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Siddhartha Mukherjee speaks at the USC 2018 commencement ceremony. (Photo by David Sprague)

Commencement 2018: More than 17,000 receive degrees at main ceremony

When Siddhartha Mukherjee took the stage at the USC 2018 commencement this morning, he shared a tip with a new generation of Trojans. “I wish someone had told me at my own …

Kella Vangsness (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

USC’s Kella Vangsness paints stem cells as superheroes

With captions by Kella Vangsness “As an artist and scientist, I cannot help but imagine stem cells as ‘superheroes’ fighting against ‘villains’ of disease,” said Kella Vangsness, who is graduating from USC …

From left, Malcolm Gebauer and Aabha Morey (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Malcolm Gebauer pushes the envelope of medicine

Malcolm Gebauer was only five years old when his father was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a deadly form of blood cancer. “My father was given a verdict of six months before …

Graduation cap

Commencement 2018: Information about the Health Sciences ceremonies

The 135th Commencement at the University of Southern California begins at 8:30 a.m. May 11 at Alumni Memorial Park. Individual school ceremonies follow the main ceremony. Here is a list of times, …

From left, Mohamed El-Farra and Anna Konecny (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Mohamed El-Farra pursues holistic and humanistic medicine

For Mohamed El-Farra, medicine does not stop at the disease or the injury. “I want to create a holistic type of medicine. I want to bring in people’s backgrounds and see the …

From left, Evan Tedlock and Kyle McClary, founders of the Bridge Art & Science Alliance (Photo courtesy of the USC School of Cinematic Arts)

Stem cell master’s students present artwork with scientific themes

Kella Vangsness and Aabha Morey—who are pursuing their master of science degrees in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine—participated in this year’s Bridge Art & Science Alliance’s pitch day, which gives USC …

Pluripotency (Painting by Amanda Kwieraga)

USC alumna Amanda Kwieraga makes paintings from acrylic, wood and stem cell science

“Anyone who views something under a microscope or through a telescope will tell you that science is art, and that art is the perfect way to convey science,” said Amanda Kwieraga, an …

From left, Gage Crump, Min Yu, Yang Chai, Joseph T. Rodgers and Denis Evseenko—all faculty in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine—led a panel discussion about “Preparing for the faculty job market.” (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

The faculty job search just got easier, thanks to two USC Stem Cell postdocs

“I think we’re all here for the same reason,” said Michaela Patterson, a postdoc in the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC. “We’re considering …

Graduates of the master of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine program, with faculty director Henry Sucov (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

“Science does not end with discovery,” graduates told

An excited crowd of family and friends gathered at the Galen Center on the University Park Campus May 13 to celebrate the commencement of nearly 400 PhD and master’s degree candidates from …

From left, Chukuemeka Ogudu and Kory Hamane (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Future Doctor Chukuemeka Ogudu—from Nigeria to America

How far would you go to provide a better life for your family or your country? Chukuemeka Ogudu or, as his friends know him, Emeka, moved to America to become a doctor. …

From left, Nelson Poliran Jr. and Charles Bramlett (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Nelson Poliran Jr.—failure driven success

“Focus on one goal, be open minded and be persistent.” These are wise words from Nelson Poliran Jr., a standout scientist-in-training at USC. Poliran’s academic success hasn’t always come easily, though.

From right, Nicole Koutsodendris and Ila Dwivedi (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Countdown to Commencement: Nicole Koutsodendris aims to succeed where neurological medications fail

“Anti-psychotic medications can numb you to the point where you no longer have your own thoughts,” said Nicole Koutsodendris, who is graduating from the master’s program in stem cell biology and regenerative …

The Stem Cell Day of Discovery event held at the USC Health Sciences Campus in Los Angeles, CA. February 4th, 2017. The event encourages students to learn more about STEM opportunities, including stem cell study and biotech, and helps demystify the fields and encourage student engagement. Photo by David Sprague

Five-hundred middle and high school students realized their “pluripotential” at the USC Stem Cell Day of Discovery

You can be anything you want—just like a stem cell. This was a key lesson for the 500 middle and high school students who attended the USC Stem Cell Day of Discovery …

Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC (Photo by Chris Shinn)

USC announces Feb. 4 Stem Cell Day of Discovery event

On Saturday, February 4, from 8 a.m.–2 p.m., USC will hold a half-day educational event to encourage the residents of East Los Angeles (Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Lincoln Heights and neighboring communities …

Amgen's Bill Richards recently visited USC to provide an introduction to the company. (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

USC and Amgen launch the dialogues that drive discovery

Without collaboration between universities and pharmaceutical companies, scientists might never have developed essential medicines ranging from the antibiotic streptomycin in the 1950s to HIV medications in the 1990s. In recognition of the …

Amgen logo

Biotechnology lecture series: R&D insights from lab bench to patient bedside

Sept. 1–Nov. 10, 2016 10:30 a.m.–noon BCC First Floor Seminar Room or ZNI Herklotz Seminar Room As part of Amgen’s outreach program, the Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine …

Ophir Klein, professor at the University of California, San Francisco, delivered the keynote address. (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

Next generation of stem cell scientists detail their research from head to toe

The Stem Cell and Developmental Biology Retreat was a total body experience — covering organ systems ranging from the brain to the skeleton, from the kidney to the heart. Held on May …

Graduates from the master of science in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine program (Photo by Cort Brinkerhoff)

USC launches second graduating class from stem cell master’s program

USC’s May 14 Commencement Ceremony marked a beginning, not only for its two-year-old master’s program in the nascent field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, but also for this program’s second …

EiHS graduation (photo by Graham Clark Stecklein)

Local high school students graduate from USC’s summer stem cell program

Enthusiastic is the word to best describe the students from this year’s USC’s Early Investigator High School (EiHS) Stem Cell Research Program. Ten students graduated from the summer laboratory immersion program at …

Senta Georgia and Neil Segil (Photo by Cristy Lytal/courtesy of Neil Segil)

New USC course follows human development from stem cells to sternum

What don’t we know about human development, and what can go wrong? By focusing on these two big questions, a new 2-unit fall course will provide USC undergraduates with the opportunity to …