The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) in partnership with research institutions, patient groups, and educators around the world marked Stem Cell Awareness day on September 23. Because broader education is an important part of CIRM’s mission, an outreach program was implemented in which scientists in the field visited local high schools to discuss embryonic stem cell research. Tiffany Satoorian, a graduate student in the Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology graduate program, had the pleasure of visiting Calabasas High School to speak with four science classes about the derivation of human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, their important characteristics, and the promise of these pluripotent cells in regenerative medicine. Tiffany was met with interest from the students and faculty. She was asked many questions regarding the science of stem cell research, but the most fulfilling question she received was, “How can we become stem cell biologists?”

Tiffany works on human embryonic stem cells in Dr. Michael Pirrung’s lab. She has also helped to coordinate the monthly joint lab meetings for the stem cell group the past two years.