MD Anderson Science Park Summer Program in Cancer Research SPCR

描述(由申请人提供)：该计划旨在支持十(10)名成绩合格的学生每年参加德克萨斯州史密斯维尔的德克萨斯大学MD安德森科学园(分子癌变系)癌症研究暑期项目(SPCR)。该计划为考虑从事科学、研究和健康职业的学生提供真实的、动手的板凳研究体验。该计划的主要目标是为学生从事支持全国范围内减少癌症和提高生活质量的努力的职业做好准备。培训教师将连续10周每天为SPCR的学生提供指导。通过一个有凝聚力和重点的基础设施，该计划将在癌症研究方法和技术方面为学生提供支持，从而开发一个与教师导师正在进行的调查相关的小型、明确的研究项目。在科学研讨会中，SPCR将要求学生在项目的最后一天向教职员工展示他们的研究项目。学生还将参加每周一次的癌症研究系列讲座、职业发展系列讲座和职业小组讨论，所有这些都旨在支持增强对癌症研究方法的自信，并为学生进入本科、研究生和专业教育课程做好准备，这些课程将导致他们进入基础或临床癌症研究领域。夏季体验还包括对休斯顿的MD Anderson主校区和德克萨斯州巴斯特罗普的基林比较医学和研究中心的实地考察，这是美国首屈一指的灵长类设施之一。还包括社会活动，以促进学生和实验室人员之间的友谊，以及不同实验室学生之间的人际交流和科学讨论。过去的计划评估表明，科学园的暑期计划对参与的学生的职业发展做出了重要贡献，并影响了他们继续研究生培训的决定和能力，从而导致在癌症研究领域的职业生涯。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed program is intended to support the annual participation of ten (10) academically qualified students in the Summer Program in Cancer Research (SPCR) at the University of Texas MD Anderson Science Park (Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis) in Smithville, Texas. This program provides an authentic, hands-on bench research experience for students considering careers in science, research, and health. The primary objective of the program is to prepare students to pursue careers that support nation-wide efforts to reduce cancer and enhance quality of life. Training faculty will provide mentorship to SPCR students on a daily basis for ten consecutive weeks. Through a cohesive and focused infrastructure, the program will support students in cancer research methods and techniques resulting in the development of a small, defined research project that is related to the on-going investigations of the faculty mentor. Culminating in the Scientific Symposium, the SPCR will require students to present their research project to faculty and staff on the last day of the program. Students will also participate in a weekly Cancer Research Lecture Series, a Career Development Lecture Series and a Career Panel Discussion, all of which are designed to support the promotion of self-confidence in cancer research methods and prepare students for entry into undergraduate, graduate and professional education programs that lead to careers in basic or clinical cancer research. The summer experience is augmented by field trip experiences to the MD Anderson Main Campus in Houston and the Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research in Bastrop, Texas, one of the premier primate facilities in the country. Social activities are also included to promote camaraderie between students and lab personnel as well as interpersonal communication and scientific discussion between students from different laboratories. Past programmatic evaluations demonstrate that the Summer Program at Science Park is an important contributor to the career development of participating students and has influenced their decision and ability to pursue graduate training leading to careers in cancer research.