The Janice Davis Gordon Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship in Colorectal Cancer Prevention
The Janice Davis Gordon Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship in Colorectal Cancer Prevention is awarded to a research fellow specializing in the prevention of colorectal cancer. As part of the Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP), the Gordon fellowship prepares scientists and clinicians to achieve leadership roles as research investigators in colorectal cancer prevention.
The program is designed to expand the perspective of the trainees by moving them from their base of strength in a particular specialty and to equip them with additional knowledge of the other cancer prevention and control disciplines. Trainees are immersed in the cross-disciplinary research environment typical of cancer prevention and control research and benefit from career and professional development activities.
As a Gordon Postdoc, I had the opportunity to interact with and learn from scientists in a wide variety of disciplines. These experiences increased my appreciation for prevention strategies, underscoring the value of a multi-disciplinary approach, leading me to pursue transdisciplinary training and research.
Gordon Fellowship Awardees (Current Postdocs & Alumni)
| # | Name | Department | Primary Mentor | Fellowship Term | Current Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chongjuan Wei, Ph.D. | Epidemiology | Dr. Qingyi Wei | 3/27/2000 – 3/27/2002 | Program Director, Head & Neck Surgery, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas, USA) |
| 2 | Ivan Gorlov, Ph.D. | Epidemiology | Dr. Christopher Amos | 8/11/2003 – 9/30/2005 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology & Population Science, Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas, USA) |
| 3 | Jinyun Jane Chen, Ph.D. | Epidemiology | Dr. Marsha Frazier | 8/23/2006 – 12/31/2007 | Executive Director, Clear Lake Montessori School (Houston, Texas, USA) |
| 4 | Yuanqing Ye, Ph.D. | Epidemiology | Dr. Xifeng Wu | 9/1/2007 – 7/16/2008 | Director, Eisai Company (Tokyo, Japan) |
| 5 | Shih-Feng Weng, Ph.D. | Epidemiology | Dr. Olga Gorlova | 9/1/2008 – 8/31/2009 | Academic Researcher, Dept. of Healthcare Administration & Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Medical University (Kaohsiung City, Taiwan) |
| 6 | Jennifer Davis, Ph.D. | Clinical Cancer Prevention |
Dr. Xiangwei Wu | 9/2/2011 – 9/1/2013 | Assistant Professor, Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City, Kansas, USA) |
| 7 | Ester Flores, Ph.D., LMSW | Clinical Cancer Prevention | Dr. Eduardo Vilar-Sanchez | 6/17/2013 – 6/16/2015 | Associate Professor, Social Work, Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, Texas, USA) |
| 8 | Ashish A. Deshmukh, Ph.D., M.P.H. | Health Services Research | Dr. Scott B. Cantor | 7/29/2014 – 7/28/2016 | Tenured Professor, Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina Smart-State Distinguished Endowed Chair in Cancer Equity, Co-leader, Cancer Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) (Charleston, South Carolina, USA) |
| 9 | Yue Liao, Ph.D. | Behavioral Science | Dr. Susan Schembre | 4/11/2016 – 4/10/2018 | Assistant Professor, Director of the Physical Activity and Wearable Sensors (PAWS) Lab, University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, Texas, USA) |
| 10 | Preeti Marie Kanikarla, Ph.D. | GI Medical Oncology Research | Dr. Edmund Scott Kopetz | 10/01/2018 – 9/30/2020 | Principal Research Scientist, GI Medical Oncology Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas, USA) |
| 11 | Abishai Dominic, Ph.D. | Cancer Systems Imaging | Dr. Pratip Bhattacharya | 9/1/2023 – Present | Postdoctoral Fellow, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas, USA) |
Important Dates
The 2025 application is closed. Join our listserv to receive future fellowship announcements.
(Part 1 and 2) Application Deadline: Mon., Mar. 24, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. CT
Notice to Awardee: Mid to Late April, 2025
Research and Career Proposals Due (from Awardee): Mid May
Earliest Fellowship Start Date: Tues., July 1, 2025
Eligibility
- Applicants must have already earned or be within 5 months of earning a doctoral degree in health science or related disciplines by the application deadline.
- May be from backgrounds in the basic biomedical sciences, medicine, biomedical statistics, epidemiology, behavioral and social sciences, nursing and related public health disciplines.
- Proposed research project must be related to colorectal cancer prevention.
- This fellowship is available without regard to the applicant’s U.S. citizenship status and we accept applications from U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Visa Holders.
Funding Support and Benefits
The Janice Davis Gordon Memorial Fellowship in Colorectal Cancer Prevention Research is funded for up to two years, renewed annually pending research progress and availability of funds.
Our program pays the postdoctoral salaries per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Postdoctoral Fellow Stipend Policy and the salary ranges are adjusted annually by the NIH. The Gordon Memorial fund will cover 85% of the salary + fringe, and the mentor or mentor's Department Chair will cover 15%. After the first appointment year, the salary may be subject to a one-time raise if approved by the CPRTP Director and mentor. Fringe benefits include health insurance, paid institutional holidays, and annual and sick leave.
This fellowship does not provide additional research support funds for tuition, reference books, meeting registration, travel support, and research costs. Awardees of the Janice Davis Gordon Memorial Postdoctoral Fellowship in Colorectal Cancer Prevention must consult their mentors for additional research support.
How to Find a Mentor
Mentor Requirements
1. This program requires a minimum of two mentors with complementary research expertise in different disciplines.
2. At least one mentor must at the Assistant Professor level or higher within the MD Anderson Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS).
3. The selected fellows will be appointed to the department of the MD Anderson primary mentor.
4. The proposed project must be in colorectal cancer prevention.
Mentor Search Methods
Method 1: Faculty working in cancer prevention are concentrated in the five departments below. Click the department links to find faculty members.
- Behavioral Science
- Health Disparities Research
- Clinical Cancer Prevention
- Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Method 2: Use this list to contact suggested mentors, but they are not guaranteed to be available.
Method 3: Use keywords like "colorectal cancer prevention" in the MD Anderson faculty search engine to find potential mentors. Please contact the CPRTP for faculty contact information.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Download all items under the 'Application Instructions and Forms' section of this web page. The instructions includes a hyperlink to the SLATE application and instructions for phases one and two of the application.
Application Phases
The application has two phases:
Phase One: Applicants must submit a SLATE application and supplement application (1a & 1b), including letters of support, by the deadline on this page.
Phase Two: Only selected candidates will be invited to submit a Research and Career Proposal in colorectal cancer prevention.
Phase One (Required for All Applicants):
1a) SLATE Application (submitted in the SLATE system):
- Inquiry form
- Biosketch or CV/Resume
- Statement of research experience and interest (personal statement)
- Copies of impactful manuscripts
- At least two (2) letters of recommendation
- Proof of a doctoral degree (with certified translation if not in English) OR (for current doctoral students):
- Proof of enrollment in a doctoral degree program
- A letter from the doctoral committee chairperson/advisor confirming the anticipated date of degree completion and that the student is in good standing.
1b) Supplement Application (submitted via email):
- Application Checklist & Coversheet must be completed, dated, and placed on top.
- A letters of support from each prospective mentor (one copy e-mailed directly from mentor or support staff to apply@cancerpreventiontraining.org and one copy may be included within the application).
- Mentor’s Profile Form
- Mentor’s NIH Biosketch (from each mentor)
- Mentor’s Other Support (from each mentor)
- Professional photo
- Proposal Keywords, Title, and Suggested Reviewer Form: In case your application is selected, the data you provide on this form will help us solicit subject matter experts to review your research and career proposal.
- Fellowship Requirements Memo (signed by applicant and primary mentor)
- Mentor Requirements Memo (signed by primary mentor).
Phase Two: By Invitation Only
Research and Career Proposal
After the review committee evaluates the applications, the CPRTP Program Manager will notify all candidates of the decision. Awardees will be invited to submit a Research and Career Proposal, with detailed instructions and a specified submission deadline.