Undergraduate & Post-Baccalaureate Training & Education Opportunities

U-TRAC: Undergraduate Training and Research Achievement in Cancer

Through the U-TRAC Program, undergraduate students participate in a paid, mentored cancer-related research experience coupled with training in biomedical concepts, research principles, and career development workshops and lectures.

Interested in getting paid to gain real scientific research experience?

U-TRAC students are encouraged to continue working in the lab throughout the summer and will have the option to continue into a second year of research.

Application Requirements:

• Be a University of Colorado Denver undergraduate student
• Identify and secure a research mentor on the Anschutz campus before applying
• Have an offer of Federal Work-Study funds

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. To begin your application to U-TRAC, click the Apply Now button below. You may start an application, save it, and return later if needed.

For more information, or for questions, please contact [email protected].

SURF: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

What is the University of Colorado American Cancer Society’s Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training (CICRT) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship?

The SURF Program provides training and educational opportunities to encourage the pursuit of biomedical careers. The SURF Program aims to provide access to cancer research training and career development for undergraduate college students who are aspiring to become part of the future cancer research and care workforce. SURF Fellows form a cohort with students participating in the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus’ Cancer Research Experience for Undergraduates (CREU) program.

For ten weeks, undergraduate SURF and CREU Fellows engage in hands-on laboratory research, while receiving mentoring from accomplished investigators in cancer research labs at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. In addition to the ACS-sponsored activities (e.g., lunch and/or a social activity), SURF and CREU Fellows participate in twice-weekly lectures, clinical translational workshops, career roundtable sessions, social networking events. They also write a project proposal and present a final poster at the poster session.

When you apply to be a SURF Fellow, you will select four mentors you would like to work with during your internship on your application. You can find the list of mentors on the CREU program page. We make every effort to assign you to your first choice, but we may need to make alternative assignments based on mentor availability.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient.
• Be a sophomore, junior, or senior who is enrolled in a college/university at the time of application submission.
• Be able to devote 40 hours per week to this program. 

Applicants who meet the following criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Demonstrate a strong academic background in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences in addition to mathematics, as demonstrated through coursework.
• Individuals from groups who historically have lacked access to the cancer-related sciences field.

Important Dates

November 1, 2024 – February 3, 2025: Program application open

February 3, 2025: Final application deadline (11:59 pm MT)

May 27 – August 1, 2025: CREU/SURF Program

Applications are closed.

Questions? Contact us for more information: 

PIKE-PREP: Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program

Preparation in Interdisciplinary Knowledge to Excel

The mission of the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus PIKE-PREP program is to offer a year-long multi-dimensional 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 a top-tier PhD or MD-PhD program and commit to a career in biomedical research.

To achieve this mission, PIKE-PREP program participants will:

• Conduct research with mentor support to strengthen their research and technical skills.
• Improve their competitiveness for PhD program admission through guidance and training on the graduate school application process.
• Participate in high-quality professional and career development activities individually designed to complement each PREP scholar’s needs and goals.
• Engage in continuous and dynamic mentoring and community-building research-centered experiences designed to enhance the scholar’s network and integration in the social, research, and academic environments.

Directors: Eduardo Davila, PhD, and Carlos Catalano, PharmD, PhD

ASCENT: Advancement of Scholars in Cancer Education aNd Training

The mission of the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus ASCENT program is to offer a two-year multi-dimensional mentoring and research training experience to inspire post-baccalaureate students who have experienced a lack of access in education and training activities to enroll and succeed in a top-tier PhD or MD-PhD program and commit to a cancer research career.

To achieve this mission, ASCENT program participants will:

1. Conduct cancer-focused research with mentor support to strengthen their research and technical skills.
2. Improve their competitiveness for cancer-focused doctoral program admission through guidance and training on the graduate school application process.
3. Participate in high-quality professional and career development activities individually designed to complement each ASCENT scholar’s needs and goals.
4. Engage in continuous and dynamic mentoring and community-building research-centered experiences designed to enhance the scholar’s network and integration in the social, research, and academic environments.

Director: Eduardo Davila, PhD

For more information, go to the ASCENT website or reach out to [email protected].

Undergraduate to GRAduate PatHways - U-GRAPH Research Symposium