Education and Training

Seminars and Symposia

In keeping with its commitment to promote a broad understanding of issues and opportunities in stem cell research, the Tri-SCI sponsors scientific seminars and symposia as well as other events geared to the public at large. The latter will play an important part in the Tri-SCI’s outreach effort, helping to generate increased public awareness of stem cell research and providing information of interest to the general community.

2007-2008 Tri-Sci Sponsored Symposia and Seminars

• September 25, 2007—Lecture by Dr. Ron McKay, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH.
• October 15-16, 2007—Tri-SCI-sponsor of New York Stem Cell Foundation 2nd Annual Translational Stem Cell Conference, to be held atThe Rockefeller University.
• November 13, 2007—Lecture by Dr. Chad Cowan, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School.
• December 4, 2007—Lecture by Dr. Ihor Lemischka, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.
• March 11, 2008—Lecture by Dr. George Daley, Children’s Hospital, Boston

Past Sponsored Events

• The New York Stem Cell Foundation’s inaugural symposium, held in October 2006 at The Rockefeller University. The Tri-SCI, along with other NYC-based institutions, helped to support this event, which included a public policy discussion of human embryonic stem cell research and a scientific program with presenters from the Tri-I campuses as well as other invited outside speakers.
• A lecture by Dr. Elaine Fuchs from The Rockefeller University on “Skin Stem Cells,” presented in March 2007 as part of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Presidential Research Seminar Series.
• A lecture by Dr. Shahin Rafii from Weill Cornell Medical College on “Adult Germ Cells for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration and Tumor Targeting”. This seminar was scheduled to coincide with the recruitment visits by students scheduled to join the Tri-I M.D./Ph.D program in 2007. The seminar showcased the cutting-edge research opportunities available on our campuses.

Fellowship Opportunities

Tri-I Starr Stem Cell Scholars Fellowship Program
Stem cell research will require the institutions to make a long-term investment in training future generations of scientists to conduct research in this highly complex, multidisciplinary field. The Tri-I Starr Stem Cell Scholars Fellowship Program plans to provide fellowship support to outstanding candidates pursuing advanced stem cell research in any of the three institutions’ laboratories The ability to offer such assistance will encourage the very best young investigators to take part in the initiative. Receiving a Tri-I Starr Stem Cell Scholars Fellowship constitutes a mark of scientific distinction and reflects a strong commitment to upholding the highest standards of responsibility and excellence.

Applications for these Awards will be evaluated by a group of internal faculty at each institution, chosen by the senior leadership. The awards will provide support for stipends, travel allowance and funds for laboratory expenditures.

A call for applications will be posted on the Tri-Institutional stem cell intranet website (www.trisci.org).

Graduate Training

The Tri-SCI does not offer a separate graduate program. Instead, students should apply to one of the existing programs at the Tri-Institutions. Once accepted, students can then conduct their graduate research in a lab of an investigators whose research is focused on stem cell science.

For more information, please visit the following sites:

Weill Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences of Cornell University
biomedsci.cornell.edu/graduate_school

The Rockefeller University
The David Rockefeller Graduate Program
www.rockefeller.edu/graduate

Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
www.sloankettering.edu/gerstner

Tri-SCI Intranet

The Tri-SCI intranet is a very useful resource for investigators conducting stem cell research at the Tri-Institutions. It contains important information about the role of the Tri-SCI Embryonic Stem Cell Research Oversight Committee (ESCRO) and is the site for the required tutorial and posttest that must be completed by all investigators and their laboratory staff who are conducting research with human embryonic stem cells. Faculty and staff on the Tri-I campuses should visit the site at www.trisci.org.