Michael Cowan
About Michael Cowan
Michael Cowan is an Associate Scientist in Cell Biology at Kite Pharma, where he has worked since 2021. He has a strong background in stem cell research and T-cell engineering, with previous roles at Kite Pharma and the University of Southern California.
Work at Kite Pharma
Michael Cowan has been employed at Kite Pharma since 2021, serving as an Associate Scientist in Cell Biology. In this role, he focuses on cell therapy strategies, specifically the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into T cells. His work involves utilizing advanced techniques such as lentiviral and retroviral transduction for T-cell engineering. Prior to his current position, he worked as a Senior Research Associate II in Cell Biology at Kite Pharma from 2018 to 2021, where he contributed to the generation and characterization of genetically modified induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Education and Expertise
Michael Cowan holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology/Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California, which he completed from 2011 to 2013. He furthered his education at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, earning a Master of Science (M.S.) in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine from 2014 to 2015. Additionally, he obtained an Associate of Arts (AA) in Medical Technology from Fullerton College, studying from 2008 to 2011. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his expertise in cell biology and regenerative medicine.
Background
Before his career in cell biology, Michael Cowan worked as a Sales Associate at The Closet California Couture in the Orange County area from 2008 to 2009. He also gained research experience at the University of Southern California, where he served as a Lab Assistant for four months in 2013 and as a Research Assistant from 2014 to 2018 in the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. His diverse background includes both scientific research and customer service roles.
Research Contributions
During his tenure at Kite Pharma, Michael Cowan has been involved in significant research contributions related to cell therapy. He has worked on the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into T cells and utilized lentiviral and retroviral transduction techniques for T-cell engineering. His contributions also include the generation and characterization of genetically modified induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are crucial for advancing cell therapy strategies.