Graduate, Post-Doctoral, & Medical Student Training & Education Opportunities
CRTEC supports the training and education of graduate, post-doctoral, and medical students by:
- Assisting with and creating cancer-relevant training programs.
- Organizing and facilitating the Cancer Symposium Seminars and Colloquiums
- Disseminating relevant grant and training opportunities.
- Providing supplemental funding opportunities for training courses and innovation awards.
Each year new graduate program students embark on a journey to earn a PhD, MD-PhD, or post-doctoral degree through the Graduate Program in Cancer Biology. This interdepartmental program includes training in basic biomedical sciences with opportunities to apply clinical and translational research to studies on human cancer.
Research Programs
Basic research scientists at the CU Cancer Center strive to understand better the fundamental biological activity that leads to cancer. They work closely with clinical researchers to translate laboratory findings into drugs, therapies and techniques that can be applied to patients. Clinical researchers then enroll patients in one of the more than 250 available clinical trials to test these new treatments in cancer research studies. The results of this collaboration are promising new techniques to diagnose, treat and prevent cancer.
Investigators at the CU Cancer Center focus on interdisciplinary research conducted in four main programs: 1) Cancer Prevention and Control, 2) Developmental Therapeutics, 3) Molecular and Cellular Oncology, and 4) Tumor Host Interactions.
Some of the education and training programs that are available to graduate and post-doctoral students include the Colorado Academic Instruction & Research Nexus (CAIRN) Program, the Oncology Summer Internship (OSI), the Lung Head & Neck T32, and the Training in Cancer Biology T32.
OSI: Oncology Summer Internship
The CU Cancer Center OSI is an ASCO-OSI pilot program that provides a paid clinical experience in oncology for rising second-year medical students attending the CU School of Medicine who have experienced a lack of access in education and training activities in medicine.
Students in this program spend the summer between their first and second year of medical school attending lectures on oncology topics, shadowing oncology professionals, and interacting with patients in clinic and hospital settings.
Faculty Sponsors: Tejas Patil, MD, Wells Messersmith, MD, and John Tentler, PhD
Contact John Tentler, PhD, for more information.
HS-BReM: High School Biotechnology Research Mentoring Program
The HS-BReM program is an opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees to mentor a team of high school student researchers at Rock Canyon High School, in their Biotechnology Research program. The high school student researchers, with the aid of their mentor, conduct cancer research in their high school biotechnology laboratory. CU Anschutz trainees support and mentor their student teams throughout the year as they develop and conduct their research projects.
Prior to starting their research, student teams design their project and write a full research proposal which they present and defend for approval. Next, they learn the skills and techniques needed to conduct their research. Following completion of their research projects, they present their research at the RCHS Biotechnology Research Symposium and write a full journal article which they publish in the RCHS Journal of Biotechnology.
Their CU Anschutz research mentors join them on this journey of discovery of the joys of scientific research and help them develop a passion and interest in pursuing a future career in biomedical research.
If you are interested in becoming a HS-BReM future scientist mentor, please contact us at CRTEC@cuanschutz.edu.
This Year's HS-BReM Scholars
Lila O'Brien, Brandon Panza, Kayleigh Anderson, and Josiah Bardgett
Mentor: Jared Williams, Cancer Biology Graduate Student
Project: Effect of Teleglenastat on E0771 Medullary Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Growth in Suspension and Adhesion Cultures
Website: The Cancer Crusaders
LaCOTA: LaCamera Oncology Travel Award
The LaCamera Family generously provided a gift to the University of Colorado Cancer Center to provide oncology-related education opportunities for medical students at CU Anschutz Medical School.
The LaCamera Oncology Travel Award (LaCOTA), provides CU Anschutz Medical School students up to $1,500 to attend oncology-related educational trainings and conferences to further their understanding of cancer prevention and treatment.
Applications are closed until July 1, 2025.
Note:
- International travel will not be funded by LaCOTA at this time (travel awards are for travel within the continental U.S., Hawaii, or the U.S. territories only).
- Individuals can only receive one travel award during their tenure at CU Anschutz Medical School.
For more information, please contact the CRTEC office at CRTEC@cuanschutz.edu.
Psychosocial Oncology Fellowship
The year-long Psychosocial Oncology Postdoctoral Fellowship offers a comprehensive training program focused on providing culturally sensitive, evidence-based psychosocial care to adults with cancer.
The program includes clinical training at the University of Colorado Hospital and CU Medicine specialty clinics, covering individual counseling, assessment, group therapy, inpatient consultation, and psychoeducational classes. Fellows also engage in didactic education in clinical health psychology and participate in research or program development, and invites participation by individuals from groups that have experienced a lack of access in education and training activities.
Additional opportunities include mentorship in psychosocial oncology research, clinical research, quality improvement, and preparation for the EPPP and ABPP board exams.
Learn more about the Psychosocial Oncology Fellowship.
Contact Erin Baurle, PsyD, and Ben Brewer, PsyD, for more information.
Training in Cancer Biology T32
The National Cancer Institute-funded Training Program in Cancer Biology (TPCB) trains Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows in independent, mentored research focusing on all aspects of Cancer Biology. Mentors study a large breadth of tumors including cancers of the blood, lung, breast, prostate, salivary, ovarian, bladder, pediatric, colon, etc.
Areas of research include:
- Basic mechanisms of oncogenesis.
- Cell death and survival pathways.
- Tumor evolution.
- Tumor immunology.
- Steroid signaling pathways.
- Genomics and genetics.
- Prognosis and targeted therapeutics.
The TPCB is affiliated with the University of Colorado Cancer Center, the only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in the state. This is a research-intensive training program.
Trainees work with the mentor of their choice on a project at the cutting edge of contemporary cancer research. The CU Cancer Center has numerous state-of-the-art core resources available to all trainees in the program including functional genomics, imaging, sequencing, flow cytometry, biostatistics, etc.
Trainees in the program also participate in non-research training activities that are designed to build specific skills and facilitate professional development. These include attending the annual TPCB post-doc research and career development symposium, a T32-specific journal club, career development workshops, a hypothesis development (grant writing) seminar, and a mentored clinical exposure experience. Trainees have opportunities to attend national meetings and conferences.
Principal Investigators
- Mary Reyland, PhD
- Scott Cramer, PhD
Learn more
CIETP: Immuno Therapy & Experimental Therapeutics Program T32
The Cancer Immunotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics Program (CIETP) aims to train future oncology clinical providers and researchers in the most advanced and promising forms of immune-directed and cell therapy. The vision for this T32 is to create a training program and environment that provides essential skills to clinical trainees while simultaneously providing them with the opportunity to contribute to developing the next generation of cancer therapies.
Challenges in the field of cancer immunotherapy include understanding a multitude of new agents under development, new mechanisms of action, toxicity profiles that consist of immune/autoimmune side effects, and the lack of patient selection or predictive markers for these therapies. The opportunity is to invent Developmental Therapeutics (DT) strategies that maximally exploit the power of immune-based therapy.
Learn more
Education Outreach Opportunities
There are many ways to get involved in the education outreach activities that are coordinated through the CRTEC office. Graduate students and postdoctoral looking to 1) share their passion for biomedical science and research, 2) support others to a path in the biomedical sciences, 3) help train the next generation of biomedical scientists, and 4) gain teaching and mentoring experience can participate in the following outreach activities.
Outreach opportunities range from working with middle school students (C2R2), high school students (BEST, HS-BReM, C2S2, AST Outreach, and Learn About Cancer Day), and post-baccalaureate students (PIKE-PREP and ASCENT). These activities/programs are described below along with the ways to get involved in each.
To learn more about these outreach opportunities or to sign up to participate, please fill out this interest form.
INTEREST FORM
Cancer Center Research Rangers (C2R2): The C2R2 program is a one-day exploratory program for middle school students to come to the CU – AMC to learn more about cancer research and the biomedical sciences through interactive programming and laboratory investigations.
Interested graduate students and postdoctoral scientists can engage with C2R2 by running an activity station with the middle school students.
High School Biotechnology Research Mentoring Program (HS-BreM): HS-BReM is a partnership between the CU – AMC and the Rock Canyon High School (RCHS) Biotechnology Research program where graduate students and/or postdoctoral scientists mentor teams of high school student researchers conducting cancer research in the RCHS high school biotechnology laboratory.
HS-BreM graduate student and/or postdoctoral scientist mentors support and mentor their student teams throughout the year as they develop and conduct their research projects. While the vast majority of mentoring occurs via email and virtually, opportunities for teams to meet in person for training are possible. HS-BReM mentors receive a certificate of appreciation and a gift card.
Bioscience Educator Support and Training (BEST): BEST is a partnership between the CU - AMC and local secondary school teachers designed to transform local bioscience education, foster a greater understanding of biomedical science in our community, and support CU – AMC graduate trainees and postdoctoral scientists interested in teaching.
Participating graduate students and postdoctoral scientists will attend a two-day summer teacher professional development training session and will support teachers with the implementation of the BEST lessons in their classrooms two or more times throughout the academic year. BEST partners receive a certificate of appreciation and compensation.
Learn About Cancer Day (LAC Day): LAC Day is a day-long seminar that includes tours of cancer-related laboratories, a cancer-focused activity, and a career or student panel. The event serves high school students interested in future careers in the biomedical sciences. It is offered twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
Participating graduate students and postdoctoral scientists can engage with LAC Day students by hosting a lab tour, serving on the student and/or career panel, or being a tour guide. LAC Day volunteers receive a certificate of appreciation, a free pizza lunch, and a gift card.
Cancer Center Student Symposium (C2S2): The C2S2 is a series of seven monthly symposiums held from October through April each year where Cancer Center members and trainees give lessons on important cancer-related topics and talks about their research to high school students and teachers. These one-hour after-school presentations are held in a virtual format with a Q & A session at the end.
Interested graduate students and postdoctoral scientists doing cancer-related research are invited to volunteer to be a C2S2 speaker. C2S2 volunteers receive a certificate of appreciation and a gift card.
Aurora Science and Tech School (AST) Outreach: Each year the AST school, located on the CU – AMC campus, has numerous opportunities for CU – AMC staff and trainees to engage with students and teachers. Outreach opportunities have included supporting teachers with lessons in the classroom, serving as science fair judges, hosting epidemiology day activities, and volunteering as a guest speaker on a variety of topics.
Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PIKE-PREP): PIKE-PREP is a year-long mentoring and research training experience to prepare post-baccalaureate students who have experienced a lack of access in education and training activities to enroll and succeed in top-tier PhD or MD-PhD programs and to commit to careers in biomedical research. PIKE-PREP scholars spend a year conducting mentored research at CU-AMC and participating in professional and career development activities individually designed to complement their needs and goals.
Interested PhD and MD-PhD students serve as PIKE-PREP Student Ambassadors to assist with community building and enhance the scholar’s network and integration into the social, research, and academic environment of the CU-AMC campus. PIKE-PREP Ambassadors will meet bi-monthly with their scholars and participate in some of the career and professional development activities with their scholars. PIKE-PREP Ambassadors receive a certificate of appreciation to document their mentoring activity, a PIKE-PREP t-shirt, and gift cards for their participation.
Advancement of Scholars in Cancer Education and Training (ASCENT): ASCENT is a two year-long mentoring and research training experience to prepare post-baccalaureate students who have experienced a lack of access in education and training activities to enroll and succeed in top-tier cancer-related PhD or MD-PhD programs and to commit to careers in cancer research. ASCENT scholars spend two years conducting mentored research at CU-AMC and participating in professional and career development activities individually designed to complement their needs and goals.
Interested PhD and MD-PhD students serve as ASCENT Student Ambassadors to assist with community building and enhance the scholar’s network and integration into the social, research, and academic environment of the CU-AMC campus during their first year in the program. ASCENT Ambassadors will meet bi-monthly with their scholars and participate in some of the career and professional development activities with their scholars. ASCENT Ambassadors receive a certificate of appreciation to document their mentoring activity, an ASCENT t-shirt, and gift cards for their participation.