Research and Impact

Work with Experts, BE the Expert 

As faculty conduct impactful research, scholarship and creative activities, they prioritize student participation. Students gain hands-on experiences relevant to their goals, freedom to tailor projects to their interests and skills to become experts in their chosen fields. SFSU’s community has leaders in everything from medicine and film to parks and recreation. Given the University’s location, SFSU students collaborate — and build robust networks — within SFSU, the greater Bay Area and beyond.

• Berenice Baca’s research — which began as an undergraduate class project — could have a huge impact on sea star restoration efforts.
• Five SFSU students worked on “A Pocket Magic Flute,” produced by the Pocket Opera company of San Francisco. The project received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Opera America and was a finalist for the Digital Excellence in Opera Award from Opera America.
• Manmit Singh’s work led to the CSU becoming the first university system nationwide to add caste to its anti-discrimination policy. Singh received the CSU 2022 Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement.
• The Cell and Molecular Imaging Center (CMIC) surpassed 1,000 student trainees since 2003. Students get top tier training and often share their research at international conferences or publish data in peer-reviewed journals.

[Cell and Molecular Imaging Center Director Annette Chan] provides the most thorough training you can imagine. I think that’s very different from other facilities and facility managers. The training [students] get at CMIC is one of the best anywhere.
—Biology Professor Diana Chu

Get support for your research

In 2023, the University established SFSU Create, a hub focused on student research, scholarship and creative activities. They can help students find one of 650+ independent study opportunities per semester. Grants provided more than $8 million in direct support to students for research and training. Students conducting research not only get technical support and expertise but may also find University programs to provide additional academic and financial support. 

Share your research 

Each year, hundreds of undergraduates and graduate students from different colleges and departments share their research and creative activities at student project showcases across campus. Some events attract hundreds of participants and have community guests from academia, industry, government and other sectors. Many SFSU students also participate in the campus-wide research competition and advance to the California State University (CSU) level research competition.