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Medical Student Summer Research Experience in Radiation Oncology

This summer research opportunity is a 10-week program that offers hands-on experience in radiation oncology research. Possible research experiences span a wide spectrum, including but not limited to laboratory-based scientific studies, large dataset analyses and review of patient clinical or imaging data.

Students completing the first year of medical school are eligible to apply. Accepted students will receive a stipend to support living expenses during the program.

Students will be matched with a mentor from the MD Anderson Cancer Center Division of
Radiation Oncology based on shared interests and project availability.

Throughout the summer, students will participate in radiation oncology-specific as well as
institution-wide programming to help familiarize students with oncology broadly and radiation oncology specifically. The program concludes with our annual Division of Radiation Oncology Summer Research Symposium where participants present talks and posters on their research projects to peers and faculty.

By participating in this program, we hope to provide students with an introduction to the field of radiation oncology, opportunities to engage with oncology research, and mentorship relationships that may last well beyond the summer.

The program entails:

Engagement in scientific research in collaboration with MD Anderson radiation oncology faculty
Opportunities to develop mentorship relationships at MD Anderson
Formal programming to introduce the field of radiation oncology, research opportunities within the department, and the diverse paths of faculty within the department
Final presentation at the Division of Radiation Oncology Summer Research Symposium

If you do not meet the criteria for this program, please see the other research opportunities in Radiation Oncology on our Division of Radiation Oncology home page, under Education and Training.

Eligibility & Requirements

Students in good academic standing who have completed their first year at a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)- or Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)-accredited U.S. medical school.
Applicants should be present for the full 10 weeks and not have other summer employment.

Dates & Work Schedule

The program will run from June 3 to August 9.
MD Anderson's normal hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Exact work schedules are subject to the primary mentor's needs and expectations.

Application Information

The 2024 program will run from June 3 through August 9, 2024.

The following information will be required:

Personal information, including contact information and address
Official transcripts from undergraduate universities and first semester of medical school
Statement of research experience and areas of interest
Two letters of reference with contact information. At least one reference should come from a professor who has taught you in a class. The other may be from another professor or an advisor or mentor who you have worked with in the past four years.

For more information, contact Meggan Miller.

Medical Student Program in Radiation Oncology Directorship

Devarati Mitra, M.D., Ph.D. and Jillian Gunther, M.D., Ph.D.

Jillian Gunther, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Program Director, Medical Student Education

Devarati Mitra, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Associate Program Director, Medical Student Education

Summer Alumni

2023

Summer Experience Students pictured here: Dr. Devarati Mitra, Dr. Jillian Gunther, Francisco Gonzalez Landron, Afua Addo, Laura Maule, Kirhyn Stein, Khiem Tran and Alexandra Rosa-Vazquez, with Division Head Dr. Albert Koong.

2022

Radiation Oncology Summer Students Lily Nguyen, Lauren Bendesky, Christiana Salami, Edwin Montalvo-Rivera, Bryan Nolasco, and Anthony Alanis, with Division Head Dr. Albert Koong.