MD Anderson/Rice Cancer Nanotech T32

About the Program

The goal of this program is to train scientists who will transfer the great promise of nanotechnology into clinical reality. This novel training program educates future leaders in the broad field of nanotechnology with specific interests in cancer-related applications, who are keenly aware of the needs and demands of clinical environment as well as of major challenges of translational research.

Our T32 program is based on a partnership between Rice and MD Anderson investigators who have strong interests in nanotechnology and translational cancer research. These two institutions are home to some of the most active basic research on nanoparticles and nanotechnology in the world as well as some of the most innovative clinical translational research in cancer. There is a natural alignment and complementarity of interests between Rice University, which provides the technological infrastructure and intellectual leadership in bioengineering, physics and chemistry, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, which provides a clinical base for translational research in cancer imaging and therapy. Physically, these centers of excellence in their respective realms are located within a mile from each other, and recent years have seen concerted efforts to facilitate, nurture, and galvanize interdisciplinary translational interactions between investigators and students at these campuses.

Our program has two tiers: a predoctoral program for training Ph.D. and a postdoctoral program 

The Predoctoral Program - provides mentorship, training, and funding for 2-3 years to students who have been accepted into (i) the Ph.D. program in Bioengineering or Chemistry, at Rice University, and (ii) the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at MD Anderson.

Postdoctoral Program - will provide fellowships to recent Ph.D. awardees for 2-3 years with training in physical science, chemistry, or bioengineering with a demonstrated background and interest in nanotechnology. Holders of an M.D. degree will be eligible for the program if they show a strong interest in translational cancer nanotechnology research.

This training program includes multidisciplinary, hands-on coursework, seminar experiences, and multidisciplinary mentorship of translational research projects.

Shared laboratory facilities and equipment provide program fellows with an outstanding research environment that combines state-of-the-art instrumentation, facilities for animal research, and vast opportunities to be an integral part of clinical trials.

The program includes a total of 34 faculty mentors from MD Anderson Cancer Center (16 mentors) and Rice University (18 mentors). Each fellow will be co-mentored by two program faculty (one from MD Anderson and one from Rice), with one faculty member having a supervisory and the other a co-supervisory role. The major research training activities will be carried out at the campus location of the primary mentor.

Eligibility Requirements

Per T32 program requirement, fellows “must be citizens or a noncitizen nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.” 

How to Apply

Please complete the application.
Documents to upload to application:
Pre-doctoral Candidates:

1. Letter from Ph.D. thesis advisor
2. Up to 3-pages proposal describing a research project with focus on cancer nanotechnology
3. Current CV

Post-doctoral Candidates:

1. Up to 2 pages research interest statement with names of preferred MD Anderson Cancer Center or Rice faculty mentors
2. Current CV
3. Names of 3-5 references

Program Directors