Year 4
The objective of the Humboldt State University CIRM Bridges training program is to provide motivated and talented undergraduate students who are interested in stem cell and regenerative medicine with an opportunity to receive one year of independent research training in a CIRM supported research laboratory at UC Davis, UCSF or Stanford University. A committee of Biology faculty members selects students through an application and interview process. The selected students are fully supported by the CIRM Bridges grant during their training period. The effectiveness of the program is evident from the success of the students who have completed the training. 91.5% of the students who have completed the training in the past four years have been either employed (58%), accepted to Ph.D. programs (21%) or professional programs (12.5%). We attribute this level of success to the way the Bridges program was designed by CIRM and the quality of the students selected to the program. We expect to maintain this level of success in the ensuing years of the project. In 2012-13 academic year, we placed seven CIRM Bridges trainees in different labs at Stanford (4), UCSF (1) and UC Davis (2). Of the seven, two of them have been accepted to Ph.D. programs in Stem Cell/ Regenerative Medicine fields, one is in the process of applying to MD/Ph.D. programs and three of them have been offered research technical positions. The remaining one student will be taking courses to complete her undergraduate degree.