The program offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, and pharmacy to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. Students participate in basic or clinical oncology research, research and clinical conferences, and a core lecture series designed specifically for them. All participants make a PowerPoint presentation on their research project and submit a report on their research project written in the style of a journal in which their faculty mentor publishes.
A primary goal of the POE program is to encourage students to pursue a career in cancer research. Thus, we are particularly interested in highly qualified students with a serious career interest in cancer research, either as a clinical scientist or laboratory-based research scientist.
Prior research experience is required for all applicants. The POE 2014 class average undergraduate GPA was 3.80. In 2014, 51 students from 39 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia were selected from 500 applicants. POEs must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or possess a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States (required by the funding agency). All must have completed at least their college sophomore year by the time they participate. The minimum requirement is 11 weeks during Summer 2015. All POE applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.40 (on a 4.0 scale) in math and science (biology, chemistry, and physics) and at least a 3.40 overall. The remuneration is $4,000. Fully furnished group housing adjacent to our campus is provided at no cost for non- local participants.
The
POE home page <
http://www.stjude.org/poe> contains links to the program application. The deadline for receipt of all 2015 application materials is February 1, 2015. Early application is highly recommended, since we make some early placements. Letters of recommendation sent as PDF attachments to email are requested. Members of under-represented ethnic minority groups and women are particularly encouraged to apply, since one of our major long-term program goals is to increase the diversity of persons engaged in oncology research and practice. Our NIH/NCI-funded (2 P30CA021765-34S1) Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) grant provides remuneration for additional undergraduate under-represented minority POE Program participants.
