STMRM-PHD - Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (PhD)
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Program Overview
The Stanford Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (SCBRM) program is dedicated to doctoral education that translates basic science to clinical applications, typically called Translational Science, and is 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 developing and clinically applying 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. They will emerge prepared to deliver on their passion for improving the human condition. The core curriculum combines 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 the fundamentals of SCBRM. The curriculum combines genetics and developmental biology education with an introductory laboratory-based stem cell course, an advanced course in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and a clinical rotation with alternative law, business, and/or engineering opportunities.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Each student must complete three one-quarter laboratory rotations during the first year. All rotations must be approved by the DGS, Executive Director and SSO prior to the start of the rotation.
Two rotations (including the first rotation) must be done with ISCBRM faculty. Students may complete one of the rotations with a faculty member who is Academic Council (AC) outside the program with program approval (by DGS and Executive Director). Students must choose a dissertation advisor before the end of summer quarter of the first year.
SCBRM graduate students must be registered in all quarters. All required courses, including those counting toward the 10 units of elective credit, must be taken for a letter grade if offered and must be passed with a B grade or better. The course must be repeated if a student does not earn a B grade or better.
STEMREM 802 TGR (Register for 0 units each quarter once Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) is achieved. TGR is achieved after completing 135 total units (spring quarter of year 4) and all required core coursework.)
MED 255 (Second ethics course required only for students continuing in the program beyond year 5.)
Complete a total of 10 units from Elective 1, Elective 2, and Elective 3 sections below.
Students must complete
The SCBRM Graduate Program requires a first author (or co-first author paper) to be submitted for publication before the oral defense of their PhD thesis. This requirement is consistent with students’ expectations for their degree and is conveyed as part of the orientation of the students when they enter the program in their first year as part of the student handbook.
Students must take upper-division elective units relevant to the dissertation and career goals, totaling at least ten 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.
Minimum required grade (e.g., B or better ) and required grading basis. (e.g., letter grade only).
MSTP Requirements
If you are in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) MD-PhD program pursuing a PhD in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, unlike your SCBRM PhD peers, you are NOT required to take:
BIOS 200 - Foundations in Experimental Biology
DBIO 210 - Developmental Biology
STEMREM 200 - Stem Cell Intensive
STEMREM 203 - Stem Cells Immersion Applications in Business, Law, and Medicine
10 units of science electives toward the PhD
You are also not required to do 3 rotations since you will come to us already in a lab.
MSTP Required Courses for the SCBRM PhD
Core
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
MED 255 (Take in year two. Your PhD cohort will take it in year 1) or STEMREM 201b
STEMREM 201A - Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
STEMREM 205 - Bioinformatics for Stem Cell and Cancer Biology
STEMREM 250 - Regenerative Medicine Seminar Series (ReMS) (To be repeated 5 times. 5 units required.)
STEMREM 280 - SCBRM Journal Club (To be repeated 5 times. 5 units required.)
STEMREM 399 - Graduate Research
Grant Writing
Required Course
Complete one of the following courses:
BIOS 242 - Writing Compelling Fellowships and Career Development Awards
BIOS 263 - Applied Grant-Writing Skills for Fellowships
BIOS 299 - Online Proposal Bootcamp
BIOS 425 - Independent Study: Write a Grant Proposal in 9 Weeks
Prior to being formally admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree, the student must demonstrate knowledge of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine fundamentals and a potential for research by passing a qualifying oral examination in their second year.
The exam consists of an NIH-style written grant proposal and an oral examination. The examining committee includes three faculty members but does not include the student’s thesis advisor. The examining committee includes the committee chair, who is an Academic Council member outside of SCBRM, and 2 SCBRM faculty members. If necessary, the student and their PI may petition to substitute one of the program faculty for a non-program faculty member with appropriate scientific expertise relevant to the student’s proposal.
The written and oral proposal should represent the student’s efforts to identify a question of interest and to develop appropriate experimental approaches. The proposal must be submitted to committee members no later than ten days before the examination. The first page is a Specific Aims page, and other sections include Background-Significance and Research Plan (including a discussion of alternative approaches). The qualifying exam must be completed before the end of the second year and successful outcome is required to continue in the PhD program. If necessary, one retake will be permitted in the quarter following the first exam attempt.
A University Oral Examination is also required for the PhD degree. In the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Program, the PhD candidate presents a public seminar (one hour), followed by a closed-door oral examination. The University Oral Examination Committee consists of at least four examiners, including the student’s PI and a chair from an academic department outside of SCBRM, for a total of five people. All members of the Committee are usually members of the Academic Council, and the oral examination chair must be AC. With the prior approval of the ISCBRM Director, one of the examiners may be a person who is not a member of the Academic Council if that individual contributes expertise not readily available from the Stanford faculty. Official responsibility for selecting the oral examination committee rests with the student and their dissertation advisor.
The major accomplishment of each successful PhD student is the presentation of a written dissertation resulting from an independent investigation that contributes to knowledge in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.
Annual Dissertation Committee Meetings
In year one, a dissertation committee meeting is not required.
In year two, the qualifying exam is in place of the dissertation committee meeting.
In years three and four, each student must hold an annual dissertation committee meeting to assess progress toward the degree and for the committee to provide advice.
In the fifth year and beyond, students are required to meet with their thesis committee twice a year.
Failure to meet with your dissertation committee within the required time frame will result in academic probation.
The Annual Dissertation Committee Meeting Form should be completed and signed by all committee members attending each meeting. The form should be returned to the SCBRM SSO.