Acres Homes Predoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention
Research training opportunities in obesity-related cancer
The NCI U54 Research and Training Program of The MD Anderson Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration prepares predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees in 3-year appointments to become leaders addressing obesity-related cancers affecting underserved communities. This fellowship is part of the Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP) at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. With elements tailored to trainee interests and professional needs, our multidisciplinary curriculum prepares predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees in the principles and practice of research on the causes and interception of obesity-related cancers. Training includes mentored research with experts in cancer prevention and experiential learning opportunities in underserved communities with community partners. The fellowship emphasizes acquiring and applying knowledge of the drivers of persistent poverty and their impact on health, developing skills in research methods used in community settings to design and implement interventions against obesity-related cancers, and fostering professional skills of scientist-advocates for success.
Trainees will learn the principles and practice of research on the causes and interception of obesity-related cancers and how to conduct research successfully in underserved communities with community partners. They will acquire and apply knowledge of the drivers of persistent poverty and their impact on health to solutions, develop skills in research methods used in community settings to design and implement effective interventions against obesity-related cancers, and foster key professional skills needed by scientist-advocates for success in the field. While all trainees will use data and opportunities available through Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration to benefit from the multiple resources provided, predoctoral trainees will be expected to use these resources for their dissertation projects.
The application is closed.
We are not accepting applications.
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Background
Persistent poverty areas represent an important subgroup of U.S. counties with a higher disease burden, including cancer, where the health consequences of elevated and continuous poverty levels over time have not been fully investigated. We plan to bridge the gap between research and real-world practice through community-engaged approaches to address obesity, the second leading preventable cause of cancer. Obesity is related to an increased risk of 13 types of cancer (endometrial, colorectal, post-menopausal breast, esophageal, liver, kidney, stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, ovarian, and advanced prostate). Obesity-related cancers increased between 1995 and 2014, particularly in adults under 50, indicating that rising obesity rates may be driving cancer increases. Furthermore, physical inactivity and diets low in whole grains, vegetables, and fruit and high in processed and red meat are also associated with increased cancer risk and increasing risk of obesity. People living in persistent poverty face particular environmental, social, and economic challenges to being physically active and eating a high-quality diet, which may partially explain the increased risk of cancers related to diet, activity, and obesity in these areas. More cancer prevention and control efforts, both research and interventions, are urgently needed to reach these communities to reduce the burden of obesity-related cancers.
Deadlines and Important Dates
We are no longer accepting applications. Please join our listserv to receive the next fellowship announcement.
Eligibility
Eligible predoctoral applicants must meet the following requirements:
- This fellowship is available without regard to the applicant’s U.S. citizenship status (i.e., Visa holders, Permanent Residents, and U.S. citizens are welcome to apply).
- Must reside in Texas, USA, at the start of the fellowship.
- Must be enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. or other doctoral program in a disciplinary area relevant to conducting obesity or cancer-related research for their dissertation.
- Must have completed their first two years of doctoral coursework and plan to use resources from the Acres Homes project as the basis for their disseration work.
- Must be pursuing a doctoral degree in public and population sciences, including health promotion/health education, a behavioral or social science discipline, epidemiology, biostatistics, economics, health services research/health policy, communication, or other related areas of study.
- Selected trainees will use data and opportunities available through Acres Home Cancer Prevention Collaboration for their dissertation projects to benefit from the multiple resources provided.
- Must express a commitment to a career as a cancer and obesity researcher in their personal statement and throughout the application.
- Must provide proof of enrollment in a doctoral degree program.
Funding Support, Benefits & Duration
- Predoctoral students receive a stipend of $36,000 per year, plus benefits (e.g., health insurance, paid institutional holidays, and sick leave).
- No funds are available for relocation/housing subsidies.
- The length of fellowship appointments are up to three (3) years, renewed annually pending successful progress towards research and training goals.
- All predoctoral fellows must be in the state of Texas, will be appointed as on-campus/hybrid, and are required to check-in with the Office of Research Trainee Progams (RTP) in-person on the first day of employment. The trainee will also visit MD Anderson campus to pick up a leased, encrypted MD Anderson laptop, and complete an offsite agreement. The laptop must be returned at the conclusion of the fellowship. No exceptions.
- Stipends are subject to required federal taxes.
- Per MD Anderson guidelines, doctoral students are appointed under the title 'graduate students' and are restricted to part-time during the Spring and Fall semesters, but will be increased to full-time during the summer.
- This predoctoral fellowship includes additional funding support for tuition and fees, supplies, books, software, professional development, and travel to present research at conferences.
Application Process and Instructions
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. Use the link in the box located at the top of this web page to start an application. The application process consists of four parts: 1) Student Inquiry Form, 2) Slate account creation, and 3) Slate application with all required materials noted below.
2) Application Disclosures. After clicking the application link at the top of this web page to begin your application, scroll to the top of the page and read the following three (3) sections before completing the Inquiry Form: 1) Please Read Before you Apply, 2) Additional Documents Required if Selected as a Final Candidate, and 3) Onboarding Contingencies that Require Early Action.
NOTE: The Additional Documents Required If Selected... section includes a statement regarding 'Immigration Documents'. This statement is included in the Slate system for all fellowships at MD Anderson however, this NCI U54 Acres Homes Fellowship is open to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents only. We regret Visa holders are not eligible to apply.
3. Complete the Slate Inquiry Form and upload the required documents:
3.1 Personal Information (e.g., name, demographics, personal email).
3.2 List the names and emails addresses of two individuals who will provide you with professional recommendations (i.e., letters of recommendation). Please inform the referees in advance that they will be invited to upload their letters directly into the application portal in step 5 below.
3.3 Upload Resume/CV.
3.4 Upload two (2) items merged into a single file as Proof of Enrollment.
3.4.a: A copy of an official transcript
3.4.b. Letter from your dissertation chair
1) Must state the approximate anticipated dissertation completion date.
2) Must be on letterhead.
3) Must be manually or electronically/digitally signed.
4) Must be dated within the last 90 days of application submission.
5) Must be from dissertation chair and not the applicant.
Note: MD Anderson accepts various forms of proof of enrollment (outlined in the Slate system), including verification of enrollment documents. However, to evaluate the coursework and eligibility of Predoc applicants, we kindly request that you submit 1) a copy of an official transcript, and 2) a letter from your dissertation, merged into a single pdf file and uploaded to, as the required proof of enrollment.
3.5 Provide a Statement of Research Experience and Interest (i.e., personal statement). We recommend drafting this statement in Word and use the word count feature to ensure that you do not exceed the 700-word limit. Copy and paste the text into the form field. Your statement must address the following three (3) areas:
1) Your research interests, experience, and future goals in cancer and obesity research.
2) Your reasons for seeking research training from this program. Please include any life experiences or motivating factors related to your career interest.
3) How the fellowship will contribute to your future career plans in cancer and obesity research.
3.6 Double-check all aforementioned items before clicking the SUBMIT button. The Slate system will not accept revised documents.
4. Create your Slate Account. After clicking the SUBMIT button, you will receive an email from MD Anderson Education & Training (trainee@mdanderson.org), subject line: "Complete your Trainee Position Inquiry Request". Follow the instructions and click the hyperlink in the email to create a Slate account and request your letters of recommendation.
5. Complete the Application:
5.1 Read the Application Instructions in the Slate system.
5.2 Two (2) Letters of Recommendation: In the Recommendations screen, enter the contact information for both individuals who will write your letters of recommendation. Ideally, recommenders should be professors or faculty mentors who know you well. Candidates are encouraged to work with references to ensure that letters are: 1) on institutional letterhead, 2) signed, and 3) recently dated. Note: Please ignore any text in the SLATE system specifying that MD Anderson faculty cannot write letters of recommendation---this is false and hopefully will be corrected soon. After the applicant enters the recommender's information in the Slate system, the recommender will receive an email notification from trainee@mdanderson.org, subject line "Recommendation Request from YOUR NAME for MD Anderson Cancer Center" and a link to upload the letter of recommendation to your account. You will receive an email when the letter has been successfully uploaded.
5.3 Complete any additional forms (e.g., Additional Demographics and Future Plans, Academic Awards and Honors).
Note: There is no submit button in the "Complete the Application" stage. To check the status of your application, log on to your Slate account and select 'Status' from the menu. Your application is complete when all sections are complete and both letters of recommendation have been uploaded to your account.
How to Find a Mentor
Candidates invited for the second phase of applicant review will be contacted to provide short responses to a series of questions and a list of preferred potential mentors selected from a list of Acres Homes mentors comprised of faculty from multiple universities participating in the Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration.
Acres Homes Cancer Prevention Collaboration Leadership
Lorna McNeill, Ph.D., M.P.H., Principal Investigator, Engagement Core; Chair, Health Disparities Research
Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., M.P.H., Principal Investigator, Administrative Core, Developmental Core ; Professor, Health Disparities Research
Shine Chang, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Career Enhancement Core Director; Professor, Epidemiology; CPRTP Director
Ruth Rechis Oekler, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Research and Methods Core; Be Well Communities Director
Program Contact & More
Contact
Please include "Acres Homes Trainee Application" in the subject line.
Cancer Prevention Research Training Program
P.O. Box 301439
Houston, Texas 77230-1439, USA
Virtual Business Hours:
Monday through Friday,
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT
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