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MS in Biotechnology | Stem Cell Program
Notice for Applicants
The deadline for the upcoming application cycle is February 15th at 5pm. Please read the section below titled "Applying to the Program," which includes details on how to apply.
On the supplementary application, you do not need to list potential Sac State advisors; students admitted into the program conduct research at UC Davis, not Sac State. (Coursework is taken at Sac State and research is conducted at UC Davis.) You can simply list program director, Dr. Kimberly Mulligan, in the first position on the supplementary application.
In Cal State Apply, you should select "MS in Biotechnology," as the program you are applying to. The MS in Biotechnology is the SAME as the Stem Cell Program. There is currently no other field of biotechnology studied in this program outside of regenerative medicine/stem cell biology.
About the Sac State Stem Cell Program
Students in our Stem Cell Program will earn a Master of Science (MS) degree in Biotechnology from California State University, Sacramento. The goal of our MS Biotechnology/Stem Cell Program is to provide advanced coursework and a cutting edge research experience to prepare graduates for success in the stem cell workforce.
Our graduate program is in partnership with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Stem Cell Program. Students take three semesters of graduate level coursework at Sacramento State and conduct 8-months of research at UC Davis. In addition to conducting research at UC Davis, students also take courses on stem cell laboratory techniques and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) at UC Davis.
Academic Program Overview
- 20-month Master's Program, spanning 5 semesters total (including one summer).
- 3 semesters of graduate-level classes at Sacramento State.
- Stem Cell Research Techniques Training & Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) Courses at UC Davis, which are both certificate granting-courses.
- 8-month research internship at UC Davis
To read about the research students in our program can participate in, click UCD Stem Cell Research below. To read more about CIRM, the agency that supports this graduate program, click California Institute for Regenerative Medicine below.
Program Structure
This is a CIRM Bridges program
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges programs are designed to prepare students for highly productive careers in stem cell research and therapy development. In our Bridges program, student research takes place at the UC Davis Institute for Regenerative Cures (IRC) and affiliated institutions, located within a few miles of the CSUS campus. Stem cell-related translational research is conducted with participating disease teams, including: heart disease, traumatic brain injury, Huntington's disease, swallowing and airway disorders, chronic diabetic wounds, cancer, HIV, and more.
Program Highlights & Benefits
- 8-month paid research internship at the UC Davis Stem Cell Program supported by CIRM:
- $3,000/month stipend for the 8-month internship, totaling $24,000.
- 2 semesters of paid tuition during the 8-month internship (please note: tuition is not supported outside of the 8-month research internship period—thus, students are responsible for three-semesters of tuition).
- Research advising from faculty at UC Davis & mentoring from faculty at Sacramento State.
- Opportunity to contribute to the development of treatments or cures for debilitating conditions.
Culminating Research
Click below to read about research conducted by previous students in our program:
General Program Schedule
In the first year of the program, students take graduate level coursework at Sac State in the fall and spring. In the following June, students begin their 8-month research internship, which continues through January. Afterward, students return to classes for their final spring semester, and are eligible to graduate at the end of the semester (May).
By the end of the first semester (fall) students will have identified and interviewed in research labs of interest within the UC Davis Stem Cell Program (although limited to a list of participating research investigators, students get to choose which research labs to interview and, ultimately, conduct research in). Students will devise a research plan with their UC Davis mentor, and then write a research proposal during the first spring semester, as well as present an “advancement seminar” to a mixed committee of Sac State and UC Davis faculty who determine if the student is qualified to advance into the research internship based on the quality of their work.
After advancement, students begin the summer with a week of intensive training on stem cell research techniques at UC Davis. Students begin their research internships in June at their UC Davis labs, as well as participate in a GMP course. During the research internship, students are expected to work 40 hours per week in their host lab (during this period students receive a monthly stipend of $3,000). The research internship ends eight months later in January. Students resume coursework at Sac State in their final spring semester. They will also write their final project report and put together an exit seminar, which is presented to a mixed committee of Sac State and UC Davis faculty during the spring semester.
Students are expected to participate in all scheduled components of the program, including: Sac State coursework, the UC Davis research internship, the STEM regenerative medicine lecture series, and professional development programs. Students must also maintain a GPA of 3.0 in all coursework.
Applying to the Program
Who Should Apply?
- Highly motivated students interested in:
- Stem cell-related translational research.
- Gaining the skills necessary for a job as a senior research associate in an academic laboratory or biotech company.
- Working in other areas related to stem cell-based research or therapies (MS, PhD, or MD).
- Students with a baccalaureate degree in biology (or closely related field) with 24 units of upper division biological science courses with a grade of C- or better. Students must have earned a minimum GPA of
- 3.0 in upper division biology coursework
- 2.75 in all biology coursework
- 2.5 overall
Application Package Requirements
- General Application: submit online through calstate.edu/apply.
- One set of official transcripts: Can be submitted online. Alternatively, you could have official transcripts sent directly to your home address. If you keep the transcript sealed it is still considered official. You could then mail to:
Office of Graduate Studies (OGS)
River Front Center, Room 206
CSU, Sacramento
6000 J Street Sacramento, CA 95819-6112
For more information about transcript submission, please review the most current information provided by the Sac State Office of Graduate Studies (Click Here).
The GRE is not required for this program. Even if you have taken the exam, please do not submit GRE scores. This is a new change to our program—the campus catalog may not yet reflect this change. We apologize for any confusion.
Submitting Supplementary Application Materials
- Complete and submit the Supplementary Application.
- Under "Degree Objective" select "Master of Science (MS) in Biotechnology"
- **PLEASE NOTE**: You do NOT need to list potential graduate advisors in Section C of the supplementary application. Stem Cell Program students do not conduct research with Sacramento State faculty, so you there is no need to list three Sac State faculty here. Students will be matched with research advisors at UC Davis after the program begins.
- Statement of Purpose: In 1-2 single-spaced pages, please describe your interest in stem cell research, your interest in our specific program, your career goals, and any barriers you have faced. Please also describe any experiences that have prepared you for our program.
- Two letters of recommendation
To submit supplementary materials described you must:
- Submit your application at Cal State Apply.
- Load your Supplementary Application & Statement of Purpose under the "Documents" tab on Cal State Apply.
- Use the "Recommendations" tab to provide information about your two letter writers. They will be sent a link via email to submit their recommendation letters on your behalf.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are an international student, please click here to learn about additional requirements Sacramento State has for international applicants.
Timeline for Applicants
| Dates | Period |
|---|---|
| Oct 1 – Feb 15, 5pm | Applications accepted. |
| March | Application review. |
| March/April | Applicants will be intermittently notified if they will be invited to a Zoom interview. |
Commitment to Educational Equity & Diversity in Science
At Sacramento State we embrace diversity and understand that bringing people of diverse backgrounds together can improve scientific innovation. A prominent goal of the Stem Cell Program is to promote diversity within our program and the broader scientific community. To that end, students who are from historically minoritized groups or economically disadvantaged backgrounds should feel encouraged to apply.
Sacramento State Stem Cell Program Academic Committee
The Stem Cell Program Academic Committee provides continued support for the duration of the program.
- Kimberly Mulligan, PhD (Program Director, Stem Cell Program Advisor, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences)
- Erin Olsan, PhD (Committee Chair, Stem Cell Program Advisor, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences)
- Robin Altman, PhD (Stem Cell Program Advisor, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences)