Cancer Biology Graduate Program
McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research/Department of Oncology

Deadline for Fall 2021-2022 Admission November 15, 2020
Application Materials Online September 2020

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Prospective Students

The mission of the Cancer Biology Graduate Program is to provide predoctoral students with the intellectual and technical training that will enable them to carry out independent scientific research, which spans the entire breadth of cancer biology from haploid or diploid genetics, viral and chemical carcinogenesis, eukaryotic cell and molecular biology, virology, molecular toxicology, whole-animal carcinogenesis, and translational science. It is our intent to train our students to be critical, creative, independent thinkers, and scientific scholars. In so doing, we aim to establish a robust and compelling foundation for them to embark on successful and satisfying professional careers.

Our Program

Admisssion Requirements

Admission to the Cancer Biology Graduate Program is a highly competitive process that includes thorough application review by a six-member admission committee. The qualifications for admission are gauged by research experience, letters of recommendation from research/advisors/supervisors, GPA, and personal statements.

Training Program

The core curriculum for Cancer Biology is designed to introduce students to research related to the introduction, properties, and therapy of cancer and to ensure that they have the necessary background in one or more areas of related fundamental science to enable you to do original research.

Pioneering Curriculum

The core curriculum for Cancer Biology is designed to introduce students to research related to the introduction, properties, and therapy of cancer and to ensure that they have the necessary background in one or more areas of related fundamental science to enable you to do original research. Courses are drawn from the Department of Oncology, as well as various related departments, including Bacteriology, Biochemistry, Biomolecular Chemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, Human Oncology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Pharmacology.

Financial Support

The Cancer Biology Program is committed to ensure continuing financial support for all Cancer Biology PhD students in good standing. Financial support includes: monthly stipend, tuition remission, and eligibility for health insurance. PhD students are supported from a variety of different sources including research assistants from faculty research funds and fellowships.

Program Trainers

Our program offers a course of study and reach leading to the PhD degree. Over 50 faculty trainers from multiple departments including Oncology, Medicine, Human Oncology, Cell and Regenerative Biology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, etc. participate in our graduate program. This interdepartmental structure offers remarkably diverse training opportunity. In addition, curriculum requirements are designed to be flexible, providing students with a maximal opportunity for specialization within this multidisciplinary field.

Laboratory Rotations

All first year students in the PhD program are required to carry out three laboratory rotations during the fall semester. The purpose of these rotations is to familiarize the student with the faculty-mentor’s (PI) mentoring style, discover the research projects available and discuss possible dissertation-research projects, and to get acquaint with the laboratory environment and its members

Our History

Since its establishment in 1940 as the first basic cancer research center in a U.S. academic institution, over 1600 women and men have received training at the McArdle Laboratory.