The Research Training Program in Surgical Oncology capitalizes the high caliber mentoring faculty at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and the University of Miami Health System. Comprised of physician- and research-scientists with active research programs in a variety of surgical oncology-related disciplines including surgery, oncology, population health, health disparities, and biomedical engineering, who are committed to the highest quality research experience.

MD fellows accepted into the program will engage in a mentored research project which will be complemented by a set of core program activities, team science training, and responsible conduct of research training.

Our program is organized into two training tracks. Fellows will follow a core curriculum as well as additional activities that will vary depending on training track.

Basic and Translational Science Research Track

In this track, each fellow will develop laboratory projects based upon his/her individual research interests and expertise in collaboration with and under advisement of the faculty mentor.

Health Disparities and Outcomes Research Track

This track involves consists of either one year of laboratory-based research followed by a year of population-based research or two years of population-based research.

Each of our two training tracks is designed to provide opportunities in a broad range of research training disciplines to our trainees that is suitable for team training and will be staffed with collaborating faculty possessing appropriate expertise and experience to support these training experiences.

Trainees will benefit from common resources including:

• Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) Seminars and Lectures, Grant Writing Workshop, and Career Talks
• SCCC Trainee Membership, SCCC Shared Resources and the SCCC Annual Retreat
• SCCC Travel Awards
• Dialogues in Research Ethics, LinkedIn Learning, Calder Library

The mentors in our program include a pool of experienced, extramurally funded physician- and research-scientists with active research programs in a variety of surgical oncology-related disciplines including surgery, oncology, population health, health disparities, and biomedical engineering, who are committed to the highest quality research experience.

Trainees will receive close guidance from a primary mentor, who will be responsible for the direction of the project throughout the two-year program. In addition to a primary mentor, each trainee will have a mentoring committee that will include both MD and PhD members and will join existing, interdisciplinary research teams. Guided by their mentors, trainees will become skilled in research methods and will be prepared to pursue independent physician-scientist careers.

A rigorous selection criterion will be used to identify candidates likely to be successful in a career as an independent investigator. The training environment will enable fellows to work directly with preeminent T32 faculty mentors while engaging in several formal activities at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

• Residents in training in general surgery, breast surgery, colorectal surgery, endocrine surgery, gynecologic oncology, neurosurgery, surgical oncology, or urology.
• Citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or individuals that have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence at the time of appointment.
• Candidates must be available for a 12-month appointment and agree to undertake a minimum of two years of research training from the time of appointment.
• People who have not had previous post-doctoral NRSA or T32 support.

1. Application Form and Data Sheet
2. One page “Statement of Research Interest”
3. CV (Please include citizenship information)
4. Two letters of reference

*One letter must be from a department chair or program director

Please submit your application to:
Research Training in Surgical Oncology T32 Program
Office of Education & Training
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Email: SurgicalOncologyT32@miami.edu

Edmond Box W. III, M.D.
Project: Investigating the tumor microenvironment in Pancreatic cancer for novel mechanisms to facilitate therapeutic clinical intervention.
Mentor(s): Nipun Merchant, M.D., Jashodeep Datta, M.D., Nagaraj Nagathihalli, Ph.D.

Alexandra Hernandez, M.D., M.P.H.
Project: Evaluating the relationship between socioeconomic and racial residential segregation, neighborhood stress and structural racism on outcomes in breast cancer including stage at presentation, receipt of appropriate treatment, and survival outcomes.
Mentor(s): Nipun Merchant, M.D. and Neha Goel, M.D.

Mary Martos, M.D., M.P.H.
Project: Exploring the cross-section of social determinants of health and multi-omics of pancreatic cancer.
Mentor(s): Jashodeep Datta, M.D., Stephan C. Schürer, Ph.D., Tracy Crane, Ph.D.

Erin Dickey, M.D., MBS
Project: Role of IL-1 Receptor Accessory Protein in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Chemoresistance.
Mentor(s): Jashodeep Datta, M.D. and Nipun Merchant, M.D.