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UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Pre-Doctoral Application Information

Who is eligible to apply

You can apply for the pre-doctoral training program if you meet the following requirements:

  1. Have an MS, MPH, MSPH, or an equivalent level of training
  2. Are currently enrolled in a doctoral program at UNC-Chapel Hill

**Completion of comprehensive exams is preferred, but this is no longer a requirement of the program**

Candidates for both the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training program MUST be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the US, or must have been lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or “green card.”).

The CCQTP is committed to training a diverse cadre of clinician and non-clinician scientists. Individuals from under-represented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Stipend and Support

Pre-doctoral trainees are eligible for salaries commensurate with the NIH’s full-time salary scale. Health insurance is covered by the program, as are tuition and fees. Pre-doctoral trainees will also receive approximately $800 per year to cover travel.

Application Package

Application Deadline for 2023-2024 funding: Applications for 2023-2024 closed on February 3, 2023

Submit an Application

Applicants to the pre-doctoral training program must submit:

  1. A cover letter
  2. A curriculum vita
  3. A five-page research statement/fellowship plan
  4. Three faculty letters of support

In the cover letter, the applicant must:

  1. Describe their career goals
  2. Explain how the program would help them achieve these goals
  3. Describe their research experience
  4. Comment on their academic progress to date

In the research statement/fellowship plan, the applicant must:

  1. Describe their research focus
  2. Explain the gap in knowledge or practice that exists relative to this research focus
  3. Identify the overarching hypotheses that would guide an empirical investigation
  4. Explain the potential impact of such an investigation

One of the letters of support should come from a CCQTP faculty member. If the applicant’s dissertation advisor is not a CCQTP faculty member, the other letter should come from the dissertation advisor. If the applicant has not yet formed a dissertation committee, one of the letters should come from the applicant’s faculty advisor. The dissertation advisor and/or faculty advisor does not need to be a CCQTP faculty member.

Application Process

The admissions committee will perform an initial review of all applications based on:

  1. Demonstrated or expressed level of commitment to cancer care quality research (assessed through prior research experience, coursework, and career focus),
  2. Record of academic achievement (assessed through CV),
  3. Ability to work collaboratively (assessed through letters of support), and
  4. Potential match with available mentors’ expertise and interest (assessed through research statement / fellowship plan).