College of Sciences Fiscal Year 2025-2026
Message from Leadership
Dear Donor, It’s been a remarkable year for SDSU’s College of Sciences. We celebrated the topping out of our new sciences building, Duran Sciences, a milestone that will expand opportunities for scientific discovery and student success. We also continued to strengthen our research enterprise, with faculty advancing groundbreaking work that contributed to SDSU’s Carnegie R1 designation. I am continually inspired by our faculty, staff, and students, whose dedication drives innovation across the biological, physical, mathematical, and environmental sciences. From improving human health and strengthening cybersecurity to protecting our environment and advancing discoveries that will shape future textbooks, they are addressing some of science’s most complex questions and society’s most pressing challenges. These achievements are made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. Your philanthropy fuels research, enriches student learning, and expands the college’s impact in our communities and beyond. On behalf of the entire College of Sciences community, thank you for your partnership and support.
Jeffrey T. Roberts, Ph.D. Dean, College of Sciences
Year in Giving By the Numbers | Fiscal Year 2025-26
$14.47M SCI Total Raised
$1,306,210
SCI Scholarship Awards
426 SCI Scholarships Awarded
Philanthropy
Propelling the SDSU Community Forward Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Award The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Award provides scholarship support for outstanding SDSU graduate and doctoral students pursuing research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, helping advance STEM education and research through work that contributes to scientific discovery and technological innovation. In 2025-26, the award supported 11 SDSU graduate and doctoral students, continuing a longstanding commitment to investing in the next generation of scientific leaders. Michael Edward and Ann Rosner Sixtus Scholarship in Sciences The College of Sciences received generous support for the Michael Edward and Ann Rosner Sixtus Scholarship in Sciences, which provides scholarship assistance to students pursuing degrees in the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Earth and Environmental Sciences. The fund helps expand educational opportunities for students across multiple scientific disciplines, enabling them to pursue their academic goals and engage in the learning and research experiences that are fundamental to success in the sciences. Sciences Building Fund The College of Sciences received pivotal support for the development of a new sciences building, Duran Sciences, on San Diego State University’s main campus. This transformational project will create a stateof-the-art facility designed to expand opportunities for STEM instruction, laboratory training, and interdisciplinary research. The building will feature several donor-recognized spaces, including the Virginia Salazar, Terry Cronan, and Larry Fenson Wellness Room, the Peter and Sandra Phillips Lab, the Jeffrey Roberts and Deborah Jaffey Study Room, and Theilacker Terrace. These contributions help advance SDSU’s vision of preparing the next generation of scientists while strengthening the university’s capacity for research, innovation, and workforce development in the life sciences and other STEM fields.
Student Spotlight
Thriving in the Aztec Experience Everett Richards, Class of 2026 Class Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
When I first began studying computer science at SDSU, I expected to pursue a career in software engineering. That changed when I joined the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), where I worked on robust human-robot interaction in construction environments to improve worker safety. This experience showed me how computing research can have an immediate, real-world impact and sparked my interest in designing intelligent systems to reduce risk and support decision-making in complex environments. Since then, I have worked in five research labs across the country and published three research papers at IEEE conferences. Alongside my research, I have served in numerous leadership roles, including ACM Chapter President, co-founding the “Innovate 4 SDSU” Hackathon, and serving as a University Council Representative. This fall, I will begin my Ph.D. in computer science at the University of Delaware, where I will work to develop safer and more equitable intelligent transportation systems. I would not have been able to reach this point without the technical foundation, mentorship, and research opportunities I found at SDSU.
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I would not have been able to reach this point [in my education] without the technical foundation, mentorship, and research opportunities I found at SDSU.
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Student Spotlight
Carolina L. Costa, Class of 2026 Class Level: Graduate Student College: College of Sciences Major: Psychology
Carolina earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from SDSU after transferring from community college. Originally from Brazil, she moved to the U.S. with her family at age 14 and often had to navigate the American education system on her own. The mentorship and support she received from SDSU faculty and staff inspired her to continue her graduate studies at SDSU. As a master’s student researching cognitive aging, Carolina embraced opportunities for both professional and personal growth. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ariana Stickel, she led independent research projects, presented at national and international conferences, and co-authored several research articles, including a first-author manuscript. In February 2026, she successfully defended her thesis and is now preparing her work for publication. Carolina also mentored students in her lab and remains committed to providing others with the same guidance and support that shaped her own journey. In fall 2026, Carolina will begin the Ph.D. program in gerontology at the University of Southern California, where she will continue studying cognitive aging and aging trajectories. Her goal is to lead a research lab at an R1 institution.
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The mentorship and support she received from SDSU faculty and staff inspired her to continue her graduate studies at SDSU.
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Student Spotlight
Ebru Robinson, Class of 2027 Class Level: Ph.D. Candidate College: College of Sciences Major: Cell and Molecular Biology
My time in the College of Sciences at SDSU has been a rewarding part of my academic journey. Before joining the Ph.D. program, I completed a double major in molecular biology and physical therapy and rehabilitation, giving me a unique perspective on disease and patient care. As a third-year Ph.D. student in Dr. Cripps’ lab, I study Uchmaz, a novel muscle protein involved in sarcomere organization. Using genetic and molecular approaches in Drosophila, we found that loss of Uchmaz disrupts muscle structure and function. Because its human counterpart has been linked to muscular dystrophy and related myopathies, this work advances our understanding of muscle disease. This year, I presented my research at the Drosophila Research Conference and the ASBMB Annual Meeting, where I received a travel award. I was also honored to receive the Rees-Stealy Research Foundation Fellowship and the University Graduate Fellowship. Beyond the laboratory, I volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy Association through outreach, fundraising, and Muscle Walk events. I hope to pursue a career in academia, leading translational research that connects basic science discoveries to clinical applications.
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My time in the College of Sciences at SDSU has been a rewarding part of my academic journey.
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Points of Pride
Celebrating Shared Success Current Rankings U.S. News & World Report ranks SDSU #104 in Biological Sciences, #111 in Chemistry, #89 in Earth Sciences, and #91 in Statistics. Statistics of Interest Eight academic departments serving the natural, physical, mathematical, computational, and behavioral sciences. Enrollment has increased nearly 20% over the past five years, with the college now serving 6,263 undergraduate students and 772 graduate students across 56 undergraduate programs, 29 master's programs, and eight doctoral programs. The College of Sciences represents approximately one-fifth of Academic Affairs at SDSU. More than 100 scholarships and student awards support student success across the college. Students and faculty conduct research at world-class facilities, including Mount Laguna Observatory, the Coastal and Marine Institute Laboratory, the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve, and the Cybersecurity Center for Research and Education (CSCRE). Recent Highlights Launching a new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence in Fall 2026 to address workforce demand and strengthen industry partnerships. Exploring new doctoral opportunities in Biopharmaceutical Sciences that build upon SDSU's research strengths and regional workforce needs. Construction is underway on the new sciences building, Duran Sciences, a transformative facility scheduled to open in Fall 2027 that will expand teaching, research, and collaborative learning opportunities. The Department of Psychology recently expanded into Atkinson Hall, creating additional space for faculty, staff, and students. Celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Chemistry Joint Doctoral Program, the first doctoral degree program at SDSU and the CSU system, and the 40th anniversary of the Clinical Psychology Joint Doctoral Program. Continued regional impact through the South Bay Latino Research Center, community STEM outreach, and experiential learning opportunities that connect students with research, internships, fieldwork, and scientific discovery.
Rankings
No. 104 in Biological Sciences, No. 111 in Chemistry, No. 89 in Earth Sciences, and No. 91 in Statistics.
Faculty and Staff Achievements
Transforming Lives Georg Matt, Ph.D. Title: Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for Tobacco and the Environment College: College of Sciences
Achievements: Dr. Matt's work contributed to the passage of California Assembly Bill 455, the first law in the U.S. to define thirdhand tobacco smoke residue as an environmental hazard and require disclosure in residential real estate transactions. Through collaborations at SDSU and within the Thirdhand Smoke Research Consortium, Dr. Matt demonstrated that toxic tobacco residues persist in buildings, vehicles, furnishings, dust, and on surfaces long after smoking ends, creating exposure risks not addressed by traditional smoke-free air laws. His work identified policy gaps, proposed stronger protections, and contributed to California Assembly Bill 455, the first law to define thirdhand tobacco smoke residue as an environmental hazard and require disclosure in residential real estate transactions. Dr. Matt also studies tobacco product waste, including cigarette butts, disposable vapes, and nicotine pouches, as sources of microplastic pollution and chemical contamination. His team conducted the first field assessment of cigarette-butt litter across San Diego County’s eight largest cities, estimating that more than 200 million cigarette butts are discarded annually. His research has shown that cleanup efforts alone cannot solve the problem, highlighting the need for upstream policy solutions that inform housing, environmental health, water quality, and protections for vulnerable populations.
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His work informs policy related to housing, environmental health, water quality, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
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Faculty and Staff Achievements
Anna Rosen, Ph.D. Title: Assistant Professor, Department of Astronomy College: College of Sciences
Achievements: Dr. Rosen is a computational astrophysicist whose research explores how stars and star clusters form and evolve using simulations, observations, and machine learning. Since joining SDSU in 2023, Dr. Rosen has developed innovative computational tools to help scientists compare theoretical models with data from next-generation observatories, including the Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time, a ten-year project that will create a time-lapse view of the universe. Before coming to SDSU, Dr. Rosen was awarded prestigious NASA Einstein, Harvard Institute for Theory and Computation, NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics, and UC Chancellor's Fellowships. A former California community college transfer student, Dr. Rosen earned degrees from UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz before pursuing a career in astrophysics research and education. At SDSU, Dr. Rosen brings cutting-edge research directly into the classroom. Dr. Rosen created ASTR 596: Modeling the Universe from Scratch, a course that introduces students to computational modeling, machine learning, and artificial intelligence while emphasizing scientific reasoning and problem-solving. Over the past academic year, Dr. Rosen mentored undergraduate researcher Alex Escamilla, whose senior thesis became a first-author publication in The Astrophysical Journal — a rare achievement for an undergraduate.
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At SDSU, Dr. Rosen brings cutting-edge research directly into the classroom.
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Faculty and Staff Achievements
Byron Purse, Ph.D. Title: Professor of Chemistry College: College of Sciences
Achievements: Dr. Byron Purse is a professor of organic chemistry whose research focuses on fluorescent nucleoside analogues—artificial DNA and RNA building blocks that help scientists study nucleic acids with exceptional sensitivity. Dr. Purse was awarded U.S. Patent 12,329,828 for fluorescent nucleoside compounds developed at SDSU for advanced DNA and RNA imaging. During 2025-26, Dr. Purse’s group reported two significant advances: In Chemical Science, he and collaborators demonstrated that a fluorescent nucleobase analogue developed at SDSU enables robust single-molecule DNA detection using two-photon excitation, overcoming a longstanding challenge in nucleic acid imaging. In RSC Chemical Biology, his laboratory identified how base-pairing-controlled tautomerism governs fluorescence responses in a tricyclic cytidine analogue, providing new design principles for responsive nucleic acid probes. In 2025, SDSU received U.S. Patent 12,329,828 covering fluorescent nucleoside compounds for advanced imaging and spectroscopy, with potential applications in gene expression studies, RNA biology, and future diagnostic technologies. Dr. Purse also served as a lead organizer of the 2025 ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Graduate Research Symposium hosted at SDSU and directs the SDSU-UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Chemistry, helping strengthen graduate education and research opportunities for doctoral students.
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Congratulations Dr. Purse for being awarded U.S. Patent 12,329,828 for fluorescent nucleoside compounds developed at SDSU for advanced DNA and RNA imaging.
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Featured Areas
Cybersecurity The Cybersecurity Center for Research and Education (CSCRE) fosters innovative research that addresses real-world cybersecurity problems while expanding SDSU’s curriculum in data privacy, AI security, network traffic analysis, wireless security, and software security. In the past year, the center was active in several areas: Research: The CSCRE received its first National Science Foundation grant of $600K for a new, two-year project, “CyberInfrastructure Robustness Understanding through Data eXtraction (CRUX),” which will involve professors and students from SDSU and Georgia Tech. CSCRE faculty and students presented cutting-edge research at top-tier academic venues, including NDSS, ICLR, and IMC. Students: The CSCRE involved two Ph.D., two master’s, and three undergraduate students in research this year. The student-led and CSCRE-mentored Cyber Defense Club placed fourth in the nation out of more than 500 colleges and universities. Curriculum: The CSCRE is thrilled to launch a new course track sequence, “CY,” and five all-new CY 500-level courses: Software Security, Blockchain Security, Applied Cybersecurity Management, AI in Cybersecurity, and Data Privacy. These courses are aligned with industry needs, the expertise of our new professors, and cybersecurity accreditation metrics. Computer science students can take these courses as part of a new cybersecurity concentration elective track. Community: The CSCRE remains active across the community, from providing cybersecurity assistance as part of the cybersecurity clinic to hosting an interactive booth at the Petco STEAM Festival. Of note, SDSU hosted the cybersecurity BSides conference on campus at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, bringing together academics, students, and industry for a day of talks, hacking, and networking.
Some members of the SDSU Cyber Defense Team
Featured Areas
Duran Sciences A transformative new chapter is taking shape at San Diego State University. Rising at the heart of campus, the new sciences building, Duran Sciences, will serve as a cornerstone of SDSU’s growing research enterprise and a powerful symbol of the university’s commitment to scientific discovery, student success, and regional innovation. In April 2026, the project reached a major milestone with a traditional “topping out” ceremony, as the final steel beam was lifted into place atop the five-story structure. Scheduled to open during the 2027-28 Academic Year, the nearly 80,000-square-foot facility will provide stateof-the-art teaching and research laboratories, faculty offices, and collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation across the life sciences. The building will replace the aging North Life Sciences Building, originally constructed in 1962, and will significantly expand opportunities for hands-on learning and cutting-edge research. Designed to support both wet and dry laboratory environments, the facility will enable advances in areas ranging from cancer biology and infectious disease research to biotechnology and environmental science. The project comes at a pivotal moment for SDSU. Following the university’s achievement of R1 status, placing SDSU among the nation’s top research institutions, the new facility will provide the infrastructure needed to support growing research activity, strengthen industry partnerships, and prepare students for careers in San Diego’s thriving life sciences and biotechnology sectors. More than a building, this investment represents a commitment to future generations of scientists. By creating modern spaces where students, faculty, and industry partners can learn, discover, and collaborate, SDSU is building the foundation for breakthroughs that will benefit our region and the world for decades to come.
A crane lifted the final beam for the future Duran Sciences.
Endowments
Empowering Aztecs for Generations New Endowments Barbara White Slyker Scholarship Endowment for Earth and Environmental Sciences Dr. Chidambar L. Kulkarni Memorial Scholarship Endowment George Ream Endowment Harry R. Albers Family Sciences Scholarship Endowment Lucian Crosthwaite & Wendy Morrison Fellowship in Astronomy Endowment Structural Biochemistry Graduate Research Fund Endowment
Endowments (Active) Alba Gonzalez Thompson Endowment for Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education Albert W. and Susan G. Johnson Endowment Alfred McLeod Chemistry Endowment Alfred McLeod Mathematics and Statistics Endowment Allan and Janet Dale Endowment Avery and Grace Endowed Scholarship Awona Harrington Endowment Baylor Brooks Endowed Scholarship Betty Wills Endowment for Applied Science Beverly Butcher and Erin Ballard Memorial Scholarship Endowment BMC Software Endowed Scholarship Brage Golding and Susan Golding Endowment Brenda & Dave Rickey Foundation Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship Britt Lundberg Endowed Scholarship in Sciences Charles J. Stewart Endowed Fellowship Award in Biochemistry Chemistry Department Endowment Clifford and Ruth Smith Memorial Endowment Conrad Prebys Bio-medical Endowed Chair Crellin Pauling Student Teaching Award Endowment Crouch Endowed Scholarship for Avian Behavior CSRC Alumni Award Endowment CSUPERB Quasi Endowment
Daniel Krummenacher Graduate Student Fellowships in Geology David Farris Endowment Deborah M. Dexter Scholarship in Biology Endowment Don Eden Graduate Student Research Award Quasi Endowment Donald Kelm Geological Sciences Endowment Dora M. Newell Endowed Scholarship Dorathe Frick Memorial Endowment Doris Townsend Memorial Endowed Scholarship Dr. Geldreich Endowed Scholarship Dr. Joi Weeks Endowed Scholarship for Chemistry and Biochemistry Students Dr. Oscar Kaplan Endowed Fund in Psychology Dr. Richard L. Jenkins Endowment in Honor of Professor Morey A. Ring Eckis Seismology Endowed Chair Edmond A. Duke Endowed Scholarship Elliott Family Fund Endowed Scholarship Elwood Beatty Endowed Scholarship Eric Karl Spangenberg Scholarship Endowment Franklin Alverson Memorial Endowment Fred Henry Endowed Chair in Life Sciences Geology Endowed Scholarship Geology Utility Endowment George Jiracek Award in Geophysics Endowment Gloria Ann Dylewski Endowed Scholarship Gordon Gastil Endowed Scholarship Gorostiza Endowed Scholarship Grace Hoover Sciences Endowed Scholarship Hardman Foundation Endowment Harold and June Grant Memorial Biology Endowed Scholarship Harold Walba Endowed Fellowship Harrington Geology Endowment Harry Hamber Endowed Scholarship Hillix-Cronan Endowed Scholarship in Psychology James & Mary Crouch Memorial Endowment James Crouch Lectureship Endowment
To learn more, please contact Stacy Carota at scarota@sdsu.edu
Endowments
Empowering Aztecs for Generations Endowments (Active) Continued Jerome M. Sattler and Eleonora De Amorim Silva Endowed Scholarship Jerome M. Sattler and Family Endowed Scholarship Jewel Tisdale Hovey Tribute Endowed Scholarship John and Marjorie Rotner Family Endowed Scholarship John J. and Norma M. Gregory Endowed Fellowship John M. and Barbara M. Hood Astronomy Endowment Fund John Schopp Endowment John W. & Diane D. Robinson Endowed Scholarship Jordan Dale Covin Memorial Endowed Scholarship Kopp Research Endowment Kung-Jong Lui Endowed Memorial Scholarship Lane Family Computer Science Endowed Scholarship Larry and Judy Sowder Endowment Lester Skolil Memorial Endowment Lester Skolil Memorial Endowment Litrownik Distinguished Alumni Scholar Endowment Lizon Family Scholarship Endowment Louise McNally Endowment Lowell Burnett, Ph.D. Endowed Award Mabel Myers Endowment Malik Harrington Endowment Maravai LifeSciences Foundation Student Discovery Endowment Marjorie S. and Merle B. Turner Endowed Scholarship Martha Nastronero Ogness Scholarship for Mathematics Endowment Mary and Phil Kantor Endowment Maxson Family Biology Undergraduate Research Endowment Michael and Donna Malley Endowed Fellowship Michael S. Ptacek Endowed Scholarship Neel Endowed Scholarship Paul G. and Margaret F. Peninger Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Paul Kurtz and Genevieve Jane Crecelius Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry Prebys Biomedical Research Endowed Scholarship Professor Emeritus and Ecology Endowment R. D. Harwood Endowment Rebecca B. Bryson-Kissinger Memorial Endowed Scholarship Reginald F. Buller Award Endowment Roger and Gail Sabbadini Quasi-Endowment Roger Carpenter Endowment Rollin and Caroline Eckis Endowed Scholarship in Geology Ronald Dietz College of Sciences Endowment S. L. Frankel Endowment Shiley Life Sciences and Bioengineering Endowed Scholarship Social Psychology Endowment Student Field Experiences Endowment Summer Visitor Program Endowment The Campanile Foundation Endowed Chair The Jivan & S.C. Tong Endowed Fellowship The Strauss Family Trust Scholarship Endowment Theodore William and Nhung Lu Booth Endowment Thomas B. Day Awards for Excellence in Physics Tom Ragan Memorial Endowed Fellowship Verona Pichler Scholarship Endowment Vince Landis Geology Student Field Experience Endowment W. H. Trowbridge Endowment W. M. Keck Foundation Geology Endowment Wassenberg Seminar Endowment Wawanesa Insurance Endowed Scholarship Willard Matteson Endowment William E. Hazen Endowment William F. Lucas/San Diego Astronomy Association Endowment William G. Tong Endowed Fellowship WT Trott Scholarship Endowment Fund
To learn more, please contact Stacy Carota at scarota@sdsu.edu
Thank you for your generous support.
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