CSUB student selected for California Pre-Doctoral Program

Scholarship will support research, cover graduate school application fees

By California State University, Bakersfield

July 20^th, 2023

Psychology major Brandon Krieg has been interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in neuroscience for a long time, but was unsure if he would ever be able to get into a program, or even afford it.

“I just figured I would get my master’s and that would be it,” he said.

Those plans have now changed. Instead of pursuing a master’s degree after graduating with his bachelor’s from California State University, Bakersfield, Krieg is now planning to go directly into a Ph.D. program, thanks in part to being selected as a 2023-24 Sally Casanova Scholar through the California Pre-Doctoral Program.

Krieg will receive a $5,000 scholarship through the program — which aims to prepare students for success in a doctoral program in their field of study — that will help him pay for applications to graduate school, visit doctoral-granting institutions and support the research he’s been involved with at CSUB.

“I’m over the moon. Luck was really on my side,” he said. “This is the sort of thing that lets students like me have the opportunity to reach for the stars. Without this, I wouldn’t have as good of a chance as I have now to be successful in a doctoral program.”

Krieg has also received additional training last year as part of CSUB’s new Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement program. He was one of eight CSUB students who were selected for the program, which is being funded through a five-year, $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Conducting research wasn’t something Krieg had anticipated when he first transferred to CSUB three years ago. His faculty mentor — Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Amy Gancarz-Kausch — encouraged him to get involved in her research lab after he demonstrated his potential in one of her classes.

Krieg and his fellow students in the lab have been studying the effect of sugar in rats and how their sensation-seeking behavior relates to that of drug addiction.

“The research has been amazing,” he said. “I never had a true appreciation for it, but now actually being involved with it, I understand the level of devotion it takes to be a researcher. It becomes a part of who you are.”

'Making a difference'

Dr. Gancarz-Kausch said Krieg has done great work in the lab and has demonstrated that he is able to overcome the challenges of an intense research environment.

“From the beginning, Brandon showed himself to be an independent worker,” she said. “He completes tasks quickly and efficiently with little supervision. The experiments conducted in my lab are very work-intensive and require extensive training to conduct. During his time in my lab, Brandon exhibited that he is highly intelligent, analytical, detail-oriented and has a strong passion for neuroscience research.”

Krieg especially enjoys the data analysis aspect of research. He said that is often the most exciting part because that’s where discoveries are made and when researchers get to really see the results of the hard work.

“I’m so fascinated by the work we do in our lab,” he said. “It feels like we’re making a difference, that it could lead to a discovery down the line — and that’s so exciting.”

Krieg said he’s grateful that the scholarship and U-RISE program are supporting him in continuing his research, as he believes there are always new breakthroughs to be found.

“The fun thing about research is you go in with some questions and you start to get some answers, but then sometimes those answers lead to more questions, so there’s even more research that needs to be done,” he said.

Dr. Gancarz-Kausch believes the California Pre-Doctoral Program is essential in providing academic support and mentorship to students like Krieg who are interested in pursuing admission to Ph.D. programs.

“The program is life-changing for students in my lab,” she said. “I have had the privilege of serving as a faculty mentor for two former CSUB students [who] are now in their graduate programs, and I can say with confidence that the support is critical to ensure our student’s success in gaining entry to Ph.D. programs and moving forward in their graduate careers.”

Dr. Gancarz-Kausch is confident that Krieg will become such a student in the near future, as she said he has shown he possesses the natural ability, dedication, persistence and self-motivation needed to be successful in a doctoral program.

“Brandon has already grown so much as a scientist in the last year of working in the lab, and I am excited to see what he will accomplish in his academic career,” she said. “I have sincerely enjoyed having him in the classroom and my research lab. He is most deserving of the scholarship, and I am thrilled that he was selected for this very prestigious award.”

After receiving a doctoral degree, Krieg eventually wants to give back to the community by helping other college students succeed.

“My big dream has always been to be a professor,” he said. “I want to support students as my education has supported me. I want to show them that the path of success is possible. It really didn’t feel like it for a long time for me. It’s been a long journey, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel now.”

Students who are juniors, seniors, or in masters’ programs are eligible for the California Pre-Doctoral Program. The 2024-25 scholarship application cycle will open in December. Visit the CSU website for more information.