Cloud-Connected Pluripotent Stem Cell Platform Enhances Scientific Identity in Underrepresented Students
Published in BioRxiv, 2026
Authors: Samira Vera-Choqqueccota, Drew Ehrlich, Vladimir Luna-Gomez, Sebastian Hernandez, Jesus Gonzalez-Ferrer, Hunter E Schweiger, Kateryna Voitiuk, Yohei Rosen, Kivilcim Doganyigit, Isabel Cline, Rebecca Ward, Erika Yeh, Karen H Miga, Barbara Des Rochers, Sri Kurniawan, David Haussler, Kristian Lopez Vargas, Mircea Teodorescu, Mohammed A Mostajo-Radji
Stem cell research offers unique opportunities for authentic scientific engagement, yet infrastructure requirements have confined participation to elite institutions, perpetuating workforce disparities. We developed an integrated framework combining engineered biology, cloud-connected microscopy, and validated psychometric assessment to make pluripotent stem cell (PSC) experimentation widely accessible. The framework comprises three components: a doxycycline-inducible NGN2 mouse embryonic stem cell line for rapid neuronal specification, low-cost cloud microscopy for remote observation, and the validated Stem Cell Research Identity Scale (SCRIS) for quantifying educational outcomes. Implementation across a Title I high school and urban community college demonstrated significant increases in scientific identity. Students using differentiating PSCs showed broader science identity development than those using neuroblastoma cells, particularly in competence, research readiness, and recognition. High school students showed enhanced research competence gains compared to community college students despite equivalent intervention duration. Demographic analyses revealed enhanced effectiveness for Hispanic and first-generation college students. This framework provides a scalable model for broadening participation in advanced biomedical research.
Paper Link: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.19.699793v1