Partnership: Careers in Cancer Science & Medicine

Our program partners with high schools (Houston Independent School District and Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School), as well as The Posse Foundation and universities (University of Houston – Downtown, Howard University). These entities nominate program candidates who have a strong interest in biomedical disciplines and a record of academic achievements. A final selection is made by program leaders.

We do not accept applications directly from students.

Weekly seminars and workshops, which cover a broad range of topics, are held for all summer program trainees.  However, hands-on research training, while conducting a mentored research project in an MD Anderson laboratory, is the main focus of the summer program.  The students work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or as previously arranged with the laboratory mentor.

During the first week after Orientation, intensive training sessions (the HotStart Program) will be led by MD Anderson postdoctoral fellows to introduce The Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine Program participants to the basic concepts of laboratory methods, techniques and ethical conduct of research.

The students also receive guidance and advice on their career plans from MD Anderson underrepresented minority faculty, many of whom are professors and/or in leadership positions and role models of success, resilience and persistence.

At the end of the program, the trainees present the results of their research as scientific posters, along with trainees from other summer programs, at the MD Anderson Summer Experience Final Event and participate in an “Elevator Speech” contest.

The Program also includes opportunities to:
 

• shadow clinical faculty members in ambulatory clinics and operating rooms
• attend weekly lectures
• engage in career conversations
• take workshops to improve presentation skills

The students receive a stipend of $6000, before taxes are deducted, for the 10-week program.

Housing is not provided. For those who need it, a list of housing options is provided.

To participate, a candidate must be enrolled at a partner school and meet the following requirements:

• be at least 16 years old at the beginning of the program.
• be enrolled as a junior-level student or enrolled as a senior-level student and accepted into a college or university for the fall semester or enrolled as a college or university student during the spring semester prior to the summer program. 
• be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or F1, J1 Visa holders.
• be able to attend the entire 10-week program (for Summer 2019: June 4-August 9).

New
Termeh Ahi – Posse Scholar, University of Virginia.
Stephanie Dunnand – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory. Now at Texas State University
Joly Fahim – University of Houston Downtown
Daniela Franco – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Melanie Garibay – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory. Now at Creighton College
Lawrence Garvin – The University of Texas at Austin
Patrick Krause – University of Houston Downtown
Mariana Lopez – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory. Now at The University of Texas at Austin
Pilar O’Neal – Howard University
Sifa Opot – HISD, South Early College High School. Now at University of Houston
Juhong Peng – Posse Scholar, Texas A&M University
Ritu Sampige – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions

Jada Kinch – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at University of Houston
Ayishat Mag Adeniran – Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory; now at Loyola University Chicago
Oluwafunto Akindona – Posse Scholar, Carleton College
Ashley Ossimetha – Posse Scholar, Bryn Mawr College
Jaquelin Barron – HISD, Furr High School; now at Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Victoria Martinez – Furr High School; now at Houston Community College
Boranai Tychhon – University of Houston Downtown
Nia Griffith – University of Houston Downtown
Kaleb Duhon – University of Houston Downtown
Tassica Lim – HISD, DeBakey High School for Health Professions; now at Stanford University
Devin Brown – HISD, Houston Academy for International Studies; now at The University of Texas at Dallas