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Cal Poly Pomona

CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research FAQ

1. Q: What is the purpose of the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program?

A: The purpose of the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program is to provide comprehensive stem cell training and research opportunities for qualified students, as well as, to give our large, ethnically diverse student populations a basic understanding of stem cell research.

2. Q: Am I eligible to participate in the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program?

A:Your overall GPA must be a 3.0 or above.

You must have completed at least three of the courses listed below, before the research internship begins (January), or their equivalents, with a B or better. Students at Cal State L.A. may take BIO 465/465L or BIO 565/565L at Cal Poly Pomona Fall Quarter, 2009. The new cell culture course BIOL 454L will be offered at Cal State LA in the Fall Quarter, 2010.

Cal Poly Pomona

        • BIO 310 Molecular and Cell Biology
        • BIO 450 Concepts of Molecular Biology
        • BIO 451/451L Molecular Biology Techniques
        • BIO 455/455L Molecular Biology of Recombinant DNA
        • BIO 570/570L Cellular Immunity and Disease
        • MICR415/415L Immunology and Serology
        • BIO465/465L Stem Cell Biology
        • BIO 565/565L Animal Tissue Culture

     

Cal State L.A.

        • BIOL 380 Cell Biology OR CHEM 431 ABC Biochemistry
        • BIOL 413 Molecular Diagnostics
        • BIOL 416 Molecular Genetics
        • BIOL 417 Principles of Gene Manipulation
        • BIOL 519 Genetic Engineering Laboratory
        • MICR 304 Immunology and Serology
        • MICR 450 Innate Immunity
        • BIOL 454L Basic Cell Culture Theory and Techniques (Beginning Fall 2010)

3. Q: Are there any financial benefits from participation in the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program?

A: Students chosen to participate in the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program will be granted a stipend. The stipends are as follows:

Undergraduate Student Researchers

  • A 6 month full-time (40h/week) paid research internship ($2500/month***STIPEND SUBJECT TO TAX) in a stem cell lab at City of Hope, Caltech, USC, Western University of Health Sciences or The Scripps Institute.

Graduate Student Researchers

  • A one year full-time (40h/week) paid research internship ($2500/month***STIPEND SUBJECT TO TAX) in a stem cell lab at City of Hope, Caltech, USC, Western University of Health Sciences or The Scripps Institute.

4. Q: Where do I do my research?

A: Students participating in the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research will choose a mentor at one of four non-profit institutions (California Institute of Technology, City of Hope, The Scripps Research Institute, Western University of Health Sciences and University of Southern California) and perform their research at that institution. The internship program will be integrated into the students' undergraduate BS (BS) or graduate (MS) programs.  The interns will be assigned both a research mentor from the institution in which they will be doing their stem cell research and a CSU faculty mentor to guide them during their internships.

5. Q: As a graduate student researcher, what happens if I do not finish my thesis research in 1 year?

A:  If necessary, to finish the thesis project, research may continue after completion of the internship, but without financial stipend support from CIRM.

6. Q: Are there additional courses that I will need to take in order to complete the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program?

A:  All interns who have been accepted to the program will participate in a 1-week Stem Cell Techniques Training course at the USC CIRM Shared Research Laboratory prior to starting their internships.

7. Q: Are the stipends ($2500/month) subject to tax?

A: Yes. You are encouraged to seek professional tax advice for personal income tax questions and assistance.