San Jose State University
Stem Cell Internships in Laboratory-Based Learning
Application for Internship
The SJSU SCILL Program provides coursework towards a Master’s degree in the
Department of Biological Sciences (Master of Arts or Master of Biotechnology) at San Jose
State University and a 12-month, full-time internship in stem cell research in one of four host
institutions. The host institutions are Stanford University, the University of California Santa
Cruz, the Parkinson’s Institute, and Escape Therapeutics (a biotechnology company).
The program also provides a $2500/month stipend and about $7000 towards tuition only
during the internship year.
Students currently in a graduate program (MA) or starting their Master’s program in 2016
are eligible to apply for the SCILL program.
Students will do a year of coursework prior to the internship and some coursework during
the internship.
The pre-requisites for the SCILL Program are a 4-year bachelor’s degree in a biology-related
science and an upper division course in molecular biology (with a lab), an upper division
course in immunology (preferably with a lab) or equivalent experience.
RECRUITMENT TO FALL 2016 PROGRAM STARTS NOVEMBER 2015 AND WILL
CONTINUE UNTIL COHORT IS FILLED OR UNTILL MARCH 1ST 2016.
ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:
tzvia.abramson@sjsu.edu
ALSO SUBMITT A HARD COPY TO:
TZVIA ABRAMSON
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
ONE WASHINGTON SQUARE,
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERISTY,
SAN JOSE, CA 95192-0100.
HARD COPIES OF APPLICATION MATERIALS MAY ALSO BE DELIVERED TO THE
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES OFFICE IN DUNCAN HALL, ROOM 254. THE DEADLINE
FOR RECEIPT OF ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS IS MARCH 1ST, 2016.
SCILL Program Supported by a Bridges to Stem Cell
Research Grant from the
California Institute of Regenerative Medicine
Application Procedure
Step 1
Complete and email the enclosed application to
Tzvia.Abramson@sjsu.edu no later than April
1st. Please place SCILL Program in the subject
line. All required documents (transcripts,
recommendation forms, GRE scores, TOEFL
scores, application form, resume) should be
scanned and submitted by email to the email
address above. Also send a hard copy of all
application materials to Tzvia Abramson,
Department of Biological Sciences, One
Washington Square, San Jose State University,
San Jose, CA 95192-0100.
For additional information:
Email: Tzvia.Abramson@sjsu.edu
Email: jboothby@email.sjsu.edu
Email: katherine.wilkinson@sjsu.edu
Web: http://www.sjsu.edu/biology/
Step 2
Request that three recommendation forms be
submitted by email to
Tzvia.Abramson@sjsu.edu. Recommendation
forms should be completed by faculty members
or employers.
4.
Permission form to contact references
Step 5
An interview will be scheduled for selected
applicants after receipt of all academic documents
and preliminary review of all application
materials.
General Information
The SJSU SCILL Program is a component of a
Master’s degree program (Master of Arts or
Master of Biotechnology) in Biological Sciences
at San Jose State University. The curriculum is
customized for each type of Biological Sciences
Master’s degree.
Admission Policies and
Prerequisites for the SJSU
SCILL Program
To be admitted to the program, you must have:
Step 3
Provide scanned, unofficial copies of your GRE
scores by email and hard copy. Applicants
whose language of instruction for their higher
education was not English are required to
provide scanned unofficial copies of TOEFL
scores by email. International students whose
language of instruction was English must
provide proof from their degree-granting
institution.
Step 4
Provide by email and hard copy:
1.
2.
3.
Unofficial copies of all your university transcripts
A statement of purpose
A current resume
 Been admitted for a Master’s Program in the
Department of Biological Sciences at San
Jose State University by Fall 2016.
 Completed an upper division immunology
course with lab and an upper division
molecular/cell biology course with a lab or
have equivalent experience.
 Three (3) completed recommendation forms
 A statement of purpose
 A resume
 A permission form to contact references
Applicants will be screened based on the
documents they submit and selected candidates
may be invited for interviews.
Selected candidates will be matched with the
host institutions using a match process similar to
that used by other health science internship
programs.
San Jose State University
SCILL Program
Application Checklist
 Completed application*
 Prerequisite courses completed:
o Immunology with lab
o Molecular/Cell Biology with lab
o Equivalent experience (with explanation)
 Resume*
 Statement of Purpose *
 Three completed recommendation forms*
 Unofficial Copies of college transcripts*
 Permission form to contact references*
 Unofficial copies of GRE Scores (and TOEFL scores for International
Students)*
*Send these items to the Department of Biological Science, c/o Tzvia
Abramson: Department of Biological Sciences, One Washington Square, San
Jose State University, San Jose, CA 95192-0100.
Please Rank your first, second, third and fourth choice for an internship site:
 Parkinson’s Institute
 Escape Therapeutics (a biotechnology company at the San Jose
BioCenter)
 University of California Santa Cruz
 Stanford University
Please indicate if there is a host site where you would NOT accept an
internship.
San Jose State University
SCILL Program
Application for Admission
Please type and respond to all questions
Last name, First name, Middle initial
Date
Current Address
Permanent Address (if different from the current address)
Message Phone
Alternate Phone
E-mail
Social Security Number
Are you a U.S. Citizen, or permanent resident?
Are you presently authorized to work in the U.S. or
are you eligible for a Curricular Practical Training?
 yes
 no

yes


no
visa (type)_______
Emergency contact:
Name
Phone
Address
Educational History
Type of School
(jr. college, college, univ.)
1.
School Name
Major
Degree
Attended from
(month/year)
Attended to
(month/year)
2.
3.
4.
Total G.P.A._______________
Science G.P.A.____________
Graduate G.P.A. ____________
Optional Information:
San Jose State University maintains a program of nondiscrimination in all aspects of the services it provides. The optional questions are
intended solely for the purpose of providing the University with information that enables it to measure the effectiveness of its compliance
with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments and Executive Order 11246 as amended. You are not
required to answer these questions since the information is unnecessary for the evaluation of your application for admission. You may elect
to answer or not answer each question, at your option.
Birth date: Month / Day / Year Birthplace: City
Gender: _________Male
Racial / Ethnic Information
Native
State
________Female
_____White (non-Hispanic)
_____Hispanic
_____Black (non-Hispanic)
_____Asian or Pacific Islander
Country
_____American Indian / Alaskan
_____Non-resident Alien
San Jose State University
CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program
Last name, First name, Middle initial
Date
Please attach a resume that includes your employment history, volunteer activities, school activities, hobbies
and interests.
Academic Honors
Please provide the name, address and telephone numbers of three references at least two of which must be
science instructors.
1.
2.
3.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or pleaded guilty and been placed on probation, court supervision, or
other preconviction program? A “yes” answer does not automatically result in your disqualification for
admission.

yes

no
If yes, please explain on a separate piece of paper and attach.
By signing this application, I assert the following:

All information provided is true, to the best of my knowledge.

Representatives of the San Jose State University CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program have
my permission to contact San Jose State faculty from who I have taken classes who may not be on my
reference list.

Representatives of the San Jose State University CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program have
my permission to contact my references and enquire about my performance as their student or
employee as applicable.
'
______________________________________________
Signed
________________________
Date
San Jose State University
CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program
Last name, First name, Middle initial
Date
Course work:
In the chart below, please list all of the courses you have taken in the disciplines of science and mathematics.
An copy of your transcript that lists all completed courses from each university or college attended must
be sent to Tzvia Abramson in the Department of Biological Sciences at San Jose State University. Please
group the courses by the school at which they were taken and list them chronologically, starting with the most
recent. Please indicate if the course was a semester (Sm) or quarter (Qtr) in length. Indicate the year in which it
was taken and indicate if it was a lecture (Lect), laboratory (Lab), or seminar (Sem). If the course is in progress
(In prog), or planned (Plan) please indicate that. Attach additional pages as needed. If your transcripts are from
an international university, please indicate the maximum score possible and the score you earned in each course.
Course:
Sm
Qtr Inst Year Lect Lab Units
Grade In prog/plan
Immunology
Immunology Lab
Molecular Biology
Molecular Biology Lab
Advanced Molecular
Techniques
Advanced Immunological
Techniques
Developmental Biology
Flow Cytometry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry Lab
Animal Cell Culture Lab
Bioinformatics
San Jose State University
CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program
Last name, First name, Middle initial
Course:
Sm
Date
Qtr
Inst
Year
Lect
Lab
Units
Grade
In prog/plan
San Jose State University
CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program
Last name, First name, Middle initial
Date
Statement of Purpose
State your reasons for pursuing the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Internship and your career goals after
graduation. Also indicate how you think you are prepared for this internship (e.g., prerequisite classes, research
experience). (Please attach a separate, typed, double- spaced application essay, maximum length, two pages).
San Jose State University
CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program
Confidential Recommendation
Name of Applicant:
Last
First
Address
Middle
Maiden
Phone
______________________________________
Social Security Number
By signing this form, I waive my rights to review this document.
Signature of Applicant: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________
To the Recommender
The above person is applying for admission to the CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Internship as
part of either the Master of Biotechnology Program or the Master of Arts in Biological Sciences
Program at San Jose State University. Please submit your opinion of the candidate’s potential for a
successful career in our academic program. Please comment on intelligence, motivation, and personal
qualities which would add to or detract from the candidate’s success. Consistent with the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974,this form will not become part of the permanent student
record and will not be available to the applicant.
__________________________________________________________________________________
How long have you known the applicant?
_________________________________________________________________________________
In what capacity have you known the applicant?
Comments
___ 4 Strongly recommend
___ 3 Recommend
___ 2 Hesitate to recommend
___ 1 Do not recommend
__________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Recommender
Date
_
_________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Recommender (print)
Position
__________________________________________________________________________________
Institution/Employer
Telephone
__________________________________________________________________________________
Address
__________________________________________________________________________________
Summary Evaluation
Please rate the candidate in comparison to other individuals whom you have known in a similar capacity on the following
characteristics (you may wish to address these qualities in the form of a letter and attach):
Academic Ability in Science
__ Superior
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Laboratory Skills
__ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Leadership Potential
__ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Initiative __ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Integrity __ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Motivation
__ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Judgment __ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Emotional Stability __ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oral Communications Skills__ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory
__ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Written Communications Skills __ Superior
__ Exceeds Expectations
__ Satisfactory __ Needs Improvement
__No Basis for Judgment
Please justify your rating with a short comment.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please return to:
Tzvia Abramson at Tzvia.Abramson@sjsu.edu
CIRM Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program (Master of Biotechnology or Master of Arts in Biological Sciences Program)
Department of Biological Sciences
San Jose State University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0100