Program Overview

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Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine

The goal of the Partnership for Careers in Cancer Science and Medicine (PCCSM) is to build a network to attract, develop, and nurture young adults across the entire academic science and medicine spectrum, from high school students through graduate level for career options such as faculty appointments.

Program Overview

The initial focus has been on undergraduate students, particularly in the Houston area. The program aims to progressively include new initiatives for medical students, interested in research, and postdoctoral fellows from across the country.

Eligibility

To participate, a candidate must:

• be at least 18 years old at the beginning of the program
• be enrolled as a junior-level student or enrolled as a senior-level student and accepted into a college or university for the fall semester or enrolled as a college or university student during the spring semester prior to the summer program
• be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or F1, J1 Visa holder
• must attend the entire 10-week program

Application Process

Only students nominated by our area partners are invited to apply to the PCCSM Summer Program. Motivated students with strong interest in biomedical disciplines are recommended by partners from Houston-area high schools and universities. A committee of MD Anderson faculty selects the final participants.

Program Details

The program offers:

• Hands-on research in any of the MD Anderson work areas, including:
  • Basic Science Research
  • Non-clinical community or epidemiological research
  • Computational research
  • Translational research
• Career development advice and guidance

Curriculum

Weekly seminars and workshops cover a broad range of topics. Hands-on research training, while conducting a mentored research project in an MD Anderson laboratory, is the main focus of the summer program. The student trainees work 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or as previously arranged with the laboratory mentor.

Stipend and Housing

Students receive a stipend of $7,200 before taxes for the 10-week program. Housing is provided on a case-by-case basis.

Mentor Match Process

Our program affiliated faculty belong to more than two dozen different departments at MD Anderson and are engaged in many different areas of cancer research. If you are interested in a specific area of cancer research, please note this in your statement of research experience and areas of interest.

Achievements of Our Students and Alumni

We have hosted PCCSM summer students in successive cohorts since 2017. Among the noteworthy achievements of our past summer trainees are admissions to top-tier universities for undergraduate education, enrollment in medical schools, and pursuit of master's or doctoral degrees in the Houston area and nationwide.

Application Deadlines

• Applications Open: November 17, 2025
• Applications Close: January 14, 2026, 11:59pm CST
• 2025 Program Dates: June 1, 2026- August 7, 2026

Program Structure

The program includes:

• Weekly lectures
• Career conversations
• Workshops to improve presentation skills
• Learning how to prepare scientific posters and abstracts
• Presenting research as scientific posters alongside trainees from other summer programs
• Participating in an "Elevator Speech" contest

Research Areas

Our program affiliated faculty are engaged in many different areas of cancer research, including:

• Basic Science Research
• Non-clinical community or epidemiological research
• Computational research
• Translational research

Career Development

The program provides career development advice and guidance from experienced MD Anderson faculty, many of whom are professors and/or in leadership positions and serve as role models of success, resilience, and persistence.