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Special Donor-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowships

Open to U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and Foreign Nationals Holding Visas

Announcements and Instructions 

The Cancer Prevention Research Training Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center prepares scientists and clinicians to achieve leadership roles as research investigators in the field of cancer prevention and control. The program is designed to expand the perspective of the trainees by moving them from their base of strength in a particular specialty and to equip them with additional knowledge of the other cancer prevention and control disciplines. This cross-disciplinary training is accomplished by attending seminars and by participating in ongoing peer-reviewed, mentored research. Fellows are expected to present their research at scientific meetings and to publish in peer-reviewed journals. Fellows also will participate in professional development seminars, such as time management and grant writing. Trainees are immersed in the type of cross-disciplinary research environment typical of cancer prevention and control research, with the objective of launching the trainee in the scientific research role of principal investigator relatively early in his or her career.

Program duration: Postdoctoral fellowships are funded for two years, renewed annually pending research progress and availability of funds.

Eligibility: This fellowship is available without regard to the applicant’s U.S. citizenship status. Foreign nationals must be in the U.S. legally and have valid and appropriate visas. Applicants may be from backgrounds in the basic biomedical sciences, medicine, biomedical statistics, epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, nursing and related public health disciplines.

Fellowship support: Postdoctoral stipends start at $48,000 per year and may be higher depending on completed years of relevant postdoctoral experience. Fringe benefits include health insurance, paid institutional holidays and annual and sick leave. Support also is provided for tuition, reference books, meeting registration and travel support, and limited research costs.

Faculty mentors: You must have a minimum of two mentors with complementary expertise in different disciplines. At least one of the two mentors must have a faculty appointment at the assistant professor level or higher within the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences at MD Anderson, which includes the Departments of Behavioral Science, Clinical Cancer Prevention, Epidemiology and Health Disparities Research. You may identify potential mentors from the Internet-based MD Anderson Research Report and may contact them directly concerning the possibility of mentorship. Other qualified mentors can have appointments in other MD Anderson departments or in institutions elsewhere.

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Overview of Application Process

The application process consists of two phases:

Phase I – Initial application: submission of a short application for preliminary review
Phase II – Invitation to submit a full fellowship application based on successful Phase I review

Deadlines and Submission: See Important Dates for application deadlines and updates. The entire application process takes approximately 5 months. All documents must be merged and submitted as a single electronic file (preferably PDF) and e-mailed to apply@cancerpreventiontraining.org. Detailed instructions for compiling your application documents are provided below.

Contact Information

Dee Tello
Academic Coordinator
Cancer Prevention Research Training Program
713-745-2495
dtello@mdanderson.org

Shine Chang, Ph.D.
Director
Cancer Prevention Research Training Program
713-563-3573
shinechang@mdanderson.org

Carrie Cameron, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Cancer Prevention Research Training Program
713-794-1476
ccameron@mdanderson.org

Office Location

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Cancer Prevention Building - Floor 7
CPB 7.3550
1155 Pressler Street - Unit 1365
Houston, Texas 77030

Donor-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship Application Materials

Phase I: Pre-application

Format: Put your name and the date in the top right corner of each page and add page numbers to the bottom center of each page. Use 12 point font and no less than one-inch margins.

  1. Checklist and cover sheet: Please complete and sign this page (PDF).
  2. Abstract of Proposed Research:
    • the title of the proposed research project
    • an abstract of the proposed research project that includes a description of your role in the project
    • names of all faculty mentors, their positions and affiliations
    • How is your project different from the parent project (if any)? Write a paragraph, under separate heading (“Differences between parent project and proposed project”), explaining how your proposal and the parent project differ. (If the proposed project does not build from an existing project, this step may be omitted.) Successful pre-applications will clearly demonstrate how the proposed project differs from the parent project. For example, will your proposed project involve different methods? A different organ site? A different pathway? On the other hand, what areas of overlap do your project and the parent project share? Research projects proposed for the fellowship should be independent of those proposed previously either in the parent project or by the PI mentors. Please discuss this carefully with your mentors.
    • How has the project already accrued or how will it accrue data at a pace sufficient to complete your proposed research? Describe how all of the proposed activities will be accomplished within the funding time frame. (i.e., 2 years for postdocs)
    • How will your role change with the award of the traineeship? If you propose to remain in the same setting with the same mentor at MD Anderson but will transition into a trainee role from a staff role, explain the changes in your role. Describe how the mentor will provide assurance for 100% protected time for you to conduct the proposed research and complete your proposed educational plan.
    • Are there any budget concerns for the project? How these will be addressed? For example, how would you and your mentors handle an unexpected shortfall in funding?
    • What are your interests, career goals and objectives in cancer prevention research? Successful pre-applications will include a clear statement of how the proposed project is a necessary building block in their career development. For example, describe how your proposed training in statistics or behavioral science or molecular genetics fills a “gap” that is important in your future plans.
  3. Parent Project Documents: If the proposed research project builds from an existing project, you must provide the face pages, abstract, and specific aims of the existing parent project. The aims you propose should clearly differ from those described for the parent project. If the proposed project does not build from an existing project, this step may be omitted. If there is any doubt about this requirement, please discuss with your sponsoring mentor or call our office.
  4. Letter of support from each mentor, signed and on letterhead.
  5. Mentors’ Profile Form (PDF) listing each mentor on the proposal and the names and contact information of their administrative staff.
  6. Copies of your mentors’ NIH biosketch and Other Support (for all mentors listed)
  7. Suggested reviewers and keywords:
    • Provide the names of five potential reviewers and their affiliations, including contact information
    • Provide five keywords that best describe your research proposal
    • Use Keywords and Suggested Reviewers Form (PDF)

    Requirements for suggested reviewers:

    • Reviewers must be located at institutions on continental North America
    • Reviewers must be at the level of Associate Professor or above
    • Reviewers cannot be NCI or other federal government employees
    • Reviewers cannot have conflicts of interest with or have their appointments at the home institutions of the applicant, the sponsoring mentors, or their collaborators
    • Reviewers who are experienced in cancer prevention in at least two topic areas, mentoring and/or training program experience, and NIH review experience are highly preferred but not required
  8. Letter from your dissertation chair, if applicable, assuring that you will complete your dissertation within the next 6 months, signed and on letterhead (only for applicants who have not yet completed their doctoral degrees).
  9. A copy of your CV.
  10. GRE scores (or MCAT scores, if applicable).
  11. All academic transcripts, beginning with undergraduate and continuing through present status (unofficial copies are acceptable for pre-application phase).
  12. CPRTP Fellowship Requirements Memo (pdf) signed by you and your mentor. 

Instructions for submitting your application as a single electronic file (preferably PDF)

Your entire completed application must be e-mailed as an attachment. The instructions below give details on 2 different options for sending in your application materials, based on your available software and equipment. The file name of your single PDF must be “Last Name, First Name - R25T Application” if you are applying for a pre- or postdoctoral position and “Last Name, First Name – R25E Application” if you are applying for a short-term 3 or 6 month fellowship.

  1. If you have Adobe Acrobat 8 or 9 Standard or Pro, you can combine all of your documents (Word, PDF, etc.) into one PDF file. Follow the instructions on the websites below to merge your files into a single PDF file – be sure to name the file according to the instructions above.
  2. If you have access to a scanner, print and combine all of your final documents in the correct order. Scan all documents into one PDF file and name the file according to the instructions above.

Phase I Review

After Advisory Committee review of the Phase I application, applicants may be invited to submit a full Phase II application. Those applicants who will not be given further consideration will be contacted by our office.

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Phase II: Invitation to Submit a Full Application

Full Application: Successful applicants from Phase I should submit a proposal, not to exceed 10 pages (excluding appendices and citations, if any) describing a research project in any discipline related to cancer prevention. Note: Applicants submitting a revised application should include a “Response to Previous Review,” not to exceed an additional three pages. The full application should use the format described below.

FORMAT: Put your name and degree in the top right corner and page numbers in the bottom center. Use 12 point font and no less than one inch margins.

  1. Response to Previous Review, if applicable. Discuss what revisions you will make to the proposal and project in response to reviewer comments on the summary statement of the previous application. If you have not previously applied to the program, omit this step.
  2. Research Project Proposal. Your research project should focus on a topic within the field of cancer prevention.
    • title page
      • your name and degree
      • your current institution
      • your area of specialization
      • a brief descriptive title for the proposed project
      • the names, departments and affiliations of the proposed mentors with their roles described
    • body of the proposal
      • your role in the project
      • the research aims that you will address relevant to cancer prevention and the methods used
      • expected outcomes, such as abstracts, presentations and publications. The aims should be original and relate clearly to your career objectives. If the proposal builds from an ongoing parent research project, please include the face pages, abstract, and specific aims of the ongoing project. Assuming responsibility for an existing research project aim is not acceptable for a fellowship proposal; your proposal must identify new aims for research. If documents for the parent project were not already provided (i.e., face page, abstract, specific aims), please include them with the full application.
  3. Educational Objectives. As the program is designed to help trainees develop cross-disciplinary knowledge and skill in cancer prevention and control, you must describe a tailored curriculum that accomplishes that goal and helps you develop the skills described within the “Career Development Plan.” In addition to semester-long courses, such a plan can include short-courses or workshops, if they adequately cover essential content matter. If appointed, trainees must register for core courses not already on their transcripts. You should list the courses you will take if appointed. See link to courses. All trainees must enroll in the GSBS courses, Topics in Cancer Prevention I and II (GS210621, GS210622), Bio-behavioral Research Methods in Cancer Prevention and Addiction (GS210021), and Ethical Dimensions of the Biomedical Sciences (GS210051). A timeline of educational and research milestones should be included.
  4. Career Development Plan. You should describe specific new skills you expect to learn as a result of the fellowship and how they will contribute to your career development in cancer prevention. You should also describe career plans after this postdoctoral fellowship. The potential publications to be produced during the fellowship from the proposed project and other sources, such as your dissertation, should be listed. The plan must include the preparation of an application for a career development award from the NCI, ACS, or other funding source.
  5. Any background or special skills. You are invited to describe any background or special skills that are especially suited to carry out the proposed career development plan and scientific project.
  6. All mentors must review, approve, and endorse the proposal by signing the last page of the proposal. Unsigned proposals will not be accepted.
  7. Updated support letters from the sponsoring mentors, signed and on letterhead. We recommend updated letters that describe how the mentors have helped the applicant respond to suggestions from the Phase I review.
  8. Updated mentors’ NIH Biosketch and Other Support.
  9. Letters of recommendation (3): Three letters from external recommenders, signed and on letterhead, not including those provided by the mentors, are required for appointment by Training and Alumni Affairs for all postdoctoral fellowship applicants. Recommendations from a professor who has taught or supervised the applicant for at least one year are ideal. All letters should be addressed to Dr. Shine Chang, Ph.D., Director, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Cancer Prevention Research Training Program.
  10. Updated CV.
  11. Copies of unofficial academic transcripts from undergraduate through current status.
  12. Other comments: In this section, you may add any information that will aid in the review of your application.
  13. Phase II Full Application Checklist: Review and sign the completed checklist before submitting your full application. Instructions for compiling application are here. You will receive confirmation of receipt of your documents within two weeks.

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Review process for postdoctoral fellowships in cancer prevention

The Advisory Committee oversees the administration of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Prevention Research Training Program. This committee consists of faculty members from both the basic science and clinical areas, including all four department chairs within the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences and the Division’s Vice President. All of these faculty members are engaged in a wide variety of peer-reviewed, externally funded, cancer prevention research.

The Advisory Committee conducts the Phase I review of applicants, by examining the letters of intent and evaluating the description of the research proposal for relevance to cancer prevention. Occasionally, the Committee recommends additional appropriate research mentors, and provides helpful suggestions to applicants to include in their full applications for external review.

Questions used by the Advisory Committee:

  1. Has the pre-application justified the relevance of the proposed project to cancer prevention?
  2. Is the applicant at an appropriate stage for application?
  3. For postdoc applicants, would this be the last fellowship?
  4. Are the mentors appropriate? Are additional mentors needed?
  5. In the letters of support from the mentors or advisors, is there sufficient evidence of active involvement in the development of the letter of intent and the research proposed?
  6. Is the proposed research based on an existing parent project? If yes, then…
    1. Are the aims proposed by the applicant clearly different from those of the parent project?
    2. Is the schedule or pace of the parent project appropriate (e.g., accrual progress) such that the applicant’s proposed research is feasible within the funding time frame? (i.e., two years for postdocs)
    3. If the applicant proposes to remain in the same setting here at MD Anderson with the same mentor, is it clear that the applicant’s role will change with the award of the traineeship? Does the mentor provide assurance for 100% protected time for trainee’s proposed research?
  7. Are there budgeting concerns for the project?

The review criteria for candidates and their Phase II proposals are described below. The criteria are based on the merit of each candidate’s proposed educational objectives, research projects, and assessed potential for leadership in cancer prevention and control research. Following the application deadline we select an External Review Group that includes scientists with expertise in the area of the applications. The review procedures are similar to an NIH review group, with review assignments, written critiques, discussion, and scoring.

Each member of the External Review Committee is assigned as a primary or secondary reviewer for one or more applications. Reviewers produce written critiques of the applications using the same criteria used by the Advisory Committee (below). All reviewers are asked to rate each applicant on these criteria and to provide an overall score or a range. The External Review Committee conducts their discussion via conference call facilitated by Dr. Chang. Prior to the conference call, written critiques will have been distributed by e-mail to each reviewer. The procedure for the conference call is similar to that of an NCI study section. After discussing each applicant, the reviewers score the applicants on the criteria shown and produce an overall score from 1.00 (best) to 5.00 (worst).

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Applicant Review Criteria

  1. Relevance: Is the educational experience and proposed research clearly in the realm of cancer prevention?
  2. Promise and educational benefit to the applicant’s career development: Will the traineeship accelerate the applicant's career development toward becoming an independent cancer prevention investigator? Do the letters of recommendation indicate knowledge of the applicant's capabilities? Does the applicant have the intellectual capabilities and work ethic to benefit from the traineeship and to eventually become an independent cancer prevention investigator? Will the traineeship offer educational experiences that will not otherwise be available?
  3. Scientific quality: Is the proposed research of high quality? Are the aims and hypotheses of the research clear and worthwhile? Is the mentor's research environment well regarded?
  4. Resources and support: Are the applicants’ timeline and resources realistic and adequate? Will space and equipment be provided by the primary or other mentor? Do the faculty mentors indicate a time commitment to supervise the trainee? Do the mentors indicate how they will work together in the mentoring process? Will the applicant have guaranteed access to existing data, patients, tissue samples, etc.?

Training Program Course Selection

To achieve knowledge of a variety of areas within the field of cancer prevention and control, each applicant must develop a tailored educational curriculum that incorporates both the core content areas and the specific skills and knowledge needed for the individual’s training experience. Applicants may develop their coursework plan by viewing the list of cancer prevention-related courses.

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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is an equal opportunity employer and a smoke-free workplace. This program encourages applications from women and minority students. This program is supported by the National Cancer Institute, Grant R25T-CA57730


© 2010 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center