50 Years of WCBSURC

WCBSURC Conference History

The West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research (WCBSUR) Conference is the oldest, continuously operating, intercollegiate conference of its kind in the nation.

Portrait shot of Dr. William Eisinger.

Founded in 1976 by Dr. William Eisinger, Professor of Biology at Santa Clara University, the conference was hosted by Santa Clara every year until 1986, when other institutions began sharing the responsibility.

Since its founding, the WCBSUR Conference has brought together undergraduate researchers and faculty mentors from institutions across the country and beyond. As of 2026, the conference has welcomed more than 15,000 student and faculty participants representing 234 institutions in 45 states and Canada.

The purposes of the conference are:

  1. To provide a forum for undergraduate researchers to present original data they have generated in the fields of biology, biochemistry, and biophysics.
  2. To foster intercollegiate interactions among students and faculty who are committed to undergraduate research in the biological sciences.

50 Years of Hosting Institutions

Since 1976, the WCBSUR Conference has been hosted by institutions throughout the western United States.

  • Azusa Pacific University — 2014
  • Colorado College — 2003
  • CSU San Marcos — 2025
  • Loyola Marymount University — 1990, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2023
  • Occidental College — 1986, 1988, 1994
  • Pacific Lutheran University — 2011
  • Point Loma Nazarene University — 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2027
  • Santa Clara University — 1976–1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2001, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2024
  • Sonoma State University — 2026
  • St. Mary’s College of California — 2018
  • UC Irvine — 1999
  • University of San Diego — 2019
  • University of San Francisco — 1993, 1995, 1998

WCBSURC at Point Loma Nazarene University

Large group of students, faculty, and research presenters gather outdoors on the PLNU campus during an academic research event.

Point Loma Nazarene University has a long history with the WCBSUR Conference. PLNU's involvement began in 1977 and has been continuous every year since 1983.

Over the years, Point Loma has hosted the conference multiple times, welcoming undergraduate researchers and faculty mentors to campus to share their work and connect with colleagues from across the country.

In 2027, Point Loma Nazarene University will once again welcome WCBSURC to campus for its 50th annual conference.

Empty Campus Image

A History in Pictures

Explore the history of Point Loma's ongoing relationship with the WCBSURC through this pictorial overview. 

View the WCBSURC at Point Loma Presentation

Participating Institutions: 1976 through 2026

Alabama

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alaska

  • University of Alaska – Fairbanks
  • University of Alaska – Juneau

Arkansas

  • University of Arkansas - Fayetteville

Arizona

  • Arizona State University
  • Northern Arizona University
  • University of Arizona

Canada

  • McMaster University
  • University of the Fraser Valley

California

  • Allan Hancock College
  • American River College
  • Antelope Valley College
  • Azusa Pacific University
  • Biola University
  • California Baptist University
  • California Institute of Technology
  • California Lutheran University
  • California Polytechnic Institute at Pomona
  • California Polytechnic Institute at - San Luis Obispo 
  • Chapman University
  • Charles Drew Medical School
  • Chico State University
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • College of the Canyons
  • Cosumnes River College
  • CSU-Bakersfield
  • CSU-Channel Islands
  • CSU-Dominguez Hills
  • CSU-East Bay
  • CSU–Fresno
  • CSU-Hayward
  • CSU–Humboldt
  • CSU–Long Beach
  • CSU-Los Angeles
  • CSU-Monterey Bay
  • CSU-Northridge
  • CSU-Sacramento
  • CSU-San Bernardino
  • CSU-San Marcos
  • CSU-Stanislaus
  • Diablo Valley College
  • Dominican University
  • Fresno Pacific University
  • Fullerton State University
  • Glendale Community College
  • Golden West College
  • Harvey Mudd College
  • Irvine Valley College
  • LA Mission College
  • La Sierra University
  • Loma Linda University
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Mesa College
  • Mills College
  • Miracosta College
  • Miramar College
  • Mount St. Mary’s College
  • National University
  • Occidental College
  • Otis College of Art and Design
  • Pacific University
  • Palomar College
  • Pasadena City College
  • Pepperdine University
  • Pitzer College
  • Point Loma Nazarene University 
  • Pomona College
  • San Diego City College
  • Saddleback College
  • San Diego State University
  • San Francisco State University
  • San Jose State University
  • Santa Clara University
  • Santa Rosa College
  • Scripps College
  • Skyline College
  • Soka University of America
  • Sonoma State University
  • Southwestern College
  • Stanford University
  • St. Mary's College of CA
  • The Master’s University
  • The Scripps Research Institute
  • Touro University
  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis
  • UC Irvine
  • UCLA
  • UC Merced
  • UC Riverside
  • UC San Diego
  • UC San Francisco
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • UC Santa Cruz
  • University of La Verne
  • University of the Pacific
  • University of Redlands
  • University of San Diego
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Southern California 
  • Vanguard University
  • Victor Valley College
  • West Los Angeles College
  • West Valley Mission College 
  • Westmont College 
  • Whittier University
  • Yuba College

Colorado

  • Adams State University
  • Colorado College
  • Fort Lewis College
  • Regis University
  • University of Colorado at Boulder 
  • University of Northern Colorado
  • US Air Force Academy

Connecticut

  • Quinnipiac University
  • Yale University

Florida

  • University of South Florida
  • University of Tampa
  • University of West Florida

Georgia

  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • University of Georgia

Hawaii

  • BYU Hawaii
  • Chaminade University
  • University of Hawaii - Manoa

Idaho

  • College of Idaho
  • Idaho State University
  • Northwest Nazarene University
  • University of Idaho

Illinois

  • Loyola University of Chicago
  • Northwestern University
  • Roosevelt University
  • University of Chicago
  • Wheaton College

Indiana

  • Earlham College
  • University of Notre Dame

Iowa

  • Briar Cliff University

Kansas

  • Wichita State University
  • Tabor College

Kentucky

  • Berea College
  • Centre College
  • Kentucky Wesleyan College
  • University of the Cumberlands
  • University of Louisville

Louisiana

  • Grambling State University
  • Louisiana State University
  • Tulane University
  • University of Louisiana at Monroe

Maryland

  • Morgan State University

Massachusetts

  • College of the Holy Cross
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michigan

  • University of Michigan

Minnesota

  • University of Minnesota

Mississippi

  • University of Mississippi

Missouri

  • Truman State University
  • Washington University - St. Louis

Montana

  • Montana State University
  • University of Montana

Nebraska

  • Creighton University
  • Hastings College
  • Nebraska Wesleyan University

Nevada

  • Nevada State University
  • University of Nevada at Reno
  • UNLV

New Jersey

  • Princeton University
  • Stockton University

New Mexico

University of New Mexico

New York

  • CUNY - Hunter College
  • New York University
  • Pace University
  • Skidmore College

North Carolina

  • Duke University
  • Elon University
  • University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

Ohio

  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Hiram College
  • Ohio State University
  • Youngstown State University

Oklahoma

  • East Central University
  • Oklahoma City University
  • Oral Roberts University
  • Southern Nazarene University
  • University of Oklahoma

Oregon

  • Linfield College
  • Oregon State University
  • Portland State University
  • Reed College
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Portland
  • Willamette University

Pennsylvania

  • Bryn Mawr College
  • Indiana University of Pennsylvania
  • Penn State University
  • Villanova University
  • Westminster College

Rhode Island

  • Rhode Island College

South Carolina

  • Clemson University

South Dakota

  • South Dakota State University
  • University of South Dakota

Tennessee

  • Vanderbilt University

Texas

  • St. Edwards’ University
  • St. Mary's University
  • Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
  • Trinity University
  • University of Texas Austin
  • University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley

Utah

  • Brigham Young University
  • Dixie State University
  • Southern Utah University
  • University of Utah
  • Utah Tech University
  • Utah Valley University
  • Weber State University

Vermont

  • Middlebury College

Virginia

  • George Mason University

Washington

  • Eastern Washington University
  • Evergreen State College
  • Everett Community College
  • Gonzaga University
  • Pacific Lutheran University
  • Peninsula College
  • Seattle Pacific University
  • Seattle University
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of Washington
  • Washington State University
  • Western Washington University
  • Whitman College
  • Whitworth College

Wisconsin

  • Edgewood College
  • Northland College
  • University of Wisconsin Madison
  • University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Wyoming

  • University of Wyoming