About UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Its Programs

* Established in 1975, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is part of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
* Largest research entity at UNC with 250 faculty members from more than 25 different departments and disciplines.
* The Center combats cancer from all directions by uniting faculty members from the five Health Affairs Schools – Medicine, Public Health, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy, - as well as faculty throughout the College of Arts and Sciences and other professional schools.

CCEP Postdoctoral Fellowships in Cancer Prevention and Control
Overview
Each year the CCEP sponsors three postdoctoral fellows. Applications are solicited and accepted depending upon availability of fellowships. The program is currently accepting applications for fellowships to begin no later than August, 2007. Contact Michael O'Malley (clover@med.unc.edu) for more information. Details of the fellowship and the application process are outlined below.

Eligibility
The CCEP offers training to a range of postdoctoral fellows, including:

* Recent doctorates (PhDs, DrPHs, or their equivalents) whose first postdoctoral fellowship will be in the CCEP;
* More senior researchers holding doctoral degrees who wish to change the focus of their research to cancer prevention and control;
* Physicians, nurses, or other clinicians who have completed clinical training and who now wish to specialize in cancer prevention and control research; and
* More senior physicians, nurses, and clinicians who now wish to focus on cancer prevention and control research.

Applicants in the penultimate stages of a doctoral degree are eligible to apply, as long as the dissertation will be defended/completed prior to starting the fellowship. In these cases, the application package must include a note of assurance from the dissertation chair.

An identified CCEP mentor or mentors is not required for application. A knowledge of potential mentors is encouraged as are discussions with potential mentors.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are equal opportunity employers and encourage applications from women and minorities.

Training
The CCEP trains, mentors, and develops fellows through two major activities: a specialized core curriculum and hands-on mentored research experience. Throughout, the CCEP emphasizes training that is flexible and tailored to meet each fellow's needs, as well as a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to cancer prevention and control research. Click here to learn details about CCEP training.

Support
Stipends. Postdoctoral fellows receive annual stipends appropriate to their training and experience, depending upon availability. Stipends range between $45,000 (for a new Ph.D.-level fellow) to $65,000 (for an experienced, trained physician). Stipend levels generally do not change during the fellowship. With special consideration and permission, fellows may also work (and may receive compensation for) up to 10 hours per week to maintain clinical skills.

Allowances. Each postdoctoral fellow receives up to $25,000 per year in allowances, including $12,000 for tuition, $3,000 for travel, and $10,000 for research and other expenses. The allowance level will not change during the fellowship. Each year, fellows submit a budget plan for their allowances. Some re-budgeting within with the travel and research/other expenses categories is permitted. Tuition support can only be used for that purpose.

The CCEP tuition allowance is sufficient to pay in-state student tuition and fees at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Public Health. Due to recent increases in tuition costs, the CCEP tuition allowance is sufficient to pay about 90% of the out-of-state student tuition and fees. Other CCEP allowance dollars, however, may be used to pay tuition and fees.

CCEP fellows are encouraged to travel to and participate in appropriate meetings (such as the annual American Society of Preventive Oncology national meeting) and short courses.

Research and other expenses may include books, some equipment, software, biostatistical consulting, research assistance, et al. Postdoctoral fellows are expected to use the majority of these research funds to conduct an independent project.

Benefits. Postdoctoral fellows receive health insurance coverage through the postdoctoral health insurance program. Fellows do not participate in the State of NC retirement plan. Fellows are eligible for 10 days of vacation leave and 12 days of sick leave per year. All leave should be approved by the primary mentor. Parking applications are processed through the Cancer Center. New postdoctoral fellows are accorded the same status on the priority list as new employees. The CCEP does not provide support for moving expenses. For more information about postdoctoral fellows at Carolina, visit http://postdocs.unc.edu/ops.htm

Length of Support. Fellows receive two to three years of funding. Performance is evaluated at the end of each year, and subsequent years are awarded depending on progress.

Application
Process for 2007-2008 Fellowships. The program is currently accepting applications on a rolling basis. There is no deadline.

Usual Process. The CCEP has one deadline per year, usually in December, for fellowships starting the next summer. The process begins in the fall with advertisement for open fellowship positions. Applicants submit a statement of interest, curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference in December. Applicants who have not yet completed requirements for a Ph.D. must include a note of assurance from the dissertation chair that the applicant will defend the dissertation prior to beginning the fellowship.

The statement of interest should outline your goals and plans for the fellowship. It should include a description of the research you hope to conduct (questions you are interested in, types of studies you would like to do to answer those questions) but does not require that you present an actual research proposal. The statement should also present other goals for the fellowship, such as training (content, methods, skills you would acquire) and products (planned grants, publications, etc).

During January all faculty mentors review the applications to assess quality and potential mentor interest. During February and March, applicants with good reviews visit Chapel Hill for a day-long interview with prospective mentors, leadership, Training Advisory Committee members. The CCEP reimburses candidates for travel expenses to interview. Candidates are encouraged to talk with prospective mentors before and after the interview. Informed by feedback from the interviews, the Training Advisory Committee selects candidates based on research promise, career potential, interest in and commitment to cancer prevention and control, and the quality of the proposed research and training. Awards are generally made by May 1.

Important Notes. Prospective fellows interested in pursuing an MPH or other advanced degree must apply separately to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (usually to a department in the School of Public Health). Prospective fellows are encouraged to visit the appropriate webpages and learn about admission requirements and deadlines. School of Public Health applicants without a doctoral degree in hand should inquire about the need for GRE scores and transcripts, as well as the possibilities for Spring, rather than Fall, admission.

Training: Predoctoral Fellowships & Postdoctoral Fellowships

This information is reposted with thanks to UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.