Internship Programs

CIRM-Funded Internship Programs: SPARKBridges, COMPASS & Scholars

CIRM’s mission is to accelerate world class science to deliver transformative regenerative medicine treatments in an equitable manner to a diverse California and world. Key to achieving this mission is the creation of a diverse and skilled work force.

Through formally awarded Training Grants, CIRM supports coursework and sponsors laboratory research internships for students and trainees of various education levels around the state of California. To learn more about these unique educational internship and training programs and how to apply, see below.

SPARK Program (High School)

The Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative Medicine Knowledge (SPARK) offers California high school students an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on training in stem cell research at some of the leading research institutes in California. The SPARK program targets students who represent the diversity of California’s population, particularly those who might not otherwise have opportunities to partake in research internships due to socioeconomic constraints.

SPARK students spend a summer learning about stem cells and regenerative medicine and will participate in a six-week paid research internship in a stem cell lab. At the end of their program, students get to show off their hard work by presenting their research at the SPARK annual conference.

There are 11 active SPARK programs located in Northern and Southern California. Each program has its own application and selection process. If you are a student, teacher, or family member interested in learning more about the application process and deadlines, please visit the individual SPARK program websites listed below for specific details.

If you have questions about the SPARK program, please email CIRM at education@cirm.ca.gov.

2022 SPARK Student Conference
SPARK ProgramLocationApplication FormApplication Due DateResidency Eligibility RequirementsProgram DirectorContact
Northern California      
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital OaklandOaklandAvailable 12/1/20232/16/2024US Citizen or US permanent resident with SF Bay Area preference and under-represented in the sciencesDr. Ellen Fungssrp@ucsf.edu
UC San FranciscoSan FranciscoAvailable late January (2024)Check with Program DirectorCurrent high school juniors enrolled in an SF USD high school or an SF charter school and from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences (further defined in the program FAQ)Dr. Katherine NielsenKatherine.Nielsen@ucsf.edu
StanfordPalo AltoAvailable 12/20/20232/24/2024US Citizen or US permanent resident with SF Bay Area preferenceDr. PJ Utzpjutz@stanford.edu
UC DavisSacramentoAvailable SoonCheck with Program DirectorHigh school students in good standing who 1) attend a school within 45 miles of the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures and 2) will be 16 years old on or before program start date. Additional criteria must be met to receive the award and participate in the summer program.Dr. Francisco Fierro ffierro@ucdavis.edu
Southern California      
Cedars-SinaiLos AngelesAvailable 11/6/20231/5/20241) US citizen or US permanent resident, 2) Applicants must be in Los Angeles or the surrounding area and have reliable transportation to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for the duration of their internship.Dr. Wafa Tawackoli and Katherine AragonGroupRMIEducation@cshs.org
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and ScienceLos AngelesAvailable Now3/15/2024US citizen or permanent resident. Current 11th grade students attending high schools in South Los Angeles and neighboring areas.Ms. Dolores Caffey-Flemingdeefleming@cdrewu.edu
Children’s Hospital Los AngelesLos AngelesCheck with Program DirectorCheck with Program Director Dr. Mark Freymfrey@chla.usc.edu
City of HopeDuarteCheck with Program DirectorTBD- usually MarchUS Citizen or US permanent residentDr. David Anndann@coh.org
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteSan DiegoAvailable 1/16/20244/1/20241) US citizen or US permanent resident, 2) Applicants must reside in San Diego County or Imperial County and have reliable transportation to Sanford Burnham Prebys for the duration of their 6-week internship.Dr. Paula Checchipchecchi@sbp.edu
UC RiversideRiversideAvailable Now1/19/2024California permanent resident; Inland Empire School District students referred by a science teacher.Dr. Huinan Liu

huinan.liu@ucr.edu and stride@engr.ucr.edu

UC San DiegoSan DiegoCheck with Program DirectorTBD- usually AprilMust reside within San Diego and attend Lincoln, Hoover, Crawford or Morse High SchoolsDr. James Murphyj2murphy@health.ucsd.edu

Bridges Program (Undergraduate and Masters)

The CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research and Therapy Program prepares California’s undergraduate and master’s graduate students for highly productive careers in stem cell research and therapy development.

Started in 2009, the program provides paid stem cell research internships to students at universities and colleges that don’t have major stem cell research programs of their own. Each Bridges internship includes thorough hands-on training and education in stem cell research, and direct outreach activities that engage California’s diverse communities.

There are 15 active Bridges programs throughout California, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. If you are interested in applying, please see the table below for more details about each program.

If you have questions about the Bridges program, please email CIRM at education@cirm.ca.gov.

The UC Irvine 2023-2025 COMPASS Program cohort in the lab

COMPASS Program (Undergraduate) 

The COMPASS (Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem Cell Science) Program prepares a diverse group of undergraduate students for careers in regenerative medicine by combining hands-on research opportunities with strategic and structured mentorship experiences.

COMPASS programs develop and implement novel strategies to recognize and foster untapped talent that can lead to new and valuable perspectives that are specific to the challenges of regenerative medicine, and that will create new paths to a spectrum of careers that are not always apparent to students in the academic, undergraduate environment.

There are 16 active COMPASS programs throughout California, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. If you are interested in applying, please see the table below for more details about each program.

If you have questions about the COMPASS program, please email CIRM at education@cirm.ca.gov.

The UC Irvine 2023-2025 COMPASS Program cohort in the lab
COMPASS Program  Location  Program Director  Email
Northern California
UC Davis Davis Alice F. Tarantal aftarantal@ucdavis.edu
San Francisco State University San Francisco Lily Chen lilychen@sfsu.edu
UC Merced Merced Kara E. McCloskey kmccloskey@ucmerced.edu
UC Berkeley Berkeley John Matsui matsui@berkeley.edu
Solano Community College Fairfield James DeKloe james.dekloe@solano.edu
Southern California
MiraCosta College San Diego Michael Fino mfino@miracosta.edu
UC Riverside Riverside Huinan Hannah Liu huinan.liu@ucr.edu
UC Irvine Irvine Brian J. Cummings Cummings@uci.edu
CSU Fullerton Fullerton Alison Miyamoto almiyamoto@fullerton.edu
CSU San Bernardino San Bernardino Daniel Nickerson daniel.nickerson@csusb.edu
CSU Northridge Northridge Cindy S. Malone cmalone@csun.edu
CSU San Marcos San Marcos Bianca Romina Mothé bmothe@csusm.edu
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Kristen O’Halloran Cardinal kohallor@calpoly.edu
UC Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Dennis O. Clegg clegg@ucsb.edu
UCLA Los Angeles Tracy L. Johnson tljohnson@ucla.edu
USC Los Angeles Senta Georgia sgeorgia@usc.edu

CIRM Scholars Program (Pre-Doctoral, Post-Doctoral, and Clinical Fellows)

The “CIRM Scholars” Research Training Program fosters and enhances the research experience of basic and clinical scientists during the doctoral and immediate postdoctoral stages of their career, helping them become skilled leaders in the field of regenerative medicine.

The CIRM Scholars program supports research fellowships in stem cell, gene therapy and related disciplines to a diverse cadre of individuals drawn from a wide variety of scientific backgrounds, including fundamental biology, engineering, clinical programs, and other relevant areas like manufacturing process development, data science, bioethics, and more. All Scholars have opportunities to participate in community and patient engagement and many will serve as mentors and role models to future generations of scientists.

There are 18 active CIRM Scholars programs throughout California, each with its own eligibility criteria and application process. If you are interested in applying, please see the table below for more details about each program.

If you have questions about the CIRM Scholars program, please email CIRM at education@cirm.ca.gov.

Luca Caputo completed his fellowship at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute in 2022
Scholars ProgramLocationProgram DirectorEmail
Northern California   
UC San FranciscoSan FranciscoRobert Blellochrobert.blelloch@ucsf.edu
UC DavisSacramentoJan A Noltajanolta@ucdavis.edu
UC BerkeleyBerkeleyDirk Hockemeyerhockemeyer@berkeley.edu
StanfordStanfordTushar Desaitdesai@stanford.edu
The J. David Gladstone Institutes UCSFSan FranciscoBruce R. Conklinbconklin@gladstone.ucsf.edu
UC Santa CruzSanta CruzCamilla Forsbergcforsber@ucsc.edu
Southern California   
Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor – UCLA Medical CenterLos AngelesVirender K. Rehanvrehan@lundquist.org
UC IrvineIrvinePeter J. Donovanpdonovan@uci.edu
UC Santa BarbaraSanta BarbaraDennis O. Cleggclegg@ucsb.edu
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery InstituteSan DiegoEvan Y. Snyderesnyder@sbpdiscovery.org
Scripps Research InstituteSan DiegoPeter G. Schultzschultz@scripps.edu
UC San DiegoSan DiegoAlysson R. Muotrimuotri@ucsd.edu
Children’s Hospital Los AngelesLos AngelesChing-Ling LienCLien@chla.usc.edu
Beckman Research Institute of City of HopeDuarteMichael E. Barishmbarish@coh.org
USCLos AngelesFrancesca Marianifmariani@usc.edu
UCLALos AngelesWilliam Lowryblowry@mcdb.ucla.edu
UC RiversideRiversidePrue Talbottalbot@ucr.edu
Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos AngelesWafa Tawackoliwafa.tawackoli@csmc.edu

Explore stories from our educational and training programs on our blog The Stem Cellar

For inquiries about a specific program, please contact the program personnel listed in the tables above. For additional inquiries about CIRM’s educational and training programs, please contact Dr. Daisy Xin at education@cirm.ca.gov.