Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM)

To apply for Project SSOAR, complete the two steps below. (Application and both recommendations are required to be considered for SSOAR.)

The program seeks to :

• increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need obtaining degrees in S-STEM eligible disciplines and entering the workforce or graduate programs in STEM;
  
  
• improve the education of future scientists, engineers and technicians, with a focus on low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need; and
  
  
• generate knowledge to advance understanding of how interventions or evidence-based curricular and co-curricular activities affect the success, retention, transfer, academic/career pathways and graduation of low-income students in STEM.

• Be citizens of the United States, nationals of the United States (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act), aliens admitted as refugees under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Please note that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) individuals are ineligible for support from this solicitation unless they meet the requirements listed in the first sentence of this item.
  
  
• Be enrolled, at least half-time, as defined by the institution in a program leading to an associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree in an S-STEM eligible discipline (i.e., declared computer science, engineering, mathematics or physics major).
  
  
• Demonstrate academic ability or potential.
  
  
• Have unmet financial need. Demonstrated financial need for undergraduate students is defined by the U.S. Department of Education rules for need-based federal financial aid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or, for graduate students, it is defined as financial eligibility for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN).

Joining the NSF S-STEM SSOAR student support services program at Citrus College comes with many great benefits and opportunities.

All of our benefits and services are free to active participants and available until you graduate.

• Connect with cohort peers
• Develop a strong STEM identity
• Experiential learning opportunities
• Financial support every semester and scholarship aid
• Personalized STEM mentoring
• Priority registration
• Tutoring in STEM subjects

• Enrolled at Citrus College as your primary institution through spring 2026
• Have a declared major in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM)
• Pursuing your first bachelor's degree
• Passed at least two STEM courses and pre-calculus (MATH 175) by the end of spring 2026
• Minimum GPA of 2.5
• Willing to make a full-time commitment (work 40-plus hours per week)
• Required to present your research poster at the annual Citrus College STEM Research Symposium in September 2026

• Engage in authentic research
• Network with mentors and fellow students dedicated to STEM
• Earn up to $6,000 while gaining knowledge
• Enhance proficiency in scientific communication among peers
• Refine academic and career aspirations
• Boost self-confidence, motivation and interest in STEM
• Foster creative thinking

2025 Posters

2024 Posters

• Dani Nguyen : Modeling Cross-pollination Rate of C. Anuum via Insects
• Eric Hury : Simulating Rubin Observatory Light Curves of Eclipsing Binaries
• Jenni Emily Puga-Raya : Machine Learning Algorithm for Predicting Lung Cancer Presence
• Judi Al Chekha : Investigation of Cu Based Perovskites Properties as OTMs
• Justine Tsin-Wah Thai Wong : Genetic Approaches to Dissecting Dopaminergic Anatomy and Function in Mice
• Kaitlyn Cambero, Esteban Mace-Carrillo : Zero Carbon Fuel Operation of a Piston Engine with Transient Pulse Enhanced NH3/H2 Combustion
• Katherine Maya-Valencia : Investigating the Roles of Protein P0 from Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus in ATG8 Processing in the Autophagy Degradation Pathway
• Keith Madrid : Development of a Disaster Management App for Flooding
• Sidney Esparza : Describing the Floral Morphology and Initiating Propagation Protocol for Thelypodium stenopetalum

2023 Posters

• Alexander Gomez : Unveiling the Role of Chlorogenic Acid Esterase in Modulating Browning Index and Inhibition of Non-flourescent AGEs Through Caffeic Acid Formation in Sunflower Muffins
• Amir Ghoul : What is the Effect of PSR on Wasps
• Andrew Gonzalez and Daniel Martinez : Using Machine Learning to Understand Behavior of F1 ATPase
• Anna Cardoso Rebelo : Deepfake Detection
• Arai Leyva : Incorporating AI in Construction to Automate Excavator Operations
• Bianca Cerda, Gabriela Verde Garcia, Karina Lizama, Daniela Gonzalez : Bacterial Presence on Menstrual Pads
• Bianca Cerda, Gabriela Verde Garcia, Karina Lizama, Daniela Gonzalez : Biofilms, Let's Stick Together
• Eric Hury : Training and Evaluating Machine Learning Transformer Models to Perform Various Mathematical Tasks
• Isabella Rivas : Utilizing Orange Peel for Textile Dyeing
• Joshua Tobar Lam, Aimee Ortiz-Ramirez, Travis Riggs : Plasma Enhanced Combustion of Methane and Hydrogen in Piston Engine Applications
• Krishna Chandramouli : Utilizing Pressed Sunflower Seed Meal Waste for Baking
• Matthew Luna : Investigating Mineral Organic Chemistry with Mars Analog Iron Bearing Minerals
• Morgan De Vera : Deriving Salinity Resistance from the Salton Sea Project
• Omar Masri : Identifying the Compounds Responsible for the Smell of Jasmine Flower
• Sidney Esparza : The 2018 Butte County Camp Fire and its Effects on Air Quality in California

2022 Posters

• Alexander Gomez : Is Your Citrus Safe? An Introduction to Huanglongbing Disease
• Arianna Swindle : The Function of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)
• Edmarck Sosa : Control and Automation of a Cryostat for Gravitational-Wave Optic Experiment
• Gabriela Avalos : What Are the Negative Effects of Phytophthora at California Botanic Garden Nursery
• Karen Valencia Rojas : Land and Ocean Coupling Associated with Tropical Cyclones
• Katherine Goostrey : ICP-OES Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Consumed Seaweed Sold by United States Retailer
• Kevin Rivera : Collaboration between Multiple UAVs for Fire Detection and Suppression
• Luke Esperiquette : Correlation between UAV-based Remote Ground-Truth Data for Strawberry Plants
• Luke Esperiquette : Sensor Network Forestry Fire Detection System
• Lukman Kattee : Testing the Role of Maternal Haploid in the Jewel Wasp
• Olivia Hernandez : Mean Cell Volume Estimation
• Oscar Hernandez and Victor Chen : Feasibility of Ammonia-assisted Combustion Using Pulser Technology
• Pragati Kapoor : Labeling Compliance, Species Identification and Short-Weighting of Shrimp Sold in Southern California
• Rachel Wang : Using EEG to Classify Like and Dislike Decisions from Visual Stimuli
• Richard Reyes : The Aurora Activities in the South Pole for 15 years
• Xenia Estey : Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity

2021 Posters

• Alijah Navalta : Immunolabeling of Transporter Proteins on Vaginal Epithelial Cells
• Alyssa Goldpenny : The Role of Microbiota in Drosophila Evolution
• Anthony Arata : Visualizing Binary Black Hole Simulations in the SXS Collaboration Catalog
• Ayah Halabi : Dynamics of Air Pollution Over Lebanon and Its Impacts
• Demetrio Huerta : Using Citric Acid to Activate Charcoal Obtained from Agricultural Wastes as an Affordable Alternative to Absorb Oil from Water
• Jason Diaz : Dynamics of Atmospheric Pollution Along the U. S. Coast During 2003-2020
• Jazmin Blue Araujo : Fossils of the Plio-Pleistocene
• Lisa Wang : Evaluating Probiotic Viability of Manufacturer Claims
• Miranda Miranda : DNA Barcoding of Herbal Products to Determine Mislabeling on the U.S. Commercial Market
• Sandra Serrano : Generating Noise Budgets for Cosmic Explorer
• Sherelene De Belene : Visualizing the Postmerger Range of GW170817 Using Ligo Open Data
• Venjaminne Fua : Sulbactam-avibactam inhibitors combination strategy: understanding the mechanisms beyond their activity to combat Acinetobacter spp. Infection