Our summer research program offered hands-on research opportunities to 10 high school students from California. Through the program, the students learned how to design and carry out experiments under the direct mentorship of a graduate student or post-doctoral student within a stem cell based research lab. These 10 students also attended 6 lectures in the stem cell field which were focused on the fundamentals of stem cell biology and the techniques involved. They also attended 8 joint group lectures on a variety of topics and special seminars on topics such as how to write a research abstract and make a research poster. They had the opportunity through these joint lectures to hear from famous Faculty in various fields including some Nobel Laureates. During the summer, the students also had the opportunity to visit a local hospital, participate in an outreach event for the bone marrow registry, participate in a panel discussion with patients/families, attend weekly lab meetings and other social events. At the end of the program, these students presented an oral powerpoint presentation within their group and they also presented their research poster at a poster session held on campus. All the students did a wonderful job on their research projects and their presentations. The internship experience had a great impact on all the students and mentors and for the future of stem cell research in California. For many of these students, this was the first time they had an opportunity to work in a research lab. As these students came from very diverse backgrounds, this experience had a profound impact on how they viewed scientific research and the many career options that they could explore in the future. This experience also taught them valuable techniques and skills that they will be able to use in future lab experiences in college and graduate school. The students had the opportunity to meet other students who were excited about science research and through the many small group sessions, they were also able to build strong peer relationships within the group. These students were also able to learn the value of what it means to work collaboratively as part of a lab and to have interactions with other trained scientists within the lab. Furthermore, because of this opportunity, one of the major benefits was the self confidence that could be built in these students as they were able to contribute in a meaningful way to each lab's research aims. This internship also provided valuable mentoring experiences for the direct mentors for these students. In summary, this internship had many benefits for all involved. It provided students from various backgrounds the opportunity to engage in cutting edge research in stem cell biology, and to be part of the pipeline of students who will be our future researchers.
Reporting Period:
Year 2
Our CIRM SPARK summer research program offered hands-on research opportunities to 10 high school students during the summer of 2017. The students interned in various stem cell research labs and learned how to design and carry out experiments under the direct tutelage of a one-on-one mentor. The students were mentored directly by graduate students, postdoctoral fellows or Faculty members. These students also had the unique opportunity to attend many lectures in the stem cell field which were focused on the fundamentals of stem cell biology and the techniques involved. They also attended 6 joint group lectures and special seminars on topics such as careers in science and how to write a research abstract and make a research poster. Students also had the opportunity to participate in weekly lab meetings and other peer interactive social events. At the end of the program, these students had the opportunity to present an oral powerpoint presentation within their group and they also presented their research poster at a poster session held on campus. All the students did an amazing job on their research projects and their presentations. Because of the CIRM SPARK internship program, there were many benefits for the students, mentors and for the future of stem cell research in California. For many of these students, this was the first time they had an opportunity to work in a research lab. As these students came from very diverse backgrounds, this experience had a profound impact on how they viewed scientific research and the many career options that they could explore in the future. This experience also taught them valuable techniques and skills that they will be able to use in future lab experiences in college and graduate school. The students had the opportunity to meet other students who were excited about science research and through the many small group sessions, they were also able to build strong peer relationships within the group. These students were also able to learn the value of what it means to work collaboratively as part of a lab and to have interactions with other trained scientists within the lab. Furthermore, because of this opportunity, one of the major benefits was the self confidence that could be built in these students as they were able to contribute in a meaningful way to the labs' research aims. This internship also provided valuable mentoring experiences for the direct mentors for these students. In summary, this internship had many benefits for all involved. It provided students from various backgrounds the opportunity to engage in cutting edge research in stem cell biology, and to be part of the pipeline of students who will be our future researchers.
Reporting Period:
Year 3
During the summer of 2018, 10 students were given the opportunity to engage in hands on research on our campus in the field of stem cell biology. Under the mentorship of a graduate student or post-doctoral student, the high school interns learned how to design and carry out research experiments. The students also attended lectures about the basics of the stem cell field taught by graduate students. They also attended additional lectures taught by prestigious Faculty on a variety of topics to widen the students' knowledge about current topics in the biomedical field. Special seminars on topics such as how to write a research abstract and make a research poster were also taught in the summer. As part of the program, the students also had the opportunity to participate in a campus outreach tabling event for the bone marrow registry, participate in a panel discussion with a patient/doctor , and attend weekly lab meetings and other program events. At the end of the program, these students presented an oral powerpoint presentation within their group and they also presented their research poster at a poster session held on campus. The students' projects varied widely and each had a unique focus of study within stem cell research. The internship experience had a great impact on all the students and mentors and for the future of stem cell research in California. For many of these students, this was the first time they had an opportunity to work in a research lab. As these students came from very diverse backgrounds, this experience had a great impact on how they viewed scientific research and the many career options that they could explore in the future. This experience also taught them valuable techniques and skills that they will be able to use in future lab experiences in college and graduate school. The students had the opportunity to meet other students who were excited about science research and through the many small group sessions, they were also able to build strong peer relationships within the group. These students were also able to learn the value of what it means to work collaboratively as part of a lab and to have interactions with other trained scientists within the lab. Furthermore, because of this opportunity, one of the major benefits was the self confidence that could be built in these students as they were able to contribute in a meaningful way to each lab's research aims. This internship also provided valuable mentoring experiences for the direct mentors for these students. In summary, this internship provided students from various backgrounds the opportunity to engage in cutting edge research in stem cell biology, and to be part of the pipeline of students who will be our future researchers.
Reporting Period:
Year 4
Our summer research program offered exciting hands-on research opportunities to 10 high school students during the summer of 2019. The main focus of the program was for these students to learn how to design and carry out experiments under the mentorship of a graduate student, fellow or Faculty member. The high school students were placed in various stem cell research labs and they were each paired with a one-on-one mentor. In addition to carrying out research experiments, these students also had the unique opportunity to participate in 6 specialized lectures in the stem cell research area which gave them a strong grasp of the fundamentals of stem cell biology and the techniques involved. They also attended 6 joint Faculty lectures and special seminars on topics such as careers in science and how to write a research abstract and make a research poster. Students also had the opportunity to attend weekly lab meetings, peer interactive social events and to attend a local field trip. At the end of the program, these students had the opportunity to present an oral powerpoint presentation within their group and they also presented their research poster at a poster session held on campus. All the students did an outstanding job on their research projects and their presentations. Because of this internship program, there were many benefits for the students, mentors and for the future of stem cell research in California. For many of these students, this was the first time they had an opportunity to work in a research lab. As these students came from very diverse backgrounds, this experience had a profound impact on how they viewed scientific research and the many career options that they could explore in the future. This experience also taught them valuable techniques and skills that they will be able to use in future lab experiences in college and graduate school. These students were also able to learn the value of what it means to work collaboratively as part of a lab and to have interactions with other trained scientists within the lab. Furthermore, because of this opportunity, one of the major benefits was the self confidence that could be built in these students as they were able to contribute in a meaningful way to the labs' research aims. This internship also provided valuable mentoring experiences for the direct mentors for these students. In summary, this internship had many benefits for all involved. It provided students from various backgrounds the opportunity to engage in cutting edge research in stem cell biology, and to be part of the pipeline of students who will be our future researchers.
Reporting Period:
Year 5/6
For this past summer’s internship program, due to the pandemic, our summer research program offered virtual research opportunities to 7 high school students from California. Through the program, the students learned how to design and carry out experiments under the direct mentorship of a graduate student or post-doctoral fellow within a stem cell based research lab. These 7 students also attended lectures in the stem cell field which were focused on the fundamentals of stem cell biology and the techniques involved. They also attended joint group lectures on a variety of topics and special seminars on topics such as how to write a research abstract, create a research poster and an overview of the various careers in science. They had the opportunity through these joint lectures to hear from famous Faculty in various fields including specialists in bone marrow transplantation and other stem cell fields. During the summer, the students also had the opportunity to hear from a representative from a major bone marrow registry organization and attend weekly lab meetings and other virtual social events. At the end of the program, these students presented an oral powerpoint presentation within their group and they also presented their research poster at the CIRM program-wide poster day with all the other participating schools/institutes. All the students successfully finished their research projects and gave great presentations. For many of these students, this was the first time they had an opportunity to work on a research project. As these students came from very diverse backgrounds, this experience had a profound impact on how they viewed scientific research and the many career options that they could explore in the future. This experience also taught them valuable techniques and skills that they will be able to use in future lab experiences in college and graduate school. The students had the opportunity to meet other students who were excited about science research and through the many small group sessions, they were also able to build strong peer relationships within the group. These students were also able to learn the value of what it means to work collaboratively as part of a lab and to have interactions with other trained scientists within the lab. Furthermore, because of this opportunity, one of the major benefits was the self confidence that could be built in these students as they were able to contribute in a meaningful way to each lab's research aims. Overall, the internship provided students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to engage in cutting edge research in stem cell biology and to be part of the pipeline of students who will be our future researchers.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine- Summer Research Internship
Public Abstract:
The ultimate goal of our proposed summer internship program is to train a diverse group of students who will be the next generation of future stem cell scientists. The proposed internship will strengthen the future of stem cell research in California by providing California high school students the exciting opportunity to delve into hands-on research in various areas within stem cell biology. Our program aims to recruit a diverse group of participants from low socioeconomic backgrounds from various ethnicities. The participating students will be mentored directly by graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and Faculty within various stem cell research labs. Before participating in the research internship, students will prepare for the internship by attending a special workshop day which will include an overview of the program, biology basics review, stem cell introduction, a bootcamp on lab skills and techniques, a campus tour and a chance to socialize during the meal times. At the start of the program, students will be taught the basics of the stem cell field through the opportunity to attend a lecture series course in stem cell biology taught by graduate students. Additional lectures will be taught by Faculty and will include titles such as "How to Write a Scientific Abstract", "How to Read a Journal Article", "Careers in Science and Medicine" and "How to Create a Research Poster". Students will also have the opportunity to attend special seminars regarding science fairs, the college application process and graduate school/medical school educational paths by current MD and PhD students. One of the key skills students will learn through this internship will include how to present their research data to the public. The student interns will have several opportunities to present their research through an oral presentation symposium open to the community, presentation at lab meetings as well as presentation of their research poster at an end of summer poster session which is also open to the community. During the summer, our goal for the students is to be well trained in laboratory techniques and to motivate them to continue their excitement for stem cell and regenerative medicine research in the future. Another goal is that the participating students will disseminate their excitement for stem cell and regenerative medicine to their families, classmates in high school, and local communities. The discoveries that these students will contribute to in their labs will further help to promote stem cell research in California and throughout the world.
Statement of Benefit to California:
Our program recognizes that there is not only a great need to increase the pipeline of students entering the biomedical research field but also a compelling need to promote ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in the biomedical and life sciences. There also needs to be increased emphasis of beginning this initiative at the high school level. Exposing California high school students to this new field of stem cell research will allow them to explore biomedical research as a possible career, and to create a pipeline of future Californians to serve as stem cell biologists. Silicon Valley entrepreneurs exemplify the risk taking and creativity needed to change the world. Even before the Gold Rush, the State of California was considered a place to seek adventure and to make important discoveries. Now in 2015, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine require visionary leaders, and organizations such as CIRM to fund them and to sustain their ideas. California is falling further behind by the day in science and math education. There is no better way to improve science, math and engineering education in California than by enabling California students to DO science themselves – as stem cell researchers. These same young trainees will benefit other Californians by making important discoveries that will improve the health of other Californians – and for that matter the whole world.
