CSUN-UCLA Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program

Mission Statement:

Our inter-institutional training program will provide an opportunity for engaged, interested, and successful trainees to gain the necessary skills and qualifications to springboard into careers in stem cell research   This program is expected to contribute significantly to the number of students prepared for research careers in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine that span the spectrum, from basic studies to translational approaches.

Program Information

  • 6 graduate student 1 year internship positions per year
  • 4 undergraduate 2 semester (9 months) internship positions per year
  • Both internships will focus on a hands-on, practical laboratory-intensive training experience.
    • Trainees will participate in stem cell biology research in mentor labs at UCLA an average of 40 hours per week.
    • Trainees will attend and participate in weekly stem cell biology-related seminars and journal clubs
    • Trainees will attend major annual stem cell symposia at UCLA and CIRM.
    • The research that the Bridges trainees perform at UCLA will culminate in a written and oral Senior Thesis for undergraduate students and a written and oral Graduate Thesis for the Master’s candidates. 
    • Students will be enrolled full time at CSUN in special internship courses that will be paid for by the Bridges grant
      • up to $5,000.00 available for tuition and fees during the internship time only 
    • Students will receive a stipend of $2500.00 per month during the internship time only and travel fellowships to attend the CIRM symposia.

Internship Opportunities at UCLA

  • Trainees will have access to more than 40 stem cell research labs headed by UCLA faculty who are world leaders in: cell and molecular biology, bioengineering, and molecular medicine, with particular expertise in signal transduction, gene expression, neurobiology, hematopoiesis, immunology, vascular cell biology, cancer stem cells, tissue engineering, biomolecular materials, microfluidics, nanotechnology, and imaging.
  • Trainees will also work in the CIRM funded Shared Research Laboratory, with available supportive resources including an FDA compliant Good Tissue Practice lab adjacent to a Good Manufacturing Practices suite, hESC and iPSC Core Banks, a Derivation Lab, and a recently awarded CIRM Major Facility with bioengineering, computational biology, and advanced mouse genetics Cores.

Program Requirements

Prerequisites:

  • The core program requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree in biology, or equivalent for graduate student participants.
    • These include one year of Biological Principles and Lab, one year of General Chemistry and Lab, one year of Organic Chemistry and Lab, one year of Physics and Lab, and one semester each of Evolutionary Biology, Cell Biology and Lab, and Genetics.
  • Cell and Tissue Culture and Lab (BIOL 577/L) earning an “A” grade is required before formal acceptance into the internship.
  • Participation in at least one semester (or summer) equivalent to 2 units of Independent Study or Directed Research credit performing basic research in a Program approved CSUN research laboratory is required.
  • Undergraduate participants will be enrolled in Senior Thesis units and will write an Honors thesis at the end of their internship.
  • Graduate students will be required to enroll in Graduate Thesis units and will write their Master’s thesis based on research performed during their internship.

Eligibility

  • Prerequisite checks
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0
  • Commitment to goals of the program
  • Applications will be screened for compliance with eligibility requirements and scored by the admissions committee.
  • Highest scoring students will be referred to the project co-director, Dr. Malone for final approval.
  • Participant selection procedures have been developed to ensure all eligible students have equal opportunity for selection.
  • All admitted students will attend a mandatory orientation at CSUN describing the specific requirements and expectations of the program.
  • Before beginning their internships in August, students will enroll in a week-long stem cell techniques course that provides hands on laboratory training in hESCs at the CIRM-funded Shared Research Laboratory at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (tuition and fees will be paid for by the grant).

How Do I Apply?

Students interested in any of the three cohorts (Fall 2010, Fall 2011 and Fall 2012) are invited to apply. Applications are due March 15, 2010.