CPRTP Summer Activities, Events & Resources
The Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP) Summer Research Experience is supported by a curriculum of educational and career development activities. Through these activities, students will learn about current and innovative topics in cancer prevention at seminars, explore the possibility of a career in science, and get to know other MD Anderson summer students with similar interests.
CPRTP summer students will engage in interactive learning sessions about cancer prevention and control, as well as professional development workshops on email etiquette, cultivating mentoring experiences, resilience, failure, and imposter phenomenom. In addition, students will learn how to conduct informational interviews with researchers and administrators; give a formal introduction of a speaker and facilitate a group discussion; and by program's conclusion, deliver a 90-second elevator speech.
Because students will be working on different types of research, from bench to behavioral to quantitative and population science, they will learn the interrelatedness of cancer prevention disciplines by seeing the work their fellow trainees have done.
Summer Activities & Events
CPRTP summer students will attend the mandatory educational activities four days each week. Some activities are open to other MD Anderson programs, while others are open to CPRTP trainees only. In addition, students are encouraged to attend department activities and use their free time to shadow faculty or postdocs, meet with mentors, conduct informational interviews, form journal clubs with other trainees, and explore the MD Anderson Research Medical Library.
During the first week of the program, summer trainees will receive an activities calendar (view an example), along with invitations to events in MS Outlook. Students will use their electronic calendars to organize each work day. Activities and assignments will vary each summer, and include the following events:
Orientation (Week 1)
- MD Anderson New Trainee Check-In
- CPRTP Orientation (Parts 1 & 2)
- Summer Experience Welcome Event (All Summer Students)
Mandatory Weekly Events
- SE Weekly Lecture Series (Wednesdays, 4-6 p.m.)
- CPRTP Career Conversations (Tuesdays, Noon-1 p.m.)
- CPRTP Professional Development Sessions (Thursdays, 4-5 p.m.)
- Cancer Prevention & Control Grand Rounds-CPCGR (Fridays, Noon-1 p.m.)
- CPCGR Meet-the-Speaker Trainee Brown Bag (Fridays, 1:15-2 p.m.)
Special Seminars & Events
- Mentoring Up! Workshop
- CPRTP Summer Trainee Forum
Required Assignments & Activities
- Informational Interviews
- Educational Abstract
- Elevator Speech Workshops (Parts A & B)
- Scientific Poster Workshop
Optional, Student-Lead Events
- Shadowing
- Journal Clubs
- What Color is Your Parachute? Book Club
- Volunteering
- Social Activities (e.g. Hiking, Bicycling)
- NASA Tour
Final Presentations
The 10-week summer research experience will conclude with two events held during the last week of the program:
CPRTP Summer Trainee Exposition
The Summer Trainee Exposition is hosted by the Cancer Prevention Research Trainee Program. All CPRTP summer students will hone their craft during the last week of the program by presenting a 90-second Elevator Speech about their summer research project and a 1-hour poster session. This 2-hour event takes place on the previous Tuesday of the summer, and attendees include Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) faculty and staff; summer mentors, research team and home department staff, and family and friends of summer trainees.
During this event, CPRTP summer trainees will present a 90-second elevator speech and formally present a scientific poster. The events include: 1) Elevator Speeches (in alphabetical order by trainee last name, 2) Poster Session & Reception. Food will be provided during the reception.
MD Anderson Summer Experience Final Event: Poster Session & Elevator Speech Competition
The Final Event is hosted by the MD Anderson Summer Experience. Participants will include the CPRTP summer students and trainees from the other 10+ programs participating in the MD Anderson Summer Experience (more than 200 students). This event will take place on the last Wednesday or Thursday of the summer program. The event opens at 9am with the poster session (9-11am) and concludes with the Elevator Speech competition (11-11:30am).
Earlier in the summer, all SE students are invited to attend Elevator Speech workshops to learn how to create and deliver a 90-second elevator speech about their summer research. Students may register to enter the competition and must upload a 90-second audition video by the deadline. A panel of experts will review and score the videos to determine the finalists. Those finalists will compete during the Final Event at 11am for a cash prize in Best Speech and People's Choice categories. CPRTP summer students are not required to enter the competition. Read more about this event.
Dress Code and Event Attire
Dress Code
MD Anderson dress code is business casual which is defined as non-formal, but professional and relaxed attire.
Acceptable attire
- Trousers/slacks/khakis/pants
- Knee-length skirts
- Casual dresses (short or long sleeved)
- Polo or button-down shirts/blouses
- Blazers/sweaters, pashminas, jackets
- Shoes that cover most of your feet
Unacceptable attire
- Shorts, torn or frayed jeans
- T-shirts with slogans or advertising (MD Anderson shirts are acceptable)
- Flip-flops
- Hats
- Mini-skirts
- Leggings
- Revealing or bare midriff tops
Most thermostats within MD Anderson buildings are set at 73 degrees, but will seem much cooler. Sweaters, pashminas or jackets can be kept at your desk in case you are cold while indoors. Consult your mentor regarding any additional dress code requirements set by the department, including casual Fridays (some departments allow jeans on Fridays, while others do not). If there is a Grand Rounds event scheduled for a Friday, we do not recommend wearing jeans. Typical Houston summers are very hot, humid and rainy, so please plan accordingly.
Event Attire
Students should dress in professional attire during both the CPRTP Exposition and Final Event. Professional attire is defined as clothing worn on a job interview. Options include suits, dress shirts or blouses (long or short sleeve), slacks/trousers, ties (including bow), vests, dresses (knee length, long, or A-line), skirts (knee length or long), and comfortable dress shoes (since you will be standing for long periods of time during the poster session).
Summer Resources
Texas Medical Center & Houston Resources
- Housing Near the TMC
- Roommate, Room Rental & Sublet Resources in TMC
- MD Anderson Walking & Driving Directions
- TMC Maps & Driving Directions
- Metro Bus & Rail Services
- TMC Parking & Transportation
- Uber
- UT Shuttle Services
- Dining Options in TMC
- UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston
- Culture Map of Houston
- Things to do in Houston
- Discovery Green
- House of Blues
- Houston Dynamo
- Rent a Bicycle - Houston B-Cycle
- Houston Swing Dance Society
- Houston Museum District
- Houston Astros
- Houston Calendar of Events
- Miller Outdoor Theatre
Career and Personal Development
- Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Curriculum Vitae CV Format - Narrative Version
- Academic 360: A comprehensive collection of links to faculty, staff, and administrative jobs across the United States.
- USA JOBS: The United States Government's website for listing civil service job opportunities with federal agencies
Manuscript Resources
What will CPRTP trainees do all summer?
Participate in simulation training.
Role-play in inpatient medical simulation exercises.
Build relationships with fellow summer students.
Volunteer at the annual Houston PRIDE parade.
Compete in the Elevator Speech competition.
Collaborate with a faculty mentor on a research project in cancer prevention.