The National Cancer Institute's CRTA Fellowships provide the opportunity for recent doctoral degree recipients to enhance their research skills in the resource-rich National Cancer Institute (NCI) environment, which consists of more than 50 laboratories located on the main campus in Bethesda, MD as well as in Frederick, MD and devoted exclusively to biomedical research. Trainees pursue both basic and clinical research free from the demands of obtaining grants and teaching, although opportunities to do both are available.

To be eligible to apply for this program, candidates must hold a doctoral degree and have no more than five years of relevant research experience since receipt of their most recent doctoral degree. U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents are welcome to apply.

Awards are granted for an initial 12-month period and may be renewed for up to five years, based on satisfactory performance and the continued availability of funds.

Stipend and benefits

The stipends for postdoctoral CRTA trainees are adjusted yearly, with supplements for prior experience, multiple degrees, and expertise in areas of current interest to the NIH such as mathematics, engineering, chemistry, and bioinformatics; CRTA stipends generally fall near the top of the IRTA stipend range. Federal cost-of-living increases are also applied. Benefits include health insurance for the trainee and his/her family and travel to one meeting each year. In addition, the NIH Fellows Committee and the Office of Intramural Training and Education sponsor a wide range of career development and social activities.

Application procedures

The NCI Web site lists current CRTA postdoctoral openings in the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) and in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG). Each CCR listing provides contact information for the principal investigator who posted the opening, and some provide specific application instructions. The DCEG offers fellowship programs in Genetic Epidemiology, Radiation Epidemiology, Molecular Epidemiology, and Biostatistics; application is made directly to those programs. To NCI also sponsors the Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, whose purpose is to train individuals from a multiplicity of health professions and biomedical science disciplines to become leaders in the field of cancer prevention and control.

Questions about the Cancer Research Training Award? Check the Frequently Asked Questions.

Home  I  Postdoctoral Training  I  Postdoc Opportunities  I  Cancer Research Training Award

Questions or comments regarding this site? Contact us.

Page last revised on March 7, 2008 (sva)