Summer Internship

Cell and Gene Therapy Manufacturing at LCGM

Stanford Laboratory for Cell & Gene Medicine (LCGM) is an innovative, state-of-the-art, multi-product manufacturing facility that develops cell and gene-based therapies for early phase clinical trials in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) FDA regulations. To educate and train the next generation of cell and gene therapy professionals, we offer a unique summer internship opportunity for undergraduate students.

LCGM’s projects represent diverse therapeutic modalities including hematopoietic stem cells and host alloantigen-specific regulatory T cells to prevent Graft versus Host Disease, genetically engineered immune cells (T-cells) for cancer immunotherapy and complex immune syndromes and CRISPR gene correction for sickle cell disease amongst others. 

The LCGM Summer Program offers a 10-week exciting opportunity to learn from world class scientists who support translational medicine. The successful applicant will learn from and practice skills on challenging projects in the Process Development & Manufacturing or Quality Assurance team.  

The Process Development & Manufacturing team develops large scale, closed system, cGMP compliant procedures to manufacture innovative cell and gene therapies. The student’s learning experience may include:

• LCGM cell and gene therapy project overview
• Aseptic technique; cell thaw, expansion, cryopreservation, scale-up; analytical assays
• Equipment learning: control rate freezer; automated cell counter, flow cytometry
• Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Good Documentation Practices (GDP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)

The Quality Assurance team facilitates the development, implementation, and maintenance of LCGM’s Quality Management System and ensures that product quality meets regulatory and accreditation requirements. The student’s learning experience may include:

• LCGM cell and gene therapy project overview
• Quality Management System
• Observe, support manufacturing activities, campaign readiness, product release
• Core activities: Change Control, Document Control, Deviations, Audits

Students also participate in lunch and learn sessions and other career seminars. The program culminates with a presentation in front of their peers, faculty, mentors, and other Stanford scientists. 

An important goal of the LCGM Summer Program is to select students whose individual and collective experiences, interests, and backgrounds will contribute to the world of cell and gene therapy. We especially encourage students to apply who are from groups that are under-represented in the United States biotechnology workforce, including (but not limited to) students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, students who will be first generation college students, and women.

Selection decisions will be made in awareness of and in accordance with the June 29, 2023 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. 

All participants in the LCGM Summer Program must agree to the following eligibility requirements and program expectations:

• Students must be undergraduate sophomores or juniors currently enrolled in a four-year college or university, majoring in a STEM discipline
• Students must be 18 years or older at the time of application
• Students are expected to be in-person in the lab for 8 hours per day, 5 days per week for the duration of the 10-week period
• Students are expected to attend all program activities, orientation, seminars, and end of internship presentation
• Students must be U.S citizens/permanent residents
• Students will receive a stipend at the end of successful completion of the internship