The MD Anderson & Donor-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention

The application will open soon. We anticipate an application deadline in mid-February 2023 and postdocs can begin the fellowship as late spring or early summer 2023. Official dates will be posted on this webpage by November 15, 2022. 

• Applicants must have already earned or be within 5 months of earning a doctoral degree in health science or related disciplines by the application deadline.
• May be from backgrounds in the basic biomedical sciences, medicine, biomedical statistics, epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, nursing, and related public health disciplines.
• The proposed research project must be related to cancer prevention.
• This fellowship is available without regard to the applicant’s U.S. citizenship status.

The MD Anderson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention Research is funded for one year and may be renewed for a second year pending research progress and availability of funds. 

Postdoctoral stipends start at $53,760 and may be subject to a one-time raise, after the first appointment year, if approved by the program and mentor.

Fringe benefits include health insurance, paid institutional holidays and annual and sick leave. This fellowship does not provide additional research support for tuition, reference books, meeting registration, travel support, and research costs. Awardees of this MD Anderson-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Prevention must consult their mentors for additional research support.

Phase 1:  Initial Application

To apply, launch the application in the DISCOVER system using the link located at the top of this web page. There are 3 steps required in the DISCOVER system:

Step 1: New DISCOVER application (similar to a job application).
Step 2: Upload all required supporting documents. These documents cannot be uploaded until Step 1 is complete.
Step 3: Request approximately three (3) letters of recommendation.

For detailed application instructions, read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Postdoctoral Applicants > How to Apply. All applications will be reviewed by our Advisory Committee and successful applicants will be invited to Phase 2.

Phase 2:  Invitation to Submit Research and Career Proposal

Successful applicants from Phase I will be invited to submit a Research and Career Proposal via email. The proposal will be reviewed by the CPRTP Advisory Committee, along with other subject matter experts.  Suggestions may be provided for improving the proposal.  Funding for the fellowship is contingent upon proposal approval by the Advisory Committee and Program Directors and processing of appointment paperwork (e.g. visa sponsorship forms, immunization, criminal background check) by the MD Anderson Research Trainee Programs (RTP) and Visa and Immigration Services Administration. For additional details, read these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Postdoctoral Applicants.

Mentor Requirements

1. This program requires a minimum of two mentors with complementary research expertise in different disciplines.

2. At least one mentor must have a faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level or higher within the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) at MD Anderson. Faculty conducting cancer prevention research are concentrated within the five (5) departments below. Use the links to search for faculty and call the MD Anderson switchboard at 1-800-889-2094, if there is no contact number listed.  NOTE: Due to administrative requirements, trainees' paid appointments as postdoctoral fellows are made at MD Anderson, in the department of the main MD Anderson mentor (Assistant Professor level or higher). 

1. Behavioral Science 
2. Health Disparities Research 
3. Clinical Cancer Prevention 
4. Epidemiology
5. Health Services Research