Ten Cal State Long Beach biotechnology students will conduct stem cell research during an internship beginning in the fall.
The students have the option of interning at either the City of Hope Medical Center or University of California, Irvine, where they will be trained in stem cell research and prepare for careers in the biomedical field. Each student will receive a $2,500 stipend each month, totaling $25,000 over the 10-month internship period.
The program is funded by a $1.35 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which allows students to spend an entire academic year on stem cell research, in addition to the one-year Biotechnology Certificate Program.
Ebony Flowers, Susan George, Megan Gilchrist, Natasha Jackson, Richard Pepple, Giovanna Pozuelos, Luis Rosa, Foad Teymoorian, Jessica Vazquez and Colleen Worne were chosen for this competitive internship. Students were selected based on “extensive coursework and prior research experience, as well as interest in the program,” according to Lisa Klig, Director of CSULB’s Biotechnology Certificate program.
“I was beyond excited ― once I got the e-mail from Dr. Klig that I was accepted, I was screaming,” said Worne, who will be interning at UCI. “I think they understood my point of view, that I found this work inspiring and interesting. I am very passionate about stem cell research, and I think they saw that in me.”
Stem cells have the potential to heal various diseases and injuries because of their ability to develop into many different cell types.
“There are tons of advancements in stem cell research,” Klig said. “Stem cell therapies are going into clinical trials and might become realities of being treatments.”
Eligible students completed coursework in Biochemistry, Developmental Biology, Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, among other advanced science classes.
The internship will complement this extensive coursework by giving students the opportunity to gain experience in a laboratory, as well as enable students to learn how to write articles for scientific publications and make presentations at science and educational conferences, according to a press release.
“Our graduates are being snapped up,” Klig said in a press release. “They are very well trained.”
Worne worked in CSULB’s Epigenetic Neuroendocrinology Lab with professor Houng-Wei Tsai for the past year and a half. She plans to work as a biotechnologist after completing the certificate program.
“I’ve always wanted to work in a lab,” Worne said. “Especially one towards medical advancements. Dr. Eldon’s stem cell class sparked an interest in stem cell research, and the possibilities stem cells provide with treating medical conditions.
“This is the beginning of my career,” she said. “I can kind of see my future unfold.”
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