeles received a $3.3-million grant to launch a research and education partnership with Penn State University to help minority students pursue degrees in engineering and materials science.

The five-year grant from the National Science Foundation will help establish a master’s degree in materials science and engineering at Cal State L.A., enabling students to pursue doctoral degrees at Penn State or other universities.

“Our collaboration with Penn State University will enhance our efforts to help diversify and enrich the pool of doctoral candidates in these critical fields,” University President William A. Covino said in a statement.

The program will take on 70 students, mostly from underrepresented communities. The students will perform research at Cal State L.A. and Penn State.

Cal State L.A. professors will also supervise summer research programs with academically talented students from high schools with more than 95% Latino enrollment, according to Penn State.

Students from Roosevelt, Garfield, Lincoln and Wilson high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will participate in the programs and learn about materials science.

The program includes a team of seven professors from Penn State and 10 from Cal State L.A.’s College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology; and the College of Natural and Social Sciences.

This year, the National Science Foundation announced six Partnership for Research and Education in Materials awards and Cal State L.A. was one of the winners.

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