Interdisciplinary Training Program

Overview and Objectives

The mission of the interdisciplinary training program in cancer research (NCI funded T32 award) is to immerse postdoctoral trainees (both MD and PhD) in a multi-disciplinary and translational research environment that is representative of cancer research and patient care today. The diverse experiences of the research faculty trainers, who are supported by comprehensive research funding, are key to our commitment to multi-disciplinary training. While the emphasis of this cancer research program is on laboratory training in molecular approaches to study the mechanisms of malignancy, additional key elements are: exposure to cancer clinical care through the "Shadowing Program", training in grant writing, and pre-review of fellowship and career transition award applications. All the trainees in this program will meet with the program's Executive Committee bi-annually, and will interact with each other on a weekly basis at the Cancer Center intramural post-doctoral "work-in-progress" seminar series.

Program Requirements

Curriculum for post-doctoral fellows with Ph.D. degrees. While the principle training mechanism of this program is through mentored research with outstanding faculty, we recognize the need for additional formal training to strengthen the knowledge and research preparedness of the trainees. Moving trainees onto independent support is a hallmark of success, and thus the first goal of the postdoctoral training program will be to provide critical review of, and assistance in, preparing fellowship and career transition awards, and all will be required to submit fellowship applications. All postdoctoral fellows will take "Professional Development" and "Effective Writing Strategies" courses, and participate in seminars and workshops provided through the Office of Post-Doctoral Affairs. A second goal of the post-doctoral training program is to expose Ph.D. scientists to cancer clinical care and clinical research in order to prepare them for potential careers in translational science. To this end, all the post-doctoral fellows in this program will participate in the shadowing program, will attend selected tumor conferences, and will audit the course "Clinical and Translational Oncology Research". In addition, any of the elective courses offered to the pre-doctoral students will be available to post-doctoral trainees to fill in any gaps in previous training. All post-doctoral trainees will be required to present their work at one national scientific cancer research meeting per annum, supported through the cancer training program.

Curriculum for post-doctoral fellows with clinical degrees: Fellows with M.D., O.D., D.D.S. or D.V.M. degrees will be considered for training grant support if they are qualified and demonstrate a clear commitment to an academic research career. As necessary, research experience will be enhanced with formal didactic course work. The Director of the Cancer Center Clinical Research Office will be involved in the development of clinical components of the trainees' research projects as necessary. The clinician fellows will attend the tumor conferences, but will not be required to take the "Introduction to Clinical Oncology" course component of the shadowing program and will only be required to take the first rotation of the program in the Clinical Trials Office.

How to Apply
The applicant must have U.S. permanent residency status and be within two years of obtaining Doctoral degree.

The following materials are needed for consideration into the program
Official graduate transcripts
Curriculum vitae
Statement of career goals (1/2 page, single spaced)
Three letters of recommendation including one from graduate mentor

Please indicate one or more faculty mentors that you are interested in

Submit Application to

Raymond Birge, Ph.D.
Professor and Director
205 South Orange Avenue
CCS, H-1202
Newark, NJ 07103
Tel - (973) 972-4497
Fax - (973) 972-7104
e-mail- birgera@njms.rutgers.edu