Seminars, Courses & Resources

Within the career development plan of the research and career proposal, CPRTP postdoctoral fellows outlined a tailored curriculum to assist with developing cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills during the course of the fellowship. Typically, the development plan will include semester-long courses, short courses or workshops.  In addition, all postdocs are required to take two courses, one required course per year, during the Spring academic semester.  Each trainee must enroll in one course during the spring semesters in which they are appointed as CPRTP fellows.  Thus, fellows who spend two years in the program will take one semester of Topics and one semester or Bio-Behavioral. These courses are offered through The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and are cross-listed at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health.  Summer Research Experience students are not required to enroll in these courses.

1. Bio-Behavioral Research Methods of Cancer Prevention and Addiction (Offered every even-numbered year of the Spring semester)

2. Topics in Cancer Prevention (Offered every odd-numbered year of the Spring semester)

• Thursdays, 12-2 p.m.
• Location: See syllabus
• Credit Hours: 2.0
• Grading System: Pass/Fail
• E-mail CPRTP for approval, form signature not required
• Course fees for CPRTP trainees (only) will be covered by the CPRTP
• Prerequisite: None
• Coordinators: Drs. Shine Chang, Carrie Cameron and Melinda Yates

These additional recommended courses are available to assist CPRTP postdoctoral fellows in writing their educational curriculum.  

To highlight the work of leaders in cancer prevention and control, the Cancer Prevention and Control Grand Rounds (CPCGR) seminar series was formed in 2005. The purpose of the Cancer Prevention and Control Grand Rounds is to inform the scientific and clinical faculty, trainees and staff at MD Anderson of emerging areas of research, new methods used in the field, and recent findings that inform the work conducted here. Presentations take place at various locations throughout MD Anderson on Fridays, from 12 to 1 p.m.  Attendance is open to everyone at MD Anderson, as well as outside guests.

Attendees should either log on 5 minutes prior (if virtual) or arrive at the desk by 11:45 a.m. (if in-person) to have their id badge scanned to receive CME credit. For all CPRTP trainees, attendance for this event is mandatory per the fellowship requirements.

Immediately following the virtual or in-person Cancer Prevention and Control Grand Rounds (CPCGR), the CPRTP hosts a Meet-the-Speaker Trainee Brown Bag lunch with the invited speaker. The Brown Bag is every Friday from 1:05 to 2:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted). The event is open to all MD Anderson trainees, including high school interns, undergraduates, research interns, health profession students, predoctoral (graduate), and postdoctoral fellows. During this Brown Bag, trainees will be able to interact with eminent cancer prevention and control researchers from around the world in an intimate and informal environment.

As of 2023, CPCGR Meet-the-Speaker Trainee Brown Bags will occur from June through August. The CPRTP will assign a trainee to host a brown bag per the fellowship requirements. As a host, the trainee will facilitate the brown bag lunch by escorting the speaker to the lunch, introducing the speaker, managing the questions and answers, keeping track of time, closing the brown bag lunch by 2 p.m., and turning in the attendance form to the CPRTP. 

All Division of Cancer Prevention trainees will receive calendar invitations for each brown bag, and other trainees may be added to the CPCGR Speaker-Trainee Brown Bag listserv by emailing the organizer. The calendar invitations will include the Brown Bag date, time, and location (virtual or in-person) within the email invitation. 

During the CPRTP postdoctoral fellowship, trainees will acquire a repertoire of six (6) speaking skills appropriate to the various professional occasions they will encounter. Trainees will present at the CPRTP Summer Research Experience events and Department Faculty Meetings. DCPPS trainees will receive calendar invitations to upcoming presentations. 

1. Scientific 90-second Elevator Speech (required for both CPRTP summer students and postdocs) 
2. 10-minute Research Presentation and Practice Job talk (for a diverse audience)
3. 10-minute TED-style talk (suitable for the educated public)
4. "Speaking up" (Asking questions and explaining scientific reasoning in a professional environment)
5. Introduction (Introducing an invited speaker by providing a brief bio)
6. 1-hour formal job talk

The benefits of giving different types of presentations:

• Trainees will obtain exposure to one another, colleagues outside their departments, and research from various cancer prevention disciplines. 
• Trainees have the opportunity to include an invited talk on their CV.
• Trainees acquire job talk experience, including feedback.
• Robust attendance at events is stimulated.

The CPRTP NCI Summer Research Experience, as part of the MD Anderson CATALYST Summer Training Programs, culminates with two events during week 10 of the program. 

1) CPRTP summer students will present a 90-second elevator speech about their research during the annual Summer Trainee Exposition held during the final week of the  summer program in August on ZOOM. The Exposition is open to the Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences faculty and staff. An elevator speech is a 90-second summary that describes the trainee, their project, and research experience quickly. The idea is to summarize the research experience during an elevator ride. A prepared elevator speech will help the trainee present themselves credibly and effectively in many situations.

2) Summer interns in all participating CATALYST Summer Training Programs will present scientific posters during the Poster Exhibition, which usually takes place on Wednesday or Thursday of week 10 of the summer program. More than 200 interns will present a scientific poster about their summer research project in cancer research. The trainees' mentors, research team, family, and friends are encouraged to attend. CATALYST will provide complimentary light refreshments during the Exhibition, and all participating summer interns will receive a calendar invitation from the CATALYST team.  

CPRTP postdoctoral fellows must complete nine (9) credit hours of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) during their fellowship.
An RCR update must be included in each progress meeting with the training program directors and added to the Individual Development Plan (IDP).

Trainees must email the certificate of completion to the CPRTP program coordinator. For more information visit the MD Anderson Research Skills page.