Available Funding

• CONSORT T32 National Cancer Institute Training Grant
• SMART R38 National Cancer Institute Training Grant

Our National Cancer Institute T32 training grant, Collaborative Northwestern Surgical Oncology Research Training (CONSORT) program and our R38 training grant, Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (SMART), brings together the extensive oncologic expertise at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide a multidisciplinary, two-year research training program.  There are two tracks available for each grant:

• Health Services and Outcomes Research Track
• A Basic and Translational Science Research Track

Both the CONSORT and SMART programs seek to increase the number of investigators who successfully achieve academic careers as independently funded surgical oncologic scientists.

Each T32 and R38 trainee will have an experienced and diverse Mentor Team (content and methodological experts) tailored to their training needs. The core curriculum will include courses in study design and analytic approaches, best practices and ethics in research, and career development.

Trainees will participate in the workshops, seminars, and research training opportunities at Northwestern and at relevant surgical and oncologic professional societies. Trainees will design and execute research projects that culminate in presentations at major national conferences and publications in high-impact journals.

Screening & Application Process

Applicants must have an MD or PhD.  MD candidates must be in good standing in a clinical training program that will provide eligibility for certification in Surgery or a surgical subspecialty with research focused on Oncology.

PI Seema Khan, MD can be reached for questions, please also CC Natalie Friedman on your email.

Preliminary forms and CVs are accepted on a rolling basis in Qualtrics with September 29, 2023, as the next deadline Preliminary Form and CV Intake

Stipend Support

• Postdoctoral stipend levels are set by the NIH each year, and commensurate with the number of years of postgraduate training. Current NIH stipend levels can be found at https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/salary-cap-stipends.
• The grant also covers health insurance, travel, and trainee-related expenses, including support for childcare
• The grant also assists in a reduced tuition rate for certification or masters level training.

Expectations of the Trainees:

• Trainees are expected to be committed to full-time basic research training (40 hours/week) with two-year commitment.
• No clinical responsibility will be expected of the trainees.
• Trainees will attend regularly scheduled seminars and journal clubs.
• Trainees will be expected to complete training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) through NUCATS.
• Trainees will have the responsibility to provide annual progress reports (during and after the period of support)