PCCSM Postbaccalaureate Research Training Program

• Applicants must have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field no more than two years prior to starting the program.
• Applicants must possess a strong academic record in basic sciences, biomedical science, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, epidemiology, behavioral science, cancer prevention, related public health disciplines, and/or radiation oncology.
• Individuals holding a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (e.g., M.D., D.V.M., or M.B.B.S.) are not eligible.
• Applicants concurrently enrolled in a degree-granting program, residency or other clinical training program are not eligible.
• Students who have been accepted into graduate, other doctoral, or medical school programs must be able to provide written permission from their school to delay entrance for up to one year to pursue a research project at MD Anderson

Duration of one year; one-year reappointment is exceptional and would be considered on a case-by-case basis. Appointments may not exceed two years.

Participants will receive an annual stipend and are eligible to receive medical insurance benefits. Applicants may also be supported in full by agencies, grants or external fellowship award. Under no circumstances should a trainee's or other individual's personal funds be used to supplement internally or externally supported stipend to the MD Anderson minimum level.

Postbaccalaureate Stipend Levels
Bachelor's - 1st Year:    $36,000
Bachelor's - 2nd Year:  $37,500
Master's: $37,000

We work with many educational partnering institutions to offer postbacc training spots. Nominations from these partners are accepted at specific times in the fall. Partners will be contacted when we are ready to receive nominations for applications. Nominated applicants are required to create a Slate application portal account to complete an application and provide the following documents: Two letters of recommendation. One reference letter should come from a faculty mentor outside of MD Anderson. The appointing mentor may not provide a recommendation.

1. Proof of bachelor’s or master’s degree
2. Official Transcripts
3. Biosketch-NIH Format
4. myIDP Individual Development Plan
5. Statement of Intent describing the applicant's research interests and career goals

Final candidates will be required to meet the following onboarding contingencies prior to their program start date:

• A clear sanction check and criminal and personal background check; 
• Verification that all required immunizations have been received; 
• A degree equivalency evaluation (evidence that the foreign degree is equivalent to a required U.S. degree)
• A valid and appropriate visa status, for foreign nationals;
• Personal funds may not be used to fund or supplement a postbacc position.
   

The Post-Baccalaureate IDP will guide applicants and their mentors as they define their goals and formulate plans for the coming year. The IDP must be completed three weeks after the program start date. An end of program assessment must also be completed, signed by the trainee and the mentor, and then submitted one week prior to the program end date.

Program participants are expected to participate in program-specific activities as well as complete 48 hours of curriculum content that includes Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training and related professional and career development.

• Prepare recent graduates for competitive PhD/MD-PhD/MD programs in oncology.
• Provide a non-clinical, full-time, paid research experience with benefits.
• Pair each trainee with a faculty mentor to create an individual development plan aligned to goals.
• Fill positions via partner-institution nominations on a fall cycle.
• End with a capstone—research presentation and/or manuscript demonstrating readiness.

• BA/BS or MS in a relevant field earned within the past 2 years.
• Strong record in quantitative/biomedical areas (e.g., bioinformatics, biostatistics, genetics, cell biology, epidemiology, public health, radiation oncology).
• No doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DVM, MBBS, or equivalent).
• Not currently enrolled in a degree program, residency, or other clinical training.
• If already admitted to grad/medical school, provide written deferral permission (up to 1 year).

The study of biostatistics, bioinformatics, systems biology, and genomics centers on developing and applying statistical and mathematical models in close collaboration with biomedical researchers.
Collaborating with UT GSBS Program in Quantitative Sciences, our goal is to train researchers who design rigorous studies and formulate quantitative models of biological systems, advancing our understanding of cancer biology and disease processes.

Research highlights include:

Single-cell & Spatial: Single-cell RNA/ATAC sequencing, spatial transcriptomics & proteomics, tumor microenvironment mapping.

Multi-omic Integration: Epigenomics and chromatin architecture, 3D genome organization, proteogenomics.

Computational Modeling: Artificial Intelligence & deep learning, biological networks & pathways, gene–environment interactions, predictive oncology & risk modeling.