Student Success and Transfer Articulation through Research and Support Services
Student Success and Transfer Articulation through Research and Support Services (STARS) Grant
Funded by the Department of Education, the Student Success and Transfer Articulation through Research and Support Services (STARS) project at Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) aims to increase the institutional capacity of CPP, Citrus College, and Mount San Antonio College to engage low-income students in STEM disciplines through undergraduate research and related wrap-around services.
The goal of this program is to ensure exposure to undergraduate research early and throughout the student’s university and college career with support services that ensure students develop a sense of STEM self-efficacy, receive timely information, receive proactive advising and mentoring, and foster students’ sense of belonging to both higher education and the STEM community.
Below are the different components that make up the STARS grant, including the student research program, the postdoctoral program, and the community college transfer pathways.


STARS Research Program
The STARS Research Program provides eligible STEM students from CPP, Mt. SAC, and Citrus College with the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research, faculty mentorship, workshops, advising, and career development opportunities.

PLUTO
The Postdoctoral Leadership of Underrepresented minorities for Teacher-scholar Occupations (PLUTO) program aims to recruit STEM Ph.D mentors and supporting postdocs in managing leadership roles to increase institutional engagement of underrepresented students in STEM disciplines.

Transfer Pathways
Through Transfer Pathways, Cal Poly Pomona will award an admissions advantage to Citrus and Mt. SAC transfer applicants who complete designated course sequences at their community college.


STARS Student Research Program

Dr. Winny Dong
STARS Program Director
Jennette Ramirez
STARS Assistant Program Director
Kaira Pettway
STARS Assistant Program Coordinator
Fernando Padilla
STARS Student Assistant
Alicia Nuñez
STARS Web DeveloperSTARS PLUTO

Dr. Chantal Stieber
PLUTO Program Coordinator
Dr. Zoe Marr
PLUTO Postdoc
Dr. Benjamin Goka
PLUTO Postdoc
Dr. Ana C Garcia Alvarez
PLUTO Postdoc
Dr. Moises Bravo
PLUTO Postdoc
Dr. Eric Lopes
PLUTO PostdocSTARS Principal Investigators

Dr. Winny Dong
STARS Research Program
Dr. Chantal Stieber
PLUTO
Dr. Jeyoung Woo
Transfer Pathways
Dr. Subodh Bhandari
Industry Relations
Dr. David Still
Industry Relations
Dr. Tingting Chen
Workshops
Dr. Navid Nahkjiri
Student ResearchEvaluators

Dr. Rebecca M. Eddy
