Postdoctoral Career Development: Cancer Biology

The research advisor, together with the career mentor, will assist the postdoctoral fellow with any career directions and choices. The trainee will meet with the advisors quarterly to discuss the directions the research and career preparations are going.

Both advisors will furthermore encourage and support the fellow in the preparation of postdoctoral and transitional grant awards, respectively. Every fellow will be encouraged to apply for any of these opportunities.

Grant Writing Workshop 

A departmental grant writing workshop for postdoctoral fellows is offered annually. The first part of this two-session workshop includes an introductory lecture that provides general information on grants, the discussion of an unsuccessful application and its successful resubmission.

In between the first and second session, postdoctoral fellows are asked to provide a single specific aims page and submit it to the workshop facilitators and their peers.

In the second session, all of these Specific Aims pages will be evaluated in a mock study section and written review provided. If the trainee chooses to write an entire application, the facilitators will be available to discuss these documents.

Career Fairs and National Meetings 

All postdoctoral fellows are encouraged to attend local career fairs, such as the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/Environmental Protection Agency (NIEHS/EPA) annual career fair that exposes fellows to panel sessions with scientists in different types of careers.

Every postdoctoral fellow will attend national research meetings on their topic, in agreement with their advisor. At these meetings, their research will be presented in form of a poster or oral presentation.

Additional opportunities for career development are offered through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.