- Summer Research Programs
- Middle School Camp in Oncology at MD Anderson
- High School Summer Program
- CPRIT CURE Summer Undergraduate Program
- CPRTP Summer Research Experience
- DISCOVER Program
- ITERT Summer Program
- Summer Imaging Research Program
- Summer Undergraduate Research Program
- Partnership Summer Research Program
- University Outreach Summer Programs
- UPWARDS Summer Program
- First-Year Medical Student Program
- Medical Student Program in Radiation Oncology
- DACCPM Summer Research Program
- Summer Program in Cancer Research
- Undergraduate Clinical & Administration Shadowing
- Summer Experience Information
- Summer Experience Activities & Events
- 2022 UT Police at Houston Summer Intern Program
- MD Anderson MBA/MHA Summer Internship
ITERT - SURP
ITERT Summer Undergraduate Research Program (ITERT - SURP) – General Translational Oncology Research Track
The Department of Translational Molecular Pathology (TMP) offers a summer research experience through its Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training (ITERT) core to outstanding students interested in exploring careers in translational oncology research. Our program goal is to recruit outstanding students to graduate studies in cancer research. Our efforts in this context are geared to foster an interest in the scientific method and assist students in identifying career choices within STEM fields through defined skills programming, awareness workshops and individualized career support during- and post-program through our extended ITERT Mentoring Network. ITERT SURP is committed to serving a diverse group of students including women, minorities and others from populations historically underrepresented in biomedical sciences and medicine from all academic institutions including but not limited to HBCUs and others who have an increased minority population.
ITERT Summer Undergraduate Research Program (ITERT - SURP PASSCODE NCI - U24) – Pancreatic Cancer Research Track
The Department of Translational Molecular Pathology (TMP) offers a summer research experience in pancreatic cancer research through its Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training (ITERT) core funded by a PASSCODE NCI-U24 grant award. This program is focused on recruiting outstanding students from underrepresented minority backgrounds interested in exploring careers in pancreatic cancer research. Our primary program goal is to increase minority participation in careers related to pancreatic cancer research & provide a supportive learning environment for them as they participate, in real-time, in cutting-edge research within a cross-section of the academic pipeline continuum at ITERT. ITERT SURP is committed to serving a diverse group of students including women, minorities and others from populations historically underrepresented in biomedical sciences and medicine from all academic institutions including but not limited to HBCUs and others who have an increased minority population. Our commitment to increasing diversity stems from the ITERT core belief that diversity enhances creativity and progress of everyone involved.
The mission of TMP is focused on three goals:
- Discovery of novel molecular targets for chemoprevention and treatment
- Development and validation of biomarkers for diagnosis and prediction of response/resistance to treatment
- Transition of assays developed in the department into the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) environment
TMP aims to achieve this mission through thematic translational research and preclinical molecular pathology research in different cancer types such as brain, pancreatic, breast, melanoma, colon and lung.
The program includes the following activities:
- Hands-on research experience in translational oncology mentored by world-class faculty members in a laboratory setting
- Participation in lectures and workshops offered by the MD Anderson Summer Experience program
- Programming specific to ITERT
a) Interactive Professional Development Workshop Series: exposure to critical appraisal skills, and professional career skills training including fundamental principles governing planning, experimentation and reporting in science, IDP and CV building, communication skills and networking how-to’s.
b) Technical workshops: focus on themes fundamental to the clinical history of cancer development and progression, beginning with early detection and surveillance and ending with late-stage disease, metastasis and survivorship.
c) National symposium focused on career paths in biomedical sciences, and transferrable skills for academic and non-academic career tracks.
d) National symposium focused on careers in pancreatic cancer research.** - Opportunity to present research findings to peers and faculty in a poster format.
** Applies to the ITERT – SURP PASSCODE NCI- U24 track
Eligibility & Requirements
- Students aged 18 years or older by program start date who have received a high school diploma and who have completed at least their freshman year of college and are in good academic standing are eligible to apply
- Applicants must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the United States and be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or international student on F1 or J1 visa to apply.
- The ITERT-SURP PASSCODE NCI-U24 track is limited to minorities and others from populations historically underrepresented in biomedical sciences and medicine.
Dates & Work Schedule
- Summer Experience 2023 will take place from June 6 through August 11, 2023.
- MD Anderson's normal hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Exact work schedules are subject to the mentor’s needs and expectations.
Mentor Matching
Students who have an interest in working with a TMP faculty member or in a specific research or project area are encouraged to include this information in the application. While we attempt to match students with mentors in accordance with declared interests, this is based on faculty availability and may not be feasible in all circumstances.
For the ITERT- PASSCODE NCI-U24 track students will be matched with MD Anderson faculty mentors focused on pancreatic cancer research.
Stipend
For the ITERT – SURP general oncology track, institutionally recommended stipend of $6000 will be paid over a period of 10 weeks for selected candidates (via the MDACC SEP Educational Grant Award, PI: Dr. Soundararajan and TMP Educational Funds, Dr. Wistuba).
For the ITERT – SURP PASSCODE NCI-U24 track, institutionally recommended stipend of $6000 will be paid over a period of 10 weeks. This track is funded by an NCI-U24 PASSCODE grant (PI: Dr. Anirban Maitra/ Dr. Jack Lee).
Application Information
You may apply starting December 1, 2022 through Discover. Applications will be accepted through Friday, January 20, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
The following information will be required on the application:
- Personal information, including contact information and mailing address
- Transcripts from undergraduate universities
- Personal Statement
- Two letters of reference with contact information (At least one reference should come from a science or math professor. The other may be from an advisor, counselor or health care advisor/mentor with whom you worked in a prior program during the past two years.)
Applications must be completed and submitted before the above deadline. Incomplete applications will be purged after the deadline has passed.
If the information found here did not provide the answers you need, check with us to find out the answers to your questions.
Program Directors
Program Directors:
Rama Soundararajan, Ph.D.
RSoundararajan@mdanderson.org
Khalida Wani, Ph.D.
KWani@mdanderson.org
Mario Piubelli, M.D.
MLPiubelli@mdanderson.org
Vashisht Yennu Nanda, Ph.D.
vynanda@mdanderson.org
Administrative contact
Ebonie Hatfield
ERHatfield@mdanderson.org
Our Labs
Learn more about our faculty and research taking place in our labs.
Conferences
View conferences available for continuing education credit.