Announcements

The National Cancer Institute’s - Integrative Cancer Biology Program

2009 Summer Cancer Research Fellowships

Research opportunities for current Sophomore and Junior level undergraduate students

June 8 through August 7, 2009*

*Some fellowship sites may have modified program dates

Program Description
The 2009 Summer Cancer Research Fellowship program provides a unique opportunity for eligible sophomore or junior college students to engage in innovative integrative biology approaches to cancer research through the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Integrative Cancer Biology Program (ICBP). The ICBP, composed of nine multidisciplinary Centers across the United States, focuses on the analysis of cancer as a complex biological system. Researchers within each ICBP Center utilize the integration of experimental biology with mathematical and computational modeling to gain new insights into the biology and management of cancer.

Selected student participants will be paired with a faculty-mentor from a participating ICBP Center based on the student’s indicated research interests. Through mentored research projects, faculty lectures, seminars, discussions, and other activities, the student will gain an understanding and appreciation of major questions currently under investigation as well as the novel approaches being used within the ICBP Centers.

Travel, Stipend, and Housing
Participants will receive a travel allowance of up to $600 (total) for travel to the ICBP Center at the beginning of the program and return travel home at the end of the program. Participants will receive a stipend of $3,300 for the summer program. Housing accommodations will be arranged through the individual ICBP Center; the NCI – ICBP program will cover housing costs up to $100 per night.

Application and Eligibility
Application to the ICBP Summer Cancer Research Fellowship program is open to students currently enrolled as sophomores or juniors in an accredited college or university located in the continental United States. A student must live in the United States and be a United States citizen or hold a permanent resident visa to be eligible to apply. Priority will be given to students who have at least a 3.0 GPA computed over the last three semesters and who have successfully completed relevant course work in the areas of biological, chemical, physical, computational and mathematical sciences, or engineering. Students will be selected from complete applications received by the deadline, Wednesday, January 21, 2009, based on their academic record, statement of interest, and two faculty recommendations. Students from under-represented minority groups and women are encouraged to apply.

Beginning Monday, December 1, 2008, students may apply for the 2009 Summer Cancer Research Fellowship Program online at:

https://web.ncifcrf.gov/careers/icbp/

The online application form is the only format accepted by the NCI – ICBP for application to the program. The Faculty recommendation portion is submitted online through a separate URL sent to each Faculty’s email address provided by the student on his or her application. The following information is to be submitted at the time of application in order for the student's portion of the application to be considered for the program:

• Student's home address
• Student's physical address during the school year
• Student's personal email address during and after the school year
• Student's home phone during and after the school year
• Student's other phone (cell) during and after the school year
• Names and email addresses of two Faculty members who will be providing Student recommendations (NOTE: The accuracy of these email addresses is extremely important for the NCI-ICBP program to communicate with each Faculty providing a recommendation.) Applicants should give advance notice to their recommending-Faculty of the application deadline and the impending NCI-ICBP email that will contain a unique URL for Faculty to submit their recommendations.
• A description of student's research experience, if any (400 words maximum)
• An explanation of why the student would like to participate in the NCI - ICBP program (400 words maximum)
• An uploadable unofficial electronic transcript (.PDF format ONLY) from all college/universities the student has attended
• Selection of two project choices in order of preference from a drop-down list. For a description of project choices, please visit: http://icbp.nci.nih.gov/education_outreach/student_resources/undergraduate_opportunities/projects.html

Applicants will be notified by email when their Faculty recommendations have been received and when their application is determined to be complete. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please allow 4 weeks from the deadline below for processing. An email will be sent notifying applicants of their selection status approximately 6 weeks from the application deadline.

Inquiries regarding the 2009 Summer Cancer Research Fellowship Program may be directed to:
Betty Tarnowski, Ph.D.
Division of Cancer Biology
National Cancer Institute
Tel. 843-588-2977
Email. tarnowsb@mail.nih.gov