Odyssey Program

Mission

The mission of the Odyssey Program is to support the best individuals among the newest generation of cancer researchers at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and encourage them to explore novel areas of clinical, translational basic or population-based cancer research and to take advantage of the resources offered by our Institution. The Odyssey Program supports the training and research efforts of dedicated scientists at the beginning of their careers in cancer research and promotes their interaction with colleagues.

The Odyssey Program sponsors outstanding postdoctoral fellows who wish to pursue innovative cancer research at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Competitions for these awards take place once a year. Odyssey Fellow awardees receive a maximum of three years of support for their salaries and other expenses. They work at M. D. Anderson in a stimulating environment that helps them prepare for a successful, independent career in cancer research.

Program Overview

Odyssey Fellows must have a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.Phil. or equivalent), and the degree must have been conferred within two years before funding starts. To be eligible to apply, applicants must either have an appointment at M. D. Anderson, or have been offered an appointment by a member of the faculty of M. D. Anderson and plan to take the position before or at the time funding starts (September 1).

Odyssey Fellows will receive salary support and fringe benefits from the Odyssey Program at a minimum of the NIH NRSA rates. When funds allow, salary will be provided at a rate of 20% above NIH NRSA rates. A research allowance of up to $5,000 per year will be provided to each Odyssey Fellow for the purchase of supplies and small equipment, as well as for travel to scientific meetings in the continental U.S., when sufficient funds are available.

Fellows are appointed for one year, with two one-year renewals possible and dependent upon satisfactory progress as assessed by an annual progress report. All fellowship years start September 1 and end August 31 of the following year.

Please note that effective September 1, 2008, all Odyssey Program recipients will be appointed as Odyssey Fellows. The Odyssey Scholars and Special Fellows categories will be discontinued.

Odyssey Program Advisory Committee

Proposals are reviewed and scored by the Odyssey Program Advisory Committee.

Current members include:

• Sandy Chang M.D., Ph.D., Genetics, Chair
• Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., Behavioral Sciences, Co-Chair
• Mark Bedford, Ph.D., Carcinogenesis
• Sam Beddar, Ph.D., Radiation Physics-PT Care
• Melissa Bondy, Ph.D., Epidemiology
• Joya Chandra, Ph.D., Pediatrics-Research
• Vicki Huff, Ph.D., Genetics
• Peng Huang, M.D., Ph.D., Molecular Pathology
• Xin Lin, Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Oncology
• Joseph McCarty, Ph.D., Cancer Biology
• Kimberly Schluns, Ph.D., Immunology
• Zhimin Lu, M.D., Ph.D., Neuro-Oncology-Research
• Michael Galko, Ph.D., Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Sunil Krishnan, M.D., Radiation Oncology Treatment
• Stephanie Watowich, Ph.D., Immunology

Members are listed in the order in which they joined the committee. They serve for three years. Additional faculty may be requested to participate in application review on an ad hoc basis as necessary.

Application Dates

• Request for applications published: January
• Deadline for applications: March 31
• Applicants notified of outcome: July
• Funding start date: September 1

Application Process

To apply for Odyssey Fellowship please:

1. Download and read the Odyssey Program Application Guidelines (pdf).
2. Download and complete the Odyssey Fellowship Application Form (doc).
3. Download the Odyssey Fellowship Application Mentor Letter Form (doc) and give it to your mentor/ advisor.

Following the instructions in the application guidelines, prepare a single PDF document containing all the necessary elements and e-mail it to odyssey@mdanderson.org by the deadline - midnight, March 31. Please note that all e-mails are time-stamped and late submissions will not be accepted.

For a complete description of the program, please refer to the PROGRAM GUIDELINES (pdf).

Annual Symposium

The Odyssey Symposium is held each year at M. D. Anderson, usually in May. All Odyssey Fellows are expected to participate in the symposium.

Current and Past Recipients

You can view a list of current and past recipients of the Odyssey Program awards.

Newsletter

A bi-annual newsletter was recently launched. Download and read Odyssey - A Journey of Discovery (pdf).

Contact Information

Specific questions regarding the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Odyssey Program can be directed to:

Oliver Bogler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Special Assistant for Educational Programs
Phone: 713-834 6216
Fax: 713-834 6257
obogler@mdanderson.org