Laura Almeida
Host Principal Investigator: Irving Weismann, M.D.
Host Mentor: Jinyi Xiang
Stanford Institute for Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Humboldt-CIRM Scholars participate in a 12-month, research-intensive internship at the Stanford University Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Education, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Regenerative Medicine, or the University of California, Davis (UCD) Institute for Regenerative Cures. Scholars receive a monthly stipend of $2,500 in addition to a $5,000 scholarship to be put towards their Cal Poly Humboldt enrollment fees.
Past Scholars: 2020-2021, 2019-2020, 2018-2019, 2017-2018, 2016-2017, 2015-2016, 2014-2015, 2013-2014, 2012-2013, 2011-2012, 2010-2011, 2009-2010
2022-2023
Mark Brown
Host Principal Investigator: Kyle Fink, Ph.D.
Host Mentor: Jennifer Waldo
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Brooke Chalker
Host Principal Investigator: Deborah K. Lieu, PhD
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Erin Clancy
Principal Investagator: Kristy Red Horse, Ph.D
Host Mentor: Irene Fan, PhD
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Hannah Cornwell
Principal Investigator: Patricia Nguyen, MD
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Julian Duran
Principal Investigator: Aijun Wang, PhD
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Heather Jackson-Pease
Principal Investigator: Matthew Porteus, MD PhD
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Monica Rodriguez
Principal Investigator: Erin G. Brown MD
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Jonathan Tierney
Principal Investigator: Gerhard Bauer, BS
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Nicole Womack
Host Mentor: Anna Eastman
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
2021-2022
David Alvarez
Host Mentor: Dr. Aaron Neman
Stanford Institute for Stem cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Ashley Amador
Host Mentor: Dr. Aijun Wang
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
McKay (Goh) Butler
Host Mentor: Dr. Charles Chan
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Selena Dutton
Host Mentor: Dr. Michelle Monje
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Annie Jensen
Host Mentor: Dr. Patricia Nguyen
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Juan-Maria Lopez
Host Mentor: Dr. Aijun Wang
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
David Morales
Host Mentor: Dr. Fernando Fierro
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Joe Pasillas
Host Mentor: Dr.Irving Weismann
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Andrew Schenker
Host Mentor: Dr. Ravi Majeti and Dr. Cailin Collins
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Colin Waichler
Host Mentor: Dr. Maria Grazia Roncarolo
Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
2020-2021
Elizabeth Arouge
Host Mentor: Dr. Charles Chan
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Amin Cressman
Host Mentor: Dr. Fernando Fierro
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Brandon Light
Host Mentor: Dr. Ajun Wang
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Natalie Pedicino
Host Mentor: Dr. Claudia Petritsch
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Jacqueline Rose
Host Mentor: Dr. Fernando Fierro
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
2019-2020
Grace Blacker
Host Mentors: Dr. Irving Weissman and Dr Victoria L. Mascetti
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Dixie Blumenshine
Host Mentors: Dr. Roger Pedersen and Dr. Victoria Mascetti
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Cures
Sarah Galloway
Host Mentor: Dr. Irv Weissman
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Megan King
Host Mentor: Dr. Gerlinde Wernig
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Miranda Rodriguez
Host Mentor: Dr. Hiromitsu Nakauchi
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Angelica Romero
Host Mentor: Dr. Theo Palmer
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Kayla Templeton
Host Mentor: Dr. Fernando Fierro
UC Davis Stem Cell Program
Benjamin Thomas
Host Mentor: Dr Maria-Grazia Roncarolo
Stanford University Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
2018-2019
Matthew Caldwell
"Deriving Human Trophoblast Stem Cells from Human Embryonic Cells and by the Process of Forward Programing"
Host Mentor: Roger Pendersen, Ph.D.
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Stanford University
Kennedy Cunliffe-Koehler
"Exploring mechanisms of resistance to chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapy"
Host Mentor: Michelle Monje, M.D., Ph.D.
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences
Stanford University
Casiana Gonzalez
"Epigenetic editing via CRISPR/dCas9 as a novel therapeutic application for Rett Syndrome "
Host Mentor: Kyle Fink, Ph.D.
Institute for Regenerative Cures, Department of Neurology, Stem Cell Program
University of California, Davis Medical Center
Benjamin Lesch
"Genome Editing for the Correction of X-Linked Sideroblastic Anemia"
Host Mentor: Matthew Porteus, M.D.
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Stanford University
Michael Martinez
"Inducing the IDH1R132H mutation using CRISPR base-editing to study the therapeutic vulernabilities in low-grade gliomass"
Host Mentors: William Weiss, M.D., Ph.D. and Anders Persson, Ph.D.
Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, Cancer Biology and Cell Signaling, Department of Neurology
University of California, San Francisco
Kiana Robertson
"Mandibular repair by skeletal stem cells is nerve dependent"
Host Mentor: Michael Longaker, M.D., M.B.A., FACS
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery
Stanford University
Kristine Teague, M.S.
"Understanding Transcriptional Regulation of HSC Development, towards hiPSC Forward Programming for HSC generation "
Host Mentors: Irving Weissman, M.D. and Victoria Mascetti, Ph.D.
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Developmental Biology, Department of Pathology
Stanford University
Miguel Armenta Villa
"Developing an FDA-compliant mRNA reprogramming strategy for treating Stress Urinary Incontinence"
Host Mentors: Vittorio Sebastiano, Ph.D. and Bertha Chen
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Stanford University
2017-2018
Rachel E. Brewer
"Isolating a Human-derived Vessel Stem-Like Cell and Characterizing the Vascular Niche in a murine Model"
Host Mentors: Charles K.F. Chan , Michael T. Longaker
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford Immunology
Stanford School of Medicine
Samanth delCampo
"Mesenchymal stem cell-mediated delivery of an artificial transcription factor in human neurons modeling Angelman syndrome"
Host Mentor: Kyle Fink
Neurology Department & Stem Cell Program, Institute for Regenerative Cures University of California, Davis Medical Center
Lauren Koepke
"Characterization and Manipulation of the Human Skeletal Stem Cell Lineage in Response to Microfracture Surgery "
Host Mentors: Charles K.F. Chan , Michael T. Longaker
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford Immunology Stanford School of Medicine
Monique LaCourse
"Establishing a Medium Spiny Neuron Differentiation Protocol for ADCY5 Disease Modeling"
Host Mentor: Jeanne Loring
Center for Regenerative Medicine, Scripps Research Institute
Joshua Massey
"Isolation, characterization, and biomaterial delivery of lymphatic endothelial progenitor cells to promote lymphangiogenesis"
Host Mentor: Eduardo Silva
Biomedical Engineering Department, University of California, Davis
Marykate Olson
"A novel immune deficient mouse model of Sanfilippo Syndrome for human stem cell therapeutic modeling"
Host Mentor: Jan Nolta, Director UC Davis Stem Cell Program and Institute for Regenerative Cures UC Davis Medical Center
Read more about Marykate's research »
Meiliang Pan
"Treating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease by using Genome Surgery Approach "
Host Mentor: Bruce Conklin, MD
Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, UCSF
Ashley Ramsay
"Modelling Impaired Osteogenesis in Snyder Robinson Patients by Silencing Spermine Synthase in Human Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells "
Host Mentor: Fernando Fierro
Department of Cell Biology and UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures
Lizette Reynaga
"Approaches for Direct Reprogramming Preterm Placenta-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Endothelial cells "
Host Mentors: Diana Farmer and Ajiun Wang
Department of Surgery and Institute of Regenerative Cures UC Davis Medical Center
Elisabeth Torretti
"Fully Defined Differentiation of Medium Spiny Neurons from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells"
Host Mentor: Jeanne Loring
Center for Regenerative Medicine, Scripps Research Institute
Jacqueline Trzeciak
"Targeting Vulnerability of NAD+ Ddepletion in Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutant Glioma "
Host Mentor: Anders Persson
Department of Neurology UCSF
Benjamin Woodruff
"Generation of Cranial Placode Progenitors through Directed Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells"
Host Mentors: Stefan Heller, Department of Otolaryngology, Kyle Loh, Insitute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Stanford University
2016-2017
Neha Arora
"Understanding the role of cis-regulatory elements at SOX9 locus in congenital disorders"
Host Mentor: Joanna Wysocka, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Kyle Herout
"Characterization and Modification of Exosomes for Neural Protection and Cell Rescue "
Host Mentor: Aijun Wang, M.D.
University of California Davis
Cameron Schumacher
"Role of Spermine Synthase (SMS) in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Bone Formation"
Host Mentor: Fernando Fierro, Ph.D.
University of California Davis
Jessica Sepulveda
"Tissue Homeostasis: Extracellular Matrix Impact on Cardiac Function "
Host Mentor: Todd McDevitt, Ph.D.
Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, UCSF
Kahlil Vaughan
"Establishment of Crispr KO iPSC Lines and iPSCs from PBMCs of HHT1 & HHT2 Patients for the Study of Disease Pathology"
Host Mentor: Rosemary Akhurst, Ph.D.
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Research Institute, UCSF
2015-2016
Carsten Charlesworth
"Genome Editing for the Treatment of X-linked SCID "
Host Mentor: Matthew Porteus, M.D., Ph.D.
Stanford University
Zelenia Contreras
"shRNA Knockdown of METTL3 in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCS) to Prolong Expansion and Regenerative Properties "
Host Mentor: Jan Nolta, Ph.D.
UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures
Sean de la O
"Generating three dimensional culture of lung epithelial: Modeling disease and treatment "
Host Mentor: Calvin Kuo, M.D., Ph.D.
Stanford University
Haley DuBois
"Injection of Naked DNA as A Potential Gene Therapy Approach for Muscular Dystrophy"
Host Mentor: Michele Calos, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Aja Harding
"Endothelial Progenitor Cells Derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells for Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia"
Host Mentor: Ping Zhou, Ph.D.
UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures
Madeline Hoon
"Engineering of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived Exosomes with miR-132 to Increase Angiogenesis"
Host Mentor: Jan Nolta, Ph.D.
UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures
Manal Hosawi
"The Role of VEGF in the Neural Stem and Progenitor cells in the Hippocampus"
Host Mentor: Tony Wyss-Coray, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Michael Lopez
"Correcting Treacher Collins Syndrome Using Patient Derived Neural Crest Stem Cells"
Host Mentor: Michael Longaker, M.D., M.B.A.
Stanford University
Michael Olvera
"A Genome-wide CRISPRi Screen for Discovering Novel Factors of iPSC Growth & Survival"
Host Mentor: Bruce Conklin, M.D.
Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease
2014-2015
Hannah Collins
"The role of cell polarity protein Lgl1 in oligodendrocytes precursor cells "
Host Mentor: Claudia Petritsch
University of California, San Francisco
Sergio Fitch
"Engineering Adipose Stem Cells with Nanoparticles Against Malignant Brain Tumors"
Host Mentor: Fan Yang
Stanford University
Jessica Fuhriman
"The Role of p63 in Psoriasis "
Host Mentor: Peter Marinkovich
Stanford University
Todd Gallagher
"Reprogramming Fibroblasts into Myoblasts: Creating a Regenerative Cell Therapy to Treat Muscular Dystrophy"
Host Mentor: Michelle Calos
Stanford University
Wes Jenkins
"Searching for exRNA Transfer in Early Development "
Host Mentor: Michael McManus
University of California San Francisco
Brendan Kelly
"Functional Analysis of the H3.3-K27M Mutation in Pediatric Glioma-Derived IPS Cells"
Host Mentor: Marius Wernig
Stanford University
Steven Mayerl
"The Measurement of Non-Homologous End Joining and Homologous Directed Recombination in a Single Reaction"
Host Mentor: Deepak Srivastava and Bruce Conklin
Gladstone Institute and University of California San Francisco
Ian Meyers
"Polarity regulation of myelinating cells of the adult mammalian brain"
Host Mentor: Claudia Petritsch
University of California San Francisco
Samantha Shelton
"In Vivo Analyses of Autism Spectrum Disorder Candidate Gene CNTNAP2 in Inhibitory Cortical Interneurons"
Host Mentor: John Rubenstein
University of California San Francisco
2013-2014
Jennifer Burkett
"The Role of Planar Cell Polarity Proteins in Granule Neuron Differentiation"
Host lab: Matt Scott
Stanford University
Morgaine Green
"Smooth Muscle Cell Derivation for Treatment of Stress Incontinence"
Host lab: Renee Reijo Pera
Stanford University
Kyle Hendrix
"Generation of an immune deficient mouse model of Huntington’s disease for efficacy testing of human cell based therapies"
Host lab: Jan A. Nolta
University of California, Davis
Akela Kuwahara
"VEGF signaling in adult neural progenitor cells"
Host lab: Tony Wyss-Coray
Stanford University
William Oakley
"Investigating the function of repulsive guidance molecule B in intestinal stem cell biology"
Host lab: Calvin Kuo
Stanford University
Janell Rivera
"The Impact of Obesity Induced Inflammation on the Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype"
Host lab: William J. Murphy
University of California, Davis
Veronica Spandler
"Measuring chemotactic factors secreted from mesenchymal stromal cells on an extracellular matrix for myocardial infarction"
Host lab: Claus Svane Sondergaard
University of California, Davis
Jessica Torkelson
"Regulation by Long Non-Coding RNAs in Epidermal Differentiation"
Host lab: Anthony Oro
Stanford University School of Medicine
Taylor Wearda
"Finding the Human Skeletal Stem Cel"
Host lab: Michael Longaker
Stanford University
2012-2013
Ashley George
"Hypoxia and inflammatory cytokines/chemokines intrinsic to menstruation niche enhance endometrial mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and migration"
Host lab: Linda Giudice
University of California, San Francisco
Johanna Kirby
"Developing an in vitro system for the study of CAIRE-binding transcription factors"
Host lab: Roel Nusse
Stanford University
Jinze Li
"Generation of iPSCs from Human Foreskin Fibroblast for Transplantation with Embryonic Olfactory Ensheathing Gila into a Rat Model to Cure Spinal Cord Injury"
Host lab: Giles W. Plant
Stanford University
Arlee Mesler
"Alterations to Anaplerosis in Tumor Cell Metabolism by Oncogenic Kras"
Host lab: Alejandro Sweet-Cordero
Stanford University
Tye Petrie
"Extracellular Matrix Bioscaffold Augmented with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Cardiovascular Repair"
Host lab: Jan Nolte
University of California, Davis
Kelly Roelf
"Correction of Genetic Iron Deficiency Anemia by Intestinal Stem Cell Transplantation"
Host lab: Calvin Kuo
Stanford University
Alex Winans
"Fibroblast derived, GMP grade induced pluripotent stem cells for the treatment of Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa"
Host lab: Gerhard Bauer
University of California, Davis
2011-2012
Du Cheng
Host research mentor: Jill Helms, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Stanford University
Natalie Grace
Host research mentor: Jan Nolta, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis
Cody Kime
Host research mentors: Tim Rand M.D., Ph.D.; Shinya Yamanaka, M.D., Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Marc Meadows
Host research mentor: Ebenezer Yamoah, M.D.
Univrsity of California, Davis
Nathaniel Paul Meyer
Host research mentor: Michael T. Longaker, M.D.
Stanford University
Tawny Neal
Host research mentor: Michelle Calos, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Jessica Perez
Host research mentor: William Murphy, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis
Paula Schanes
Host research mentor: Rene Reijo Pera, Ph.D.
Stanford University
Andrew Smith
Host research mentor: Jill Helms, D.D.S., Ph.D. Stanford University
Read more about Andrew's research »
Benjamin J. Tschudy Seney
Host research mentor: Mark Zern
University of California, San Francisco
2010-2011
Andrew Chin
Host research mentor: Valerie Weaver, PhD, Departments of Surgery and Bioengineering and Therapeutics; Director, Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, UCSF
Read more about Andrew's research »
Peter Din
Host research mentor: Theo Palmer, PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences
Read more about Peter's research »
Julia Freewoman
Host research mentor: Theo Palmer, PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Stanford Institute of Stem Cell
Biology and Regenerative Medicine and the Stanford Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational
Neurosciences
Jennifer Hampton
Host research mentor: Didier Stainier, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF
Read more about Jennifer's research »
Dan Hunter
Host research mentor: Jill Helms, PhD, Professor of Surgery Stanford University
Read more about Dan's research »
Kate Steeper
Host research mentor: Thomas A. Rando, M.D, PhD, Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
Read more about Kate's research »2009-2010
Humberto Contreras
Host research mentor: Irving Weissman, Stanford
Research Topic: Characterization and therapeutic antibody treatment of various cancer stem cells
Sara Louise Downey
Host research mentor: Joseph Costello, UCSF
Research Topic: Genetic and epigenetic alterations in the development of sporadic cancers
Spenser Falor‐Ward
Host research mentor: Allan Balmain, UCSF
Research Topic: Molecular mechanisms of multistage carcinogenesis in skin
Elizabeth Gould
Host research mentor: Theo Palmer, Stanford
Research Topic: Neuronal precursor cell derived treatment for diminished neurogenesis and neurodegenerative disease
Timothy Laurent
Host research mentor: Robert Blelloch, UCSF
Research Topic: Molecular mechanisms cellular differentiation and de‐differentiation in development and cancer with an emphasis on microRNA
Logan Linthicum
Host research mentor: Pamela Denbesten, UCSF
Research Topic: Ameloblast differentiation from human embryonic stem cells and whole tooth generation
Robin Martin
Host research mentor: Irving Weissman, Stanford
Research Topic: Characterization and therapeutic antibody treatment of various cancer stem cells