Education & Training

At a Glance

• Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all available spots are filled, with a final application deadline of Monday, January 4, 2027. Early application is encouraged, as the program may reach capacity before the deadline. 
• Commitment: Two-year, full-time program; Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional weekend activities
• Annual Stipend: $35,000

Program Goals

AUSM scholars are prepared to excel in:

• Recognizing, exposing, and helping to resolve cancer health disparities across biomedical research settings.
• Research, critical thinking, scientific writing and communication, networking, and presentation skills.
• Building competitive applications for top graduate and professional programs in the biomedical sciences.

What Scholars Experience

Mentored Research

• Each scholar is paired with a faculty mentor and a junior mentor (a senior scientist, postdoc, or graduate student). Faculty mentors guide scientific inquiry and hypothesis testing; junior mentors teach techniques, help plan experiments, and support day-to-day lab work.

Professional Development & Mentoring

• Scholars build communication, teamwork, and time-management skills, meet monthly with program leadership and mentors, and update an Individual Development Plan (IDP) every six months to track career goals and progress.

Didactic Training and Workshops

• Interactive lectures and seminars build a foundation in basic, translational oncology, and population health research. Hands-on workshops cover reading and discussing scientific literature (journal club), presenting research (oral and poster formats), scientific writing, and near-peer mentoring.

Preparing for Graduate and Medical School

• AUSM covers Kaplan test-preparation coursework for the GRE and MCAT, and provides dedicated support for the graduate/professional school application process, including personal statement development, CV and resume review, identifying strong recommenders, and mock interviews.

Presentations and Conferences

• Scholars present their work at intramural events such as the Cancer Center's annual Dr. Gary Kruh Cancer Research Symposium in the spring and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Research Forum in the fall, with opportunities to travel to national conferences such as the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists in November or the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science in October.

Community Engagement

• Scholars participate in community-based events, a lab tour, and panel visits at partner undergraduate institutions, culminating in a graduation symposium.

Two-Year Program Timeline

Year 1 

• Onboarding and professional-skills development; mentor matching and lab rotations; full-time mentored research over the summer; fall focus shifts to CV, personal statement, and recommender preparation for graduate/professional school applications.

Year 2 

• Scholars take on near-peer mentoring roles, build scientific-writing and data-management skills, and complete graduate/professional school applications, with continued mock interviews, career panels, and a final manuscript-style research report. The program culminates in a graduation symposium.

AUSM is a full-time program. Participants are expected to be available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional weekend activities scheduled outside of regular program hours.

Compensation and Support

• $35,000 Annual Stipend (Participants are responsible for their own housing and commuting expenses.)
• GRE and MCAT preparation coursework (Kaplan) covered for scholars who need it.
• Support for graduate and professional school application costs and mock interviews.
• Travel support to present at national conferences.

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from candidates who are:

• Students interested in the biomedical sciences and cancer research.
• Recent post-baccalaureate graduates who hold a degree in a STEM or health sciences discipline (baccalaureate degree conferred no more than 24 months before program start).
• Students committed to pursuing a biomedical PhD, MD, DDS, PharmD, or dual degree.

How to Apply

• A complete application includes:
• Completed online application – Application link
• Official college transcript(s)
• Current CV or resume
• Personal statement responding to the required prompts listed below:
  • Describe your future training and career goals, and how AUSM will help you achieve them.
  • Describe your specific cancer research interests.
  • Highlight your academic and research strengths and the personal characteristics that make you a strong candidate.
  • Identify any weaknesses you perceive in your candidacy, and how AUSM will help you address them.
• Applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation and may submit up to three letters total.

Selection Process

Each application is reviewed by members of the admissions committee. Personal statements and letters of recommendation are given the greatest consideration during the application process. Strong academic performance is preferred, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, but it is not required. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 are encouraged to provide additional context or information within their application. Top-ranked applicants are invited to interview (in person or virtually); final selections and a waitlist are determined by AUSM leadership and mentors.

Key Dates

• Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all available spots are filled, with a final application deadline of Monday, January 4, 2027. Early application is encouraged, as the program may reach capacity before the deadline.
• Program Start: Summer 2027*

* Exact date to be announced

Questions?

Please email crtec@uic.edu.