Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowships in Cancer Nanoscience and Microsystems
The NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer is a national resource linking physical and
computational scientists, engineers and technologists working at the nanoscale with cancer biologists
developing the next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic tools and oncologists specializing in the
diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer (http://nano.cancer.gov).
In October, 2010, the Alliance recognized New Mexico‘s excellence in Nanoscience (through CHTM,
CMEM, CINT and other programs) and in Cancer Research (in the NCI-designated UNMCC) by
selecting UNM to host one of its six Cancer Nanoscience Training Centers.
The New Mexico Cancer Nanoscience and Microsystems Training Center (CNTC) provides
stipends and interdisciplinary training to graduate students and postdocs whose interdisciplinary
research uses nanotechnology to understand the properties of cancer cells and to discover and
develop research tools, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic agents that will reduce suffering and death
due to cancer.
Most applicants for graduate student fellowships will have successfully completed one or 2 years of
graduate study in the Biomedical Sciences, Nanoscience and Microsystems, or a closely related
graduate program (typically Mathematics and Statistics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer
Sciences, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering or Mechanical
Engineering). They will have identified a dissertation project that integrates their primary
physical/computational sciences/engineering discipline with biomedical research or vice versa. They
will name co-advisors, one from cancer biology and one from a physical sciences or engineering
discipline. Exceptional first year students with firm plans to pursue cancer nanoscience or
microsystems research may also apply for Fellowship support, subject to acceptance to an appropriate
UNM graduate program. Fellowship support is for one year, renewable for a second year based on
good progress. Tuition, fees and health insurance will be paid in addition to the stipend.
Postdoctoral fellows will be members of interdisciplinary teams that apply nano/micro technologies to
understand, prevent and ultimately treat cancer. Fellowship support is for one year, renewable for a
second year subject to good progress. The CNTC will provide 0.5 FTE postdoc salary support on the
NIH scale; the balance must come from other funds available to the mentors. 50% support for tuition,
fees and health insurance will be paid in addition to the stipend.
The main focus for CNTC fellows will be research training. However we will encourage participation in
directly-relevant courses in nanoscience and microsystems and in cancer biology and will require
participation in a week-long Bootcamp to immerse recruits in cancer and in nanotechnology, a seminar
on real-world cancer, Clinical Cancer Perspectives, and a seminar on developing an interdisciplinary
research career. CNTC fellows will also participate in the monthly Nanocafe, that is coordinated by the
NSMS graduate degree program and brings together students and faculty using Nanoscience and
Microsystems approaches to all areas of research.
Applications, to be prepared jointly by the student and the mentors, should include:
A letter from the applicant (1-2 pages), describing their overall scientific background and interests,
especially their nanocience and cancer research experience and interests, and indicating their goals for
the future.
A cover page that lists the project title, the fellow’s name and contact information plus names and
contact information for both the primary and secondary mentors.
A project description (3-4 pages; single-spaced; Arial 11 or equivalent) that includes the following
sections:
Abstract
Specific Aims
Background
Research Plan
Relevance to Cancer
Citations
A support letter (1-2 pages) from the primary advisor, describing the fellow’s academic qualifications
and scientific promise, outlining the training plan including the balance of cancer and
nanoscience/microsystems training, naming the co-mentor(s), assuring that the fellow will focus at least
75% effort on the project and, in the case of postdocs, also assuring that matching defunds are
available to support the salary.
Please also submit brief biographical sketches, preferably in NIH format, for the student and the
advisors, including a summary of active grant support for the advisors.
Completed applications should be submitted electronically to Heather Armstrong (heathera@unm.edu)
for review by the CNTC leadership committee. Support will be allocated based on the academic
qualifications of the student and his/her advisors, the scientific merit of the project, the likelihood that
the fellowship will work as “glue” to enhance interactions between cancer biologists and NSMS
researchers, and the potential of the project to launch a successful research career at the
nano/micro/onco interface. Applications from minorities and women are encouraged. Postdocs and
students who are NOT US citizens or resident aliens MAY apply for these fellowships.
Deadlines are April 1, 2010 for students seeking support beginning June 1, 2010 and June 15, 2010 for
students seeking support beginning August 15, 2010. Additional fellowships will be offered each year
through 2015. Details of CNTC scientific goals and names, contact information and interests of its
faculty-level members will be available shortly at www.CNTC.unm.edu.
For more information on scientific aspects of the Center, contact the CNTC Co-PIs, Abhaya Datye, PhD,
Distinguished Regents’ Professor of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering and Director of the NSMS graduate
program (adatye@unm.edu) and Janet M. Oliver, PhD, Regents’ Professor of Pathology and Research Director in
the UNMCC (joliver@salud.unm.edu).
For administrative and fiscal details, contact the CNTC Program
Managers, Heather Armstrong (heathera@unm.edu) and Ryan Tanner (rtanner@salud.unm.edu).