Cancer Prevention Summer Research Program

• The dates are subject to change. 
• CPRTP NCI Summer Research Experience (i.e., Cancer Prevention Summer Research Program) is a competitive program with more than 300 applicants annually.
• After the deadline, the CPRTP will conduct five rounds of reviews and applications are elimimated at each round to arrive at the final awardees.
• Awardees must complete time-sensitive onboarding procedures via email, computer, telephone, fax machine, and/or scanner between mid-January and June.   
• The summer interns must reside in Texas and participate the entire length of the 10-week program, full-time (8am-5pm), Monday - Friday. 
• Partial participation (i.e., early or late program start/end) is not permitted. 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident and legally approved to be in the United States during the entire length of the summer program.
• Must be enrolled in a degree granting program within the United States during the spring and fall semesters of the program year and upload proof of enrollment for the spring semester in the Slate application. 
• Must provide proof of enrollment for the spring semester of the program year.
• Must reside in Houston, Texas during the 10-week fellowship. 
• Priority will be given to applicants with the following designations by the spring semester of the program year:
  • Graduate/Master's student
    
  • Doctoral student (e.g., Ph.D., DrPH)
  • Health Profession Doctoral students (i.e., first year M.D. or D.O. students).
• Undergraduate students at a four-year United States university or college, enrolled in a degree-granting program during the Spring and Fall semester of the program year, are welcome to apply and will be awarded internships on a case-by-case basis and based on availability. 
• Must state an interest in cancer prevention within the personal statement. See What is Cancer Prevention? below. 
  
• Applicants graduating in May of the program year must provide: 1) proof of application OR 2) proof of acceptance into a medical, graduate, or degree-granting program in the form of an acceptance letter (this must be uploaded in the Slate system with your proof of enrollment). 
• Must commit to the entire 10-week program and not be involved in other summer employment, testing, internships, or coursework.

M.D. and D.O. Students:

Students awarded this CPRTP summer internship who are beyond year one of medical school by the spring semester of the program year must upload a letter (please include this letter with the proof of enrollment in the Slate system) from the home institution/program on institutional letterhead stating that:

1. The applicant will not be enrolled in the medical program during the summer fellowship dates (fellowship start and end dates must be listed), and
2. The applicant will not be receiving credit for participating in the MD Anderson CATALYST Summer Training Program. See the CPRTP Summer FAQs for upload instructions. 

We regret the following are not eligible:

• Previous awardees/alumni of this CPRTP NCI R25 Summer Research Experience. CPRTP Summer Alumni may apply to other summer programs at www.MDAnderson.org/Summer.
• Visa holders.
• Graduating high-school seniors are ineligible for this program, but encouraged to apply for the MD Anderson high-school summer program.
  
• Students in a GAP year or taking a break from school.
• Students with a degree and not enrolled in a degree-granting program.
• Medical or pharmacy students beyond year 1 of their program by the spring semester of the program year.
• Students attending universities or colleges outside of the United States.
  
• M.D., Ph.D., or other doctoral degree holders not in school (postdocs) should view these MD Anderson postdoctoral opportunities.
  
• Students unable to participate during the entire 10-week program. 
• Students enrolled in programs which conflict with our program start and end dates (partial, early or late participation is not allowed). 

Application Process

1. Launch the Application: Click the 'apply here' link at the top of this web page after December 1 to launch the CATALYST Inquiry Form. 

2. Read the required three (3) sections before completing the inquiry form: 1) Please Read Before You Apply, 2) Additional Documents Required If Selected As A Final Candidate, and 3) Onboarding Contingencies That Require Early Action

3. Complete the Inquiry Form and upload the required documents:

1. Under 'Select your program', choose Cancer Prevention Summer Research Program (CPRTP) as your first or second choice.
2. Personal Information (e.g., name, email, etc.)
3. Current Enrollment (i.e., your current school and enrollment dates)
4. Upload Resume/CV
5. Upload a copy of your Official Transcript which must indicate proof of enrollment for the current fall semester. If you apply in January, the transcript must reflect enrollment in the previous fall semester and spring semester of the program year. 
6. Statement of Research Experience and Interest (i.e., Personal Statement) must be 5000 characters or less and address the following areas:
   1. How does cancer prevention relate to your career interests/goals? (Please include any life experiences or motivating factors related to your career interest.)
      
   2. Describe your research interests, experience, and future goals (e.g., tobacco cessation, HPV, colon cancer)
   3. What are you hoping to gain or achieve from this summer experience?

Double-check these items before clicking the SUBMIT button. The Slate system will not accept revised documents. 

4. Create your Slate Account. After clicking the SUBMIT button, you will receive an email from MD Anderson Education & Training (trainee@mdanderson.org), subject line: "Complete your Trainee Position Inquiry Request". Follow the instructions and click the hyperlink in the email to create a Slate account and request your letters of recommendation.

5. Complete the Application:

1. Read the Application Instructions
2. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation:  In the Recommendations screen, enter the contact information for both individuals who will write your letters of recommendation. Ideally, recommenders should be anyone who has known you for more than a year and preferably a faculty mentor, professor, research lab manager, or other professional in academia. Important note: Please ignore any text in the SLATE system specifying that MD Anderson faculty cannot write letters of recommendation---this is false and hopefully will be corrected soon. Summer Experience applicants may submit letters of recommendation from MD Anderson faculty, including those who are current or previous mentors. After the applicant enters the recommender's information in the Slate system, the recommender will receive an email notification from trainee@mdanderson.org, subject line "Recommendation Request from YOUR NAME for MD Anderson Cancer Center" and a link to upload the letter of recommendation to your account. You will receive an email when the letter has been successfully uploaded. 
3. Complete the Additional Demographics and Future Plans form
4. Complete the Internship or Graduation Requirement form
5. Complete the Academic Awards and Honors form

Note: There is no submit button in the "Complete the Application" stage. To check the status of your application, log on to your Slate account and select 'Status' from the menu. Your application is complete when all sections are complete and both letters of recommendation have been uploaded to your account. 

Stipend 

• This internship pays $17 per hour ($6,800 before taxes over ten weeks) and is funded by an R25 grant award from the National Cancer Institute (R25 CA056452, Dr. Shine Chang, Principal Investigator).

Stipend Payment Schedule 

• Students will be paid on the 5th and 20th of each month via direct deposit. 

Work Schedule

• All students will work full-time, 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and 40 hours per week.
• Awardees should not participate in concurrent employment or academic courses during this program. 
• This internship does not provide health benefits, paid sick leave, paid vacation, or holiday pay.
• Additional benefits include up to $1,000 for research support funds, complementary round-trip or one-way airfare to Houston, Texas to participate in the program, and housing assistance for qualified applicants. Applicants must indicate housing plans in the application or via email upon acceptance. 

Housing, Airfare, and Other Benefits

• Each student may request up to $1,000 for research support funds (e.g., travel to a conference to present their summer project)
• Eligible students may request complementary round-trip or one-way airfare to Houston, Texas to participate in the program. This airfare can be used only at the beginning and end of the program, and is not for travel home during the program.
• Applicants must indicate housing plans in the application or via email upon acceptance. Limited funding is available for housing assistance for out-of-town/out-of-state students.

Mentor Matching

• The CPRTP will initiate mentor matching by emailing a link to a Qualtrics survey after notification and acceptance of the fellowship award (see Deadlines and Important Dates). Interns will use the search methods below to identify potential mentors and enter a minimum of six (6) faculty names and a short paragraph summarizing the reasons for wanting to work with the selected faculty in the Qualtrics survey. 
• Interns already working with an MD Anderson faculty mentor may continue as long as the proposed summer project is in cancer prevention and the other mentor requirements are met.
  
• Mentor requirements, resources, and the matching process are outlined on the Find a Summer Mentor page.

Mentor Search Methods

1) Search by department page: The Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) is comprised of the five (5) departments listed below. Each department page includes a list of faculty and a link to their institutional research profile. 

1. Department of Epidemiology Faculty
2. Department of Health Services Research Faculty
3. Department of Behavioral Science Faculty
4. Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention Faculty
5. Department of Health Disparities Research Faculty

2) Search our curated list of potential mentors: Use our list of participating summer faculty mentors to identify potential mentors who have agreed to mentor a CPRTP summer student. Departments in italics denote faculty located outside of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS), but conducting research in cancer prevention. 

Is the CPRTP summer program part of CATALYST?

Yes. The Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (CPRTP) - Summer Research Program is among a collective of 16 MD Anderson CATALYST  Summer Training Programs. Our unique program is the oldest academic fellowship program at MD Anderson. We provide a curriculum of mentored research by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences (DCPPS) faculty, educational and career development activities, and additional funding support to present the summer cancer prevention research findings at conferences. 

How many CPRTP summer fellowships are available?

25

How do I indicate my interest in the CPRTP Cancer Prevention Summer Program in the Slate application?

Complete two steps to ensure that your application reaches the CPRTP: 1) Select the 'Cancer Prevention Suimmer Program' from the drop down menu of the CATALYST Inquiry Form in the Slate system as your first or second choice, and 2) state your interest in cancer prevention within the CV/Personal Statement. The State of Research Experience and Areas of Interest (i.e., personal statement) character limit is 5000.

I participated in the CPRTP Cancer Prevention Summer Research Program in 2018, may I participate again if I apply?

No. Our NCI R25E grant award allows one fellowship award per person per lifetime. CPRTP NCI Summer Research Experience alumni may apply to other MD Anderson CATALYST Summer Training Programs at www.MDAnderson.org/Summer as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

In the SLATE application system, there is a sentence saying that letters from the trainee's MD Anderson mentor/faculty will not be accepted, but I am not sure if this applies to my situation since Dr. X is not my current mentor. For my application, would a reference letter from Dr. X be acceptable?

Yes. Please disregard this text. Any faculty, including those working at MD Anderson, can write your letter of recommendation. We also encourage letters from current or past faculty mentors. Two letters of recommendation are required and should be from someone who has known the applicant in a professional or academic setting for over a year (e.g., teacher, college professor, lab manager, faculty mentor, Principal Investigator on a previous project).

Are the two (2) required letters of recommendation due at the application deadline?

Yes. Complete an inquiry form and application in the Slate system. A link to start the inquiry form is located at the top of this web page. 

I currently receive funding from a NIGMS project in my mentor's lab. If I am awarded a fellowship, may I continue to receive funding from my NIGMS project (I'll be working part-time remotely) and this NCI R25E Summer Research Experience?

No. Trainees are not allowed to receive any additional federal funding from any other institution or mechanism during the CPRTP Summer Research Experience.

What is the application process?

Successful applicants must complete both phases one and two (noted below) by the application deadline noted on this web page. Applicants must complete an inquiry form in Slate, upload required documents, establish an account, log on to your Slate account and finish completing the application by requesting letters of recommendation and completing the other required forms. 

Phase 1) Applicant Inquiry Form 

1. Personal Information
2. Official Transcript with evidence of enrollment in a degree program for the Fall 2023 semester
3. CV/Resume
4.  Statement of Research Experience and Interest
   

Phase 2) Log on to Slate and complete the final application steps:

1. Recommendation Letters (Two letters are required.)
2. Additional Demographics and Future Plans Form
3. Internship Questions Form
4. Academic Awards and Honors

Do I need a CV or a Resume?

A CV, Resume or Biosketch may be uploaded to your Slate application. Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) and Biosketches are more comprehensive and typically used by individuals pursuing careers in research academia. Applicants may use this CV template. In contrast, resumes present a more concise snapshot of your education, skills, and work history.

May I have letters of recommendation/support emailed to the CPRTP or Dr. Chang?

No. Please follow the instructions provided in the Slate application system, enter your recommender's/referee's contact information, the referee will receive an email with a link to upload the letter. Instruct the referee to check their bulk, spam or quarantine folders for the email. Upon successful recommendation letter upload, the applicant will be able to see that the letter was uploaded in the Slate system. Please do not have letters emailed to the CPRTP or the Director, Dr. Shine Chang. All letters must be submitted in the Slate system.  Please contact Discover_Support@mdanderson.org for technical issues. If issues persist or if there are unusual circumstances, please email the CPRTP. 

May I include my recent publication, additional letteers of support, scientific poster, awards, and other certificates to help boost my application?

No. Please do not upload any additional documentation into the Slate system other than what is required. All applications submitted to the faculty review committee will be uniform to prevent unfair advantages. The faculty committee will review all application materials including the inquiry form, personal statement, additional demographics and future plans form, two letters of recommendation, CV/Resume, proof of enrollment, and other required forms. 

I am graduating in May of the program year and will be taking a year off before I apply to medical school. Am I eligible?

No. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree granting program (Bachelor's degree or higher) during both the spring semester and fall semester of the program year. For the initial application, Slate requires an official transcript which must include evidence of enrollment in a degree program for the Fall 2023 semester. 

I am pursuing an Associates Degree at a Community College am I eligible to apply?

Applicants must be enrolled in a degree granting program (Bachelor's degree or higher) during both the spring semester and fall semester of the program year. Students receiving and Associates degree in the Spring of the program year and transitioninig to a 4-year Bachelors degree program are welcome to apply as long as they provide proof of application into a 4-year program in the Fall semester of the program year. along with proof of enrollment for the spring semester of the program year.  

Are your eligibility requirements the same for all programs participating in the MD Anderson CATALYST Summer Training Program at www.MDAnderson.org/Summer?

No. Each participating program in the MD Anderson CATALYST program is unique. For eligibility requirements, please visit the respective program page and select your top two (2) choices within the Slate application.  

May I participate 100% remotely from California?

No. All students must reside in Texas during the length of the fellowship term and will be required to check in on the MD Anderson campus, which includes showing proof of identification and completing part two of the I-9 clearance form, picking up their ID badge, picking up their leased MD Anderson laptop, and attending all required CATALYST and CPRTP activities during week one, as well as the in-person CATALYST poster symposium during week 10. Students may be able to work some days remotely at the mentor's discretion; however, all students must live in Texas during the fellowship term. In addition, all week one activities, including the CPRTP orientation and CATALYST welcome event, will take place on campus and all interns must attend.

If I work in-person/on-campus how will I participate in the virtual professional development activities (e.g., workshops and seminars)?

You will use your Outlook calendar to schedule research activities around your professional development activities. Interns are permitted to log on to Zoom using their MD Anderson laptop computer or their personal phone or tablet. If working on campus, be mindful of your surroundings, use headphones, and ask permission to go to a quiet location (e.g., department conference room, lounge area). 

I attend school at Rice University and rent an apartment in Houston during the school year, will I qualify for housing assistance?

The CPRTP provides housing assistance to interns based on limited funding availability and confirmed out-of-state or non-commutable addresses.

What happens during the first day and week of the program?

All students must be present on the MD Anderson campus during week one to attend RTP onboarding, CATALYST welcome events and Cancer Biology Bootcamp, and the CPRTP orientation (in-person). On day one, students are required to complete RTP check-in (i.e., complete section 2 of the I-9 clearance process and show forms of required identification, pick up their MD Anderson ID badge, pick up their leased and encrypted MD Anderson laptop, attend the Cancer Biology Bootcamp, and report to the CPRTP (in-person) for a two-day orientation. Students will not be released to the departments of their mentor until the Thursday afternoon of week one.

Read more Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS) about the application process and program expectations. 

What is cancer prevention and control?

Efforts in cancer prevention and control aim to reduce cancer incidence, recurrence, progression, and the associated adverse effects of cancer. Prevention, which involves stopping cancer from happening in the first place, is the most cost-effective, long-term strategy for the control of cancer. Cancer prevention and control researchers conduct observational and interventional studies aimed at intercepting causes at all stages of the cancer process—from early prevention to survivorship. Studies target cancer risk factors such as:

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Physical inactivity, dietary factors, obesity, and being overweight
• Infections, e.g., HPV, hepatitis B
• Environmental pollution, e.g., outdoor & indoor air pollution
• Occupational carcinogens, e.g., asbestos, benzene
• Radiation, e.g., UV/solar radiation, x-rays

Varying strategies can be used in cancer prevention and control research and can include:

• Primary Prevention: Aim to prevent initial cancer occurrences through lifestyle modifications, vaccination against cancer-causing viruses, and the use of chemo-preventive agents.
• Screening and Early Detection: Involves the development and evaluation of screening tools, diagnostic tests, and technologies to detect cancer at its most treatable stages, encompassing biomarkers, imaging, and genetic testing.
• Behavioral Interventions: Explores the impact of behavioral changes, such as smoking cessation, dietary adjustments, and increased physical activity, on reducing cancer risk.
• Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology: Investigates the role of genetics and molecular factors in cancer development, identifying genetic markers and understanding molecular pathways contributing to carcinogenesis.
• Vaccination Strategies: Examines the development and effectiveness of vaccines, especially for cancers caused by infectious agents like HPV and hepatitis B.
• Environmental and Occupational Exposures: Studies the influence of environmental and occupational factors, such as pollutants and radiation, on cancer risk.
• Risk Assessment, Public Health Policy, and Interventions: Focuses on developing and assessing public health policies and interventions to decrease cancer incidence, including tobacco control measures, screening programs, and health education.
• Implementation Science: Explores strategies to translate research findings into practical applications, addressing barriers and facilitators in healthcare settings and communities.

Who are researchers in cancer prevention and control?

Cancer prevention and control research is dynamic and necessitates collaboration among scientists, clinicians, public health experts, and policymakers. The overarching aim is to alleviate the global burden of cancer by identifying effective, evidence-based strategies applicable at individual, community, and population levels. Multiple scientific backgrounds, disciplines, and interests are relevant and helpful in working toward this goal. The CPRTP accepts applicants with various interests, backgrounds, and disciplines, including, but not limited to:

Backgrounds and disciplines:

• Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine
• Autoimmune diseases (e.g., HIV, AIDS, Lupus)
• Basic Science
• Behavioral Science
• Biology (e.g., cellular, molecular, physiology)
• Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Biomedical sciences
• Biostatistics
• Breast cancer
• Cancer biology
• Cancer genomics
• Cancer immunotherapy
• Cancer medicine
• Cancer prevention, early detection & risk assessment
• Cardiology
• Colorectal Cancer Research
• Chemistry (e.g., physical, organic, bio)
• Chemotherapy, Chemo-radiotherapy
• Comparative Medicine
• Data Science and Statistics
• Dentistry
• Dermatology
• Environmental Sciences
• Experimental radiation
• Experimental therapeutics
• Epidemiology
• Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis
• Gastroenterology
• General oncology
• Genetics & Genomics
• Genitourinary medical oncology
• Health Disparities Research
• Health services research
• Health Education or Health Promotion
• Health Policy
• Hematopathology
• Immunology (e.g., clinical, systems)
• Infectious diseases (e.g., Hepatitis)
• Lymphoma & Myeloma
• Molecular and Cellular Oncology
• Nanotechnology
• Nutrition Sciences
• Nursing
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Palliative Care & Integrative Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Physics
• Population Health
• Pharmacy, Pharmacology
• Physical therapy
• Public Health
• Psychology
• Reproductive Medicine
• Rehabilitation (e.g., Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy)
• Respiratory Care
• Social Science
• Surgery
• Survivorship
• Systems Biology
• Social Work
• Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

Interests:

• Addiction (e.g., alcoholism, pharma & recreational drugs)
• Africans and African-American populations (including the Caribbean & others of African descent)
• Asian populations
• Community health
• Communication (e.g., Health, Strategic, Integrated Media, Public Relations)
• Disabled populations
• Economics (e.g., Financial Toxicity)
• Education
• Engineering (e.g. biomedical, genetic)
• Exercise
• Global health
• Hispanic & Latin populations
• Hormone therapy
• Indian populations
• Kinesiology
• Laboratory science
• LGBTQ+ populations
• Mathematics
• Mental health
• Military/Veteran populations
• Native American populations
• Older adults
• Obesity, Weight Management
• Statistics
• Tobacco Cessation & Control
 

Due to the COVID-19 endemic, these MD Anderson travel and campus restrictions are subject to change. All CPRTP summer interns must reside in Texas during the length of the fellowship and appointed on-campus /hybrid. All required cancer prevention seminars and workshops will tentatively take place on Zoom.