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.
University Housing
The University Apartments community is known for its diversity with dozens of nationalities and languages spoken throughout the neighborhoods.
University Apartments residents are primarily graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, academic staff, university staff, faculty, and their families.