Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bridges to the Stem Cell Research Program?
The Bridges to the Stem Cell Research Program is funded by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). The Program will place ten undergraduate students and two graduate students per year in six-month and twelve-month respectively internships with host laboratories throughout the region: UC Riverside, UC Irvine, Loma Linda University, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Students will be working in internships full-time during their commitment as a Bridges Stem Cell Scholar.
Students will also be enrolled full-time (through a combination of internship credit and coursework) at their home institution during their entire time.
Internship and tuition fees are financially supported by the Program.
How do I apply?
Download and fill out the application form below. There is no difference in the application form if you are a graduate and undergraduate applicant.
Application Deadline: May 1st
CIRM Scholars Internship Program Application
When will my application be reviewed?
The applications will be reviewed by the selection committee at the middle of June. The selection committee will be informing students of their status by the end of June.
How will I be trained to perform stem cell research?
Before beginning the stem cell internship, the students will participate in a workshop that will take place at UCR Stem Cell Core Center and will last for one week. This takes place in early September.
Where will I be placed for the internship?
Each of the selected students will interview with interested labs. A student can indicate up to three different labs in which to interview.
What is the stipend and how much of my tuition fees are covered by this program?
Students will be expected to work full-time as interns in their laboratories. They will also be enrolled at their home campus as full-time students. Students will receive $3000 per month as a stipend plus up to $8000 to cover tuition fees at their home campus.
How do I submit my application and recommendation letters?
Submit the application to Dr. Nicole Bournias in-person. For the recommendation letters, ask your references to email the recommendation directly with a scanned version of the signed letter. Please ask reviewers to put the applicant's name in the subject line.