OFFERING POST-DOCTORAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer is the number two leading cause of death in the United States. Innovative cancer treatments are made possible first through research. However, in order to have capacity to translate research into clinical care, it is critical that we have well-trained individuals who cross the bench to bedside divide. The overall program goal of the University of Wisconsin Surgical Oncology Research Training Program (UW-SORT) is to expand the national and regional pool of investigators with surgical oncology-related research programs across the translational science continuum.
Through this two-year post-doctoral research training experience, we provide an individual and tailored didactic mentoring program for MD and PhD investigators. We leverage the extensive resources of the UW Department of Surgery, UW Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC), the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, The Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research Program, and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Research to provide world-class, mentored training in the research methodologies necessary to develop productive NIH-funded research programs in surgical oncology. This includes the conduct of basic, translational, health services, and clinical surgical oncology research.
With over twenty trainers whose expertise range from breast cancer to liver cancer, we provide trainees with a wide range of research opportunities across the cancer continuum. The core of our training program is a strong and diverse pool of experienced, extramurally funded trainers from a variety of surgical oncology-related disciplines. The trainee’s practical research experience is supported by appropriate didactics, effective assessment processes, a plan to promote diversity by recruiting and retaining both women and minorities, and a comprehensive plan for training in the responsible conduct of research.
We hope to foster the development of academic leaders and physician-scientists with surgical oncology-related research programs.
This training program is supported by NIH, NIC T32CA090217.
Training Program Overview
Post-doctoral trainees accepted into UW-SORT will engage in a mentored laboratory research project which will be complemented by a curriculum in clinical trials, research design, ethics and data analysis. The training program will foster the development of knowledge, competence, skills, professional attitudes, and experience required for successful academic careers in laboratory, translational, or clinical surgical oncology research.
Trainees will obtain a knowledge base in six core competency domains:
- Biostatistics and study design
- Ethics
- Leadership and management
- Presentation and teaching
- Scientific writing and verbal communication
- Basic, translational, clinical, and health services oncology research
An individualized learning plan will be developed for each trainee to ensure all trainees have a well-rounded experience. In addition to the mentored laboratory training, participation in a variety of courses, workshops and seminars, primarily on the UW-Madison campus will be outlined based on individual interests and needs to ensure training objectives are met.
Stipend
Trainee stipends are fixed by the National Institutes of Health and vary depending on the number of years of experience following doctoral degree. Trainees are also eligible for health insurance, tuition support, and some travel money when appropriate for advancing the training experience.
Eligibility
Applicants must be PhDs or MDs in clinical residency who are willing to commit to two years of a research experience. Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are encouraged to apply.
Surgical Oncology Research Training Program
Contact Us
Heather Neuman, MD, MS, FACS
Program Co-Director
(608) 263-7064
neuman@surgery.wisc.edu
Wei Xu, PhD
Program Co-Director
(608) 265-5540
wxu@oncology.wisc.edu
Joanna Houston
Program Coordinator
houston@surgery.wisc.edu