phd stanford stem cell

Stanford University CIRM Scholar Training Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

A major goal of stem cell research is harnessing their remarkable potential for treating human diseases. The Stanford inter-departmental CIRM Scholar Training Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine provides outstanding training in translational stem cell research.

Our CIRM Scholar faculty have expertise in a wide variety of scientific disciplines, as well as clinical expertise in cancer therapy, gene therapy, and bone marrow transplantation. Given the importance of stem cells in tissue health and disease, a large proportion of our faculty conduct translational research and many are practicing clinicians. The Stanford CIRM Scholar program provides outstanding training in translational stem cell research. Our CIRM Scholar students receive a customized education with a core curriculum tailored to the interface of medicine and science. CIRM Scholar students also have the opportunity to engage with faculty in the Stanford Center for Definitive and Curative Medicine (CDCM), a joint initiative of the Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children’s Health. The CDCM is co-directed by three CIRM Scholar faculty members also in the SCBRM. CIRM Scholar students and postdoctoral fellows may elect to be co-mentored by PIs with basic and translational research programs, thereby directly bridging science and medicine during pursuit of their PhD. The CIRM Scholar Program is based in the Lorry Lokey Stem Cell Research Building, where students will benefit from a dynamic community of PhD students in other fields, postdoctoral fellows, and a large number of MD/PhD students.

Mission Statement.

The mission of the Stanford CIRM Scholar Training Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine is to rigorously train early career investigators in translational research. Unlike other PhD programs at Stanford, the CIRM Scholar program and curriculum provide education and training that specifically integrates science and medicine.

Program Leadership.

The Stanford CIRM Scholar Training Program in Molecular Medicine is directed by Tushar Desai, MD and Gerald Spangrude, PhD.

Tushar Desai, MD

Gerald Spangrude, Ph.D.

Program Eligibility .

The CIRM Scholar Training Program in Molecular Medicine is open to US citizens or permanent residents. The application

How to Apply.

The application process for the Molecular Medicine Training program is integrated with the Stem Cell Biology PhD application. You may indicate your potential interest in this program during the application process, so there is no need to apply separately.

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Courses offered by the Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine are listed under the subject code STEMREM on the Stanford Bulletin’s Explore Courses web site.

Graduate Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

The Stanford Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (SCBRM) program is dedicated to doctoral education that translates basic science to clinical applications, typically referred to as Translational Science, and of intense interest internationally in medical schools and universities. Our doctoral program provides exceptional didactic education and research experience in the basic sciences underlying stem cell biology. In addition, program participants will receive specialized training in the development and clinical application of discoveries in the basic sciences to achieve regenerative therapies. Thus, our graduates will be uniquely positioned to develop successful translational careers in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and will emerge prepared to deliver on their passion to improve the human condition. The core curriculum is combined with unique research and clinical/professional immersion rotations to provide opportunities for doctoral students to specialize in the broad subject of translational medicine and yet focus specifically on fundamentals of SCBRM. The curriculum combines education in genetics and developmental biology with an introductory laboratory-based stem cell course, an advanced course in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and a clinical rotation with alternative opportunities in law, business and/or engineering.

The mission of the SCBRM graduate program is to produce future leaders in translational science through a combination of basic science and clinical/professional immersion. The program aims to be innovative and to change the landscape for graduate education in the biomedical sciences by having the immersion tailored to each student’s translational goals. The program accommodates students who wish to focus primarily at the basic science level alongside those who wish to focus specifically on innovation such as a new device to solve a clinical problem. In the former case, the student might seek out a primary mentor affiliated with the basic sciences and take electives that reflect the more basic interest. In the latter case, the student might select an elective with an engineering focus and seek out primary mentorship with a more clinically or engineering focused mentor. In this way, graduates from our doctoral program receive exceptional didactic education and research experience and are well positioned to develop successful translational careers in SCBRM by applying their knowledge and passion to improve human health.

Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

University requirements for the M.S. degree are described in the “ Graduate Degree s” section of this bulletin.

Students in the Ph.D. program in SCBRM may apply for an M.S. degree in SCBRM, assuming completion of appropriate requirements. The program does not accept applications for a standalone M.S. degree.

To receive an M.S. in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Students must complete the following:

Four full-tuition quarters of residency as a graduate student at Stanford.
At least 45 units of academic work, all of which must be in courses at or above the 100 level, 16 units of which must be at or above the 200 level.
Four quarters of graduate research, consisting of rotations in the labs of at least three SCBRM faculty members.
STEMREM 200 Stem Cell Intensive hands-on immersion to learn basic methods of tissue culture, mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) preparation, embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem (ES/iPS) cell culture, differentiation, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, and basic microscopy.
BIOS 200 Foundations in Experimental Biology focuses on the broad themes of Evolution, Energy and Information.
STEMREM 201A Stem Cells and Human Development: From Embryo to Cell Lineage Determination and STEMREM 201B Stem Cells and Human Development Laboratory develop a fundamental understanding of introductory stem cell principles in human development, aging, and disease accompanied by a laboratory-based module with immersion in stem cell-based methods (embryology, embryonic stem cells, reprogramming, adult stem cells).
STEMREM 202 Stem Cells and Translational Medicine , advanced topics related to individual organ systems, cancer stem cells, translational principles of medicine and immunology as related to regenerative medicine, as well as bioengineering and bioinformatics as related to stem cell biology.
STEMREM 203 Stem Cells Immersion: Applications in Medicine, Business and Law , students specialize and choose a clinical immersion, rotation in a biotechnology company or venture firm, or further delve into cutting edge technologies, bioinformatics, materials and/or engineering approaches for stem cell applications in industry, diagnostics and medicine.
STEMREM 250 Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series , a forum for researchers to meet and discuss Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and to spark collaborations. 6 units of this course is required.
Students are also required to take 2 electives, totaling a minimum of 6 units.

Biochemistry proficiency is required by the end of the second year, as well as a total of 80 units and completed qualifying examinations. Students who do not pass the qualifying examination may retake a full qualifying exam, be retested in a few areas, or be asked to redo their presentation.

Participation and attendance at the annual SCBRM Retreat.
Part I: a comprehensive written exam in the form of a 5-page NIH grant proposal
Part II: a 15-minute oral presentation of the proposal to the thesis committee followed by open questions from the qualifying exam committee on the proposal or encompassing areas of research/academic scholarship that are deemed relevant to the proposal.

Students who do not pass the qualifying exam may retake the full qualifying exam, be retested in a sub-area, or be asked to redo their presentation. Those students who fail the qualifying exam twice may be awarded a master’s degree based on completion of course work and rotations. In addition, students who choose to voluntarily leave the program are also awarded a master’s degree based on completion of the qualifying exam.

Doctor of Philosophy in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

University requirements for the Ph.D. are discussed in the “ Graduate Degrees ” section of this bulletin.

The Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine curriculum, combined with the research and rotation opportunities, provides a flexible educational opportunity for doctoral students to specialize in the broad subject of translational medicine while being focused more specifically on the fundamentals of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine while training in the laboratories of participating SCBRM faculty. The goal of the SCBRM program is to provide an avenue for graduate education to translate the best of basic research into a clinical setting.

Application and Admission

Applications are made through the Graduate Admissions web site.

Applicants will be assessed based on their undergraduate transcripts, test scores, research experience, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation that document exceptional potential, ability, or achievements.

Students admitted to the program are offered financial support covering tuition, a living stipend, and insurance coverage. Applicants are urged to apply for independent fellowships such as from the National Science Foundation. Fellowship applications are due in November of the year prior to matriculation in the graduate program, but SCBRM graduate students may continue to apply for outside fellowships after matriculation. Because of the small number of department-funded slots, students who have been awarded an outside fellowship have an improved chance of acceptance into the program. Upon matriculation, each student is assisted in selecting courses and lab rotations in the first year and in choosing a lab for the dissertation r esearch. Once a dissertation adviser has been selected, a dissertation committee is composed to include the dissertation adviser and two additional SCBRM faculty, to guide the student during their dissertation research. The student must meet with the dissertation committee at least once a year.

Degree Requirements

Candidates for Ph.D. degrees at Stanford must satisfactorily complete a program of study that includes 135 units of graduate course work and research.

Requirements for the Ph.D. degree in SCBRM include:

Completion of at least 3 research rotations in the labs of SCBRM faculty members.
STEMREM 202 Stem Cells and Translational Medicine advanced topics related to individual organ systems, cancer stem cells, translational principles of medicine and immunology as related to regenerative medicine, as well as bioengineering and bioinformatics as related to stem cell biology.
STEMREM 203 Stem Cells Immersion: Applications in Medicine, Business and Law students specialize and choose a clinical immersion, rotation in a biotechnology company or venture firm, or further delve into cutting edge technologies, bioinformatics, materials and/or engineering approaches for stem cell applications in industry, diagnostics and medicine.
STEMREM 250 Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series a forum for researchers to meet and discuss Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and to spark collaborations. 6 units of this course is required.
STEMREM 280 Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Journal Club review and discussion of current literature in both basic and translational medicine as it relates to stem cell biology and/or regenerative medicine.
Students are also required to take two electives, totaling a minimum of 6 units.
Biochemistry proficiency is required by the end of the second year, as well as a total of 80 units and completed qualifying examinations. Students who do not pass the qualifying examination may retake a full qualifying exam, be retested in a few areas, or be asked to redo their presentation.
STEMREM 802 TGR Dissertation .

Students unable to meet Ph.D. milestones after remediation are offered a M.S. degree if they have completed all requirements.

On July 30, the Academic Senate adopted grading policies effective for all undergraduate and graduate programs, excepting the professional Graduate School of Business, School of Law, and the School of Medicine M.D. Program. For a complete list of those and other academic policies relating to the pandemic, see the " COVID-19 and Academic Continuity " section of this bulletin.

The Senate decided that all undergraduate and graduate courses offered for a letter grade must also offer students the option of taking the course for a “credit” or “no credit” grade and recommended that deans, departments, and programs consider adopting local policies to count courses taken for a “credit” or “satisfactory” grade toward the fulfillment of degree-program requirements and/or alter program requirements as appropriate.

The Stanford Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine program counts all courses taken in the academic year 2020-21 with a grade of 'CR' (credit) or 'S' (satisfactory) towards satisfaction of graduate degree requirements that otherwise require a letter grade provided that the instructor affirms that the work was done at a 'B-' or better level.

Graduate Advising Expectations

The Program in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the adviser and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the adviser and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

Faculty advisers guide students in key areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing of teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

For a statement of University policy on graduate advising, see the " Graduate Advising " section of this bulletin.

Program Director: Irv Weissman

Institute Faculty:

Arash A. Alizadeh (Assistant Professor, Medicine/Oncology and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Philip A. Beachy (Professor, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology and Member of Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Charles K.F. Chan (Assistant Professor, Surgery - Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and Member of Bio-X, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine)
Michael F. Clarke (Professor, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Medicine/Oncology and Member of Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Tushar Desai (Assistant Professor, Medicine/Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Maximilian Diehn (Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology/Radiation Therapy and Member of Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Agnieszka Czechowicz, (Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Member of Bio-X, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Maternal & Child Health Research Institute)
Stefan Heller (Professor, Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Member of Bio-X, Stanford Cancer Institute and Stanford Neurosciences Institute)
Sidd Jaiswal (Assistant Professor of Pathology, Member of Bio-X, Cardiovascular Institute, Cancer Institute, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine)
Kyle Loh (Assistant Professor, Developmental Biology and Member of Bio-X, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford Neurosciences Institute, and Faculty Fellow)
Michael T. Longaker (Professor, Surgery/Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and (by courtesy) Bioengineering and Materials Science and Engineering and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Ravindra Majeti (Associate Professor, Medicine/Hematology and Member of Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Michelle Monje-Deisseroth (Assistant Professor, Neurology & Neurological Sciences and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute, Stanford Cancer Institute and Stanford Neurosciences Institute)
Hiromitsu Nakauchi (Professor, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Genetics and Member of Bio-X)
Aaron Newman (Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Data Science, Member of Bio-X and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine)
Roeland Nusse (Professor, Developmental Biology and Member of Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Anthony Oro (Professor, Dermatology and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Theo D. Palmer (Associate Professor, Neurosurgery and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute, Stanford Cancer Institute and Stanford Neurosciences Institute)
Matthew Porteus (Associate Professor, Pediatrics/Stem Cell Transplantation and Member of Bio-X, Cardiovascular Institute, Child Health Research Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Kristy Red-Horse (Associate Professor, Biology, Member of Bio-X, Cancer Institute, Institute for Biology and Regenerative Medicine)
Maria Grazia Roncarolo (Professor, Pediatrics/Stem Cell Transplantation and Medicine/Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Vittorio Sebastiano (Assistant Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology/Reproductive Biology and Member of Bio-X and Child Health Research Institute)
Judith Shizuru (Professor, Medicine/Blood & Marrow Transplantation and Member Stanford Cancer Institute)
Irving L. Weissman (Professor, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pathology and Developmental Biology and (by courtesy) Department of Biology and Member of Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)
Gerlinde Wernig (Assistant Professor, Pathology, Member of Bio-X, Institute for Biology and Regenerative Medicine)
Marius Wernig (Professor, Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and Department of Pathology and (by courtesy) Chemical & Systems Biology and Member of Bio-X, Child Health Research Institute, Stanford Cancer Institute and Stanford Neurosciences Institute)
Joanna Wysocka (Professor, Chemical & Systems Biology and Developmental Biology and Member Bio-X and Stanford Cancer Institute)

STEMREM 199. Undergraduate Research. 1-18 Unit.

Students undertake investigations sponsored by individual faculty members. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

STEMREM 200. Stem Cell Intensive. 1 Unit.

Open to first year Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine graduate students or consent of Instructor. Introductory lectures given by faculty in the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine interdisciplinary graduate program are intended to provide students with insight into potential rotation labs. Includes some hands-on laboratory exercises covering basic methods of tissue culture, mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) preparation, embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem (ES/iPS) cell culture, differentiation, DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing, flow cytometry, and basic microscopy.

STEMREM 201A. Stem Cells and Human Development: From Embryo to Cell Lineage Determination. 1-3 Unit.

For graduate, medical, and advanced undergraduate students. Prepares students for the future of regenerative medicine by exploring central concepts in stem cell biology and the actual experiments that led to these concepts. Provides educational foundation for future physician-scientists to understand mechanisms underlying regenerative therapies. The latest advances in stem cell research will be discussed, including tissue regeneration; how stem cells are discovered by lineage tracing or transplantation; how stem cells differentiate and form organized tissues; stem cell niches; signaling centers and extracellular signals; chromatin and cellular reprogramming; organoids; and cancer stem cells, with emphasis on unresolved issues in the field.

STEMREM 201B. Stem Cells and Human Development Laboratory. 1 Unit.

Targeted enrollment to first year graduate students or any other student who wishes to improve their ability to design, perform, analyze, and communicate results from laboratory-based experiments. Content early in the quarter is focused on how to design an experimental aim and approach. Practical examples are drawn from the participating students¿ fall-quarter research rotations (or current research projects). In mid-quarter, the focus shifts from how to design the experiment to how to update the PI on this week¿s experimental progress and the weekly meeting emulates a typical lab meeting with brief presentations of experimental progress from each student. Focus shifts at the end of the quarter to strategies for concise presentation of data and conclusions drawn from experimental results. Provides hands-on skills to maximize both the student¿s experience during a research rotation and to improve communication skills between student and mentor (skills that are valuable to any student at any stage of their research career). SCBRM students must take concurrently with STEMREM 201A .

STEMREM 202. Stem Cells and Translational Medicine. 1-3 Unit.

For graduate, undergraduate and medical students. Focus is on the fundamentals of stem cell biology and stem cell applications in basic research and translational medicine. Topics include exploration of the well-studied system of hematopoiesis, molecular pathways of pluripotency and tissue-specific stem cells and ends with coverage of aging as related to stem cell dynamics. Lectures are topically paired to cover the basic science of each topic, followed by clinical applications within each field of study. Students will use lecture and literature content to construct a research proposal based on biological or clinical concepts learned during the quarter.

STEMREM 203. Stem Cells Immersion: Applications in Medicine, Business and Law. 3 Units.

For graduate and medical students enrolled in the SCBRM PhD program or other students by permission from the Instructor. Career-development immersions are custom designed by the student and advisor to provide clinical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology or business insights into the world of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine from multiple vantage points. The Immersion sets the stage for students to explore research and translation beyond the academic sphere and gain the necessary knowledge to move their career forward when completing the PhD.

STEMREM 205. Bioinformatics for Stem Cell and Cancer Biology. 2 Units.

For graduate and medical students. High-throughput technologies and data science are essential tools in modern stem cell biology and cancer research. Students will gain practical exposure to bioinformatics concepts and techniques required to address biological questions within these research areas. The beginning of the quarter is focused on foundational principles underlying bioinformatics and genomics. Focus for the remainder of the quarter is on direct, hands-on experience with applications to common research problems. Topics include analysis of bulk and single-cell sequencing data, single gene to whole-genome analysis, machine learning, and data visualization. Intended for biology students without a background in computer science, or for students in a quantitative discipline interested in gaining exposure to key challenges in stem cell and cancer genomics. Basic programming experience is recommended but not required. Same as: BIODS 205

STEMREM 223. Biology and Disease of Hematopoiesis. 3 Units.

Hematopoiesis is the formation, development, and differentiation of blood cells. Lecture and journal club. Topics will include definitive and adult hematopoiesis, myeloid and lymphoid development, hematopoietic diseases, stem cell niche, bone marrow transplant, and methods and models used to study hematopoiesis. For upper level undergraduates or graduate students. Pre-requisite for undergraduates: Biology or Human Biology core, or consent of instructor. Same as: IMMUNOL 223

STEMREM 250. Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series. 1 Unit.

For graduate, medical and undergraduate students. A forum for Stanford researchers to meet, hear about what is going on in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Stanford, and spark collaborations. Topics include all areas of regenerative medicine, broadly defined, ranging from fundamental biological principles and basic science advances to novel applications in biotechnology, stem cell biology, and human disease.

STEMREM 280. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Journal Club. 1 Unit.

For graduate, medical and undergraduate students. Review of current literature in both basic and translational medicine as it relates to stem cell biology and/or regenerative medicine in a seminar format consisting of both faculty and student presentations. Includes discussions led by faculty experts in the area covered for that particular session. Topics may range widely, depending on the available literature and students' interests. Students are expected to review the chosen article before class presentations and participate in discussion. Discussion includes methodology and statistical analysis of each study and its relevance to stem cell biology and/or regenerative medicine.

STEMREM 281. Landmark Papers in Immunology and Stem Cell Biology: How to Pose Experimental Questions. 2 Units.

Focus on deciphering article titles to accurately assess the biological question being asked, and what experiment design might best approach the question, encouraging students to become experimentalists, not memorizers, of information presented by authors. Topics include implications of paper questions for the field, deciphering paper titles, hypothesizing research questions.

STEMREM 299. Directed Reading in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. 1-18 Unit.

Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

STEMREM 370. Medical Scholars Research. 4-18 Units.

Provides an opportunity for student and faculty interaction, as well as academic credit and financial support, to medical students who undertake original research. Enrollment is limited to students with approved projects.

STEMREM 399. Graduate Research. 1-18 Unit.

STEMREM 801. TGR Project. 0 Units.

STEMREM 802. TGR Dissertation. 0 Units.