EPH announces new predoctoral cancer research training program
Stanford Department of Epidemiology and Population Health (EPH) and Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI) are proud to announce a new program that will allow EPH to expand training in cancer epidemiology. This new program is designed to bridge the gaps between cancer research fields through multi-disciplinary education and holistic professional development.
“Traditional training programs have largely kept students focused on specific disciplinary pathways,” explains Dr. Melissa Bondy, Chair, Epidemiology and Population Health. “This new program will offer a distinctive training experience uniting insight from diverse fields in cancer. We will train students with the concept of 'cells to society,' the complex interplay between biological and environmental factors that shape health outcomes at both the micro and macro levels.”
We will train students with the concept of “cells to society,” the complex interplay between biological and environmental factors that shape health outcomes at both the micro and macro levels.
Predoctoral students in this program will benefit from a network of cancer-focused mentors and coursework, opportunities to participate in cutting-edge and translational research, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes a methodologically rigorous set of core courses at the intersection of the foundational disciplines of cancer research: epidemiology, biostatistics, genetics, -omics, environmental health, health disparities, and community-engaged research. The program also includes individualized, mentored research projects tailored to each trainee’s interests and needs, overseen by a diverse group of experts with various research focuses. It aims to train predoctoral students to integrate innovative methods and research questions spanning core disciplines, with the consideration of health disparities remaining a consistent thread throughout the educational experience.
“This will allow the Department to expand training in cancer epidemiology, growing our educational mission to train the next generation of leaders in the field,” said John Witte, Vice Chair, Epidemiology and Population Health. “The program has aspects unique to Stanford and the Bay Area, such as having multiple mentors across different disciplines, undertaking internships with local organizations and companies, and training in community outreach and engagement.”
This program, funded by a T32 training grant, will accept five students yearly.