Doctor of Philosophy in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

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

Application should be made by December 1, 2011. Application is made through the Graduate Admissions web site. In addition to the standard graduate student application, applicants must fill out a program-specific supplemental application. See the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Application web site for further information and to download the supplemental application.

Applications are evaluated by the SCBRM predoctoral committee based upon: GRE scores; grades; evidence of research experience; letters of recommendation, including letters from research sponsor(s); and commitment to a career in biomedical research. Subject tests are not required.

Students admitted to the program are offered financial support covering tuition, a living stipend, insurance coverage, and an allowance for books/travel. 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. On matriculation, each student is assisted by a first-year advising committee in selecting courses and lab rotations in the first year and in choosing a lab for the dissertation research. Once a dissertation adviser has been selected, a dissertation committee including the dissertation adviser and two additional SCBRM faculty, is constituted to guide the student during the dissertation research. The student must meet with the dissertation committee at least once a year.

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 (STEMREM 399) in the labs of SCBRM faculty members.
STEMREM 250. Attendance at Regenerative Medicine (ReMS) weekly seminar series which provides the unique material required for a firm foundation in innovation in the SCBRM field.
Completion of the following courses:
1. SCBRM-I, develops 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).
2. SCBRM-II, 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.
3. SCBRM–III, 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.
Students have the option to select from the following courses in the first year:
- GENE 203. Advanced Genetics
- BIO 214. Advanced Cell Biology
- PEDS 251A. Medical Ethics I
- DBIO 210. Developmental Biology
- MED 255. Responsible Conduct of Research
- STEMREM 399. SCBRM Independent Research
Students have the option to select two electives in the second year.
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. Dissertation

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

Master of Science in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine

University requirements for the M.S. degree are described in the "Graduate Degrees" 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:

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.
Course work in Stem Cell BIology and Regenerative Medicine as follows:
1. SCBRM-I, develops 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).
2. SCBRM-II, 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.
3. SCBRM–III, 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.
4. Regenerative Medicine weekly seminar series
5. DEVBIO 210. Developmental Biology
6. GENE 203. Advanced Genetics
7. BIO 214. Advanced Cell Biology or MCP 256. Molecular and Cellular Physiology
8. MED 250A. Ethical, Legal and Social Issues in Stem Cell Research
9. MED 255. Responsible Conduct of Research
10. Students may also take two courses (6 units) of elective course work
Participation in the SCBRM journal club and attendance at the annual SCBRM Retreat.
The qualifying examination process in SCBRM before admission to PhD candidacy has two parts:
- 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.

At the time of application to take the qualifying exam, the student and research adviser must present a folder to the executive committee that includes the academic background at the undergraduate university, academic background during the first two years in the SCBRM program, and letters regarding rotation completion and quality from advisers in rotation laboratories. 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 be awarded a master's degree based on completion of the qualifying exam.

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