Undergraduate Talent Development through Stem Cell Training Programs at CSU Fullerton
Grant Award Details
Grant Number:
EDUC8-20315
Investigator(s):
Award Value:
$6,918,000
Status:
Pre-Active
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Undergraduate Talent Development through Stem Cell Training Programs at CSU Fullerton
Public Abstract:
Serving a highly diverse student population, the EDUC8 COMPASS and Bridges (BSCR) programs form an integrated training model that prepares trainees for regenerative medicine careers by pairing rigorous scientific instruction with workforce-relevant competencies and community-engaged perspectives. Trainees with genuine interest in the field will participate in high-impact practices, including hands-on research training, product-oriented coursework, one-on-one mentoring, soft skills development, and structured personal and mental health support to sustain readiness for California’s biomedical workforce.
All trainees will complete a course designed specifically for EDUC8, Healthcare Engagement and Impact, which scaffolds community outreach, FAIR principles, health equity, healthcare engagement, patient advocacy/engagement, population impact, professional development, and public scientific communication. Communication training will prepare trainees to translate science for diverse audiences, reinforced through outreach and patient engagement. Course products will include trainee-recorded micro-lectures on stem cells and regenerative medicine that can reach 500+ general education students per semester and build “pay-it-forward” engagement with communities across California, while reflecting on how genetic, environmental, and societal factors shape outcomes and access.
Recruitment is designed to reach 1,000+ local STEM students through online and in-person events, laboratory skills workshops, and advising, with low barriers to entry (no minimum GPA or prior research requirement). BSCR and COMPASS are structured as 19- and 24-month programs, respectively, integrating stem cell biology, research methods, advanced organoid techniques, regulatory affairs, and CIRM-recommended activities into the bachelor’s degree pathway.
In EDUC8, advanced senior undergraduate BSCR trainees will complete a 12‑month, full-time paid internship, and sophomore/junior undergraduate COMPASS trainees who are exploring biotechnology careers will complete two 3‑month, full-time paid summer internships, continuing proven models. BSCR has placed 140+ interns in 75 labs over 15 years, and COMPASS has placed 12 interns in 15 internships across 14 labs over two years. Across both pathways, trainees progress from research foundations to full-time partner-site internships, gaining project-specific skills and exposure to leading-edge research, strengthening a workforce prepared to meet California’s scientific, clinical, and community needs. With nearly 80% of the current programs’ alumni pursuing research and biomedical career pathways, EDUC8 is well-positioned to continue contributing to the advancing needs of the regenerative medicine workforce.
All trainees will complete a course designed specifically for EDUC8, Healthcare Engagement and Impact, which scaffolds community outreach, FAIR principles, health equity, healthcare engagement, patient advocacy/engagement, population impact, professional development, and public scientific communication. Communication training will prepare trainees to translate science for diverse audiences, reinforced through outreach and patient engagement. Course products will include trainee-recorded micro-lectures on stem cells and regenerative medicine that can reach 500+ general education students per semester and build “pay-it-forward” engagement with communities across California, while reflecting on how genetic, environmental, and societal factors shape outcomes and access.
Recruitment is designed to reach 1,000+ local STEM students through online and in-person events, laboratory skills workshops, and advising, with low barriers to entry (no minimum GPA or prior research requirement). BSCR and COMPASS are structured as 19- and 24-month programs, respectively, integrating stem cell biology, research methods, advanced organoid techniques, regulatory affairs, and CIRM-recommended activities into the bachelor’s degree pathway.
In EDUC8, advanced senior undergraduate BSCR trainees will complete a 12‑month, full-time paid internship, and sophomore/junior undergraduate COMPASS trainees who are exploring biotechnology careers will complete two 3‑month, full-time paid summer internships, continuing proven models. BSCR has placed 140+ interns in 75 labs over 15 years, and COMPASS has placed 12 interns in 15 internships across 14 labs over two years. Across both pathways, trainees progress from research foundations to full-time partner-site internships, gaining project-specific skills and exposure to leading-edge research, strengthening a workforce prepared to meet California’s scientific, clinical, and community needs. With nearly 80% of the current programs’ alumni pursuing research and biomedical career pathways, EDUC8 is well-positioned to continue contributing to the advancing needs of the regenerative medicine workforce.
Statement of Benefit to California:
California’s sustained leadership in regenerative medicine has created a rapidly expanding demand for a highly trained, diverse workforce, and this EDUC8 program has been designed to directly contribute to this need by preparing undergraduate trainees with the technical expertise, professional competencies, and community-informed perspectives required to advance stem cell biology and biotechnology innovation. The current Bridges and COMPASS programs have addressed limitations of the traditional biology curriculum by providing hands-on training in cell, molecular, and stem cell biology techniques, enabling trainees to meet expectations of biotech companies and research institutions led by experienced scientists. The mentoring program, research experiences, capstone projects, and internships in some of the most advanced labs in the world have motivated nearly 80% of our programs’ alumni to pursue research and biomedical career pathways, aligning with CIRM’s vision to address workforce demands. The EDUC8 program will continue to select trainees from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, including first-generation college students and Pell Grant-eligible populations, and train them to become exceptional interns in leading laboratories. Historically more than 70% of students from this university are expected to remain in California, thereby retaining talent and strengthening the state’s biomedical workforce. By incorporating a special healthcare topics course, trainees will be encouraged to reflect on how genetic, environmental, and societal factors shape scientific outcomes and influence equitable access to innovation. Through these discussions, they will engage communities historically underrepresented in high-technology sectors, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable regenerative medicine enterprise. These efforts will inspire trainees to represent diverse perspectives in research and to share knowledge of stem cell biology with broader communities. Collectively, the EDUC8 Bridges and COMPASS programs will continue to contribute to innovation and productivity in California’s stem cell-based companies, and support the translation of discoveries into therapeutics and diagnostics, ultimately benefiting California’s economy, public health, and global leadership in regenerative medicine.