Cal-Bridge FAST Program: Paid STEM Research Opportunities for Community College Students
Merced College students interested in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or Astronomy have an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on research experience through the Cal-Bridge FAST Program.
⭐ Application Deadline: October 30, 2026
Applications open October 1, 2026.
The Cal-Bridge FAST Program is designed specifically to give California Community College students early exposure to STEM research and help prepare them for future research, transfer, and graduate-school opportunities.
What is Cal-Bridge FAST?
FAST is a two-part program that begins with a one-week research training workshop at a participating California State University.
During the workshop, students participate in:
- Python programming
- Hands-on mini research projects
- Research in areas such as computer science/computer engineering, mathematics/statistics, and physics/astronomy
- Professional development
- Preparation for applying to summer research opportunities
- Networking and community building with other STEM students and faculty
Students who successfully complete the FAST Workshop become eligible to apply for the Cal-Bridge FAST Summer Research Program, an eight-week faculty-mentored research experience.
Our Local FAST Hub: CSU Stanislaus
For students in the Merced area, one of the participating FAST hubs is California State University, Stanislaus.
The upcoming CSU Stanislaus FAST Workshop will be held:
December 17–21, 2026
Accepted students receive a $1,000 stipend for participating in the one-week workshop.
Students who complete the workshop can then apply for the Summer 2027 FAST research program. At CSU Stanislaus, summer research areas include topics such as:
- Bioinformatics using graph and network analysis
- Computer vision and artificial intelligence
- Applied mathematics, statistics, and modeling
- Physics and astronomy research
The Summer 2027 research experience runs for eight weeks, and accepted scholars receive a $7,000 stipend, with travel costs covered.
Who Should Apply?
The FAST Program is open to enrolled California Community College students who are interested in STEM research or considering a future career in a STEM field.
You do not need to already be an experienced researcher. One of the purposes of FAST is to give community college students an opportunity to discover what research is like, develop new technical skills, and explore future academic and career possibilities.
Important Dates
FAST Workshop Application Opens: October 1, 2026
FAST Workshop Application Deadline: October 30, 2026
Acceptance Decisions: November 15, 2026
CSU Stanislaus FAST Workshop: December 17–21, 2026
Students who successfully complete the workshop will be eligible to apply for the Summer 2027 FAST research program.
Summer FAST Application Deadline: February 1, 2027
Summer Acceptance Decisions: March 1, 2027
Learn More and Apply
🌐 Cal-Bridge FAST Program:
calbridge.org fast-program website
🎥 FAST Presentation and Slides:
Presentation video and slides from Sept 24 presentation at Merced College MESA center
The presentation recording is missing approximately the first five minutes, so students are encouraged to also review the accompanying slides for the complete program information.
If you are a Merced College STEM student interested in research, transfer, graduate school, or simply finding out what STEM research is really like, consider applying to Cal-Bridge FAST.
Remember: applications are due October 30, 2026!