Current Postdocs
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Huntsman Alliance for Postdocs (HAP)
A peer group started by postdoctoral trainees at Huntsman Cancer Institute. It aims to enhance the postdoctoral experience through professional development. HAP serves as a hub for postdocs and connects them to the broader community at the University of Utah.
Shadowing Opportunities
The CRTEC office at Huntsman Cancer Institute will assist trainees in finding opportunities for clinical shadowing in the cancer care arena or for shadowing behind the scenes in our Shared Resources.
Postdoc-Focused Events
We hold postdoc-focused events, including a fall postdoc showcase, a spring postdoc social featuring lightening talks, and regular luncheons and off-site social events. These events are designed to foster community and career development for Huntsman Cancer Institute postdoctoral trainees and medical fellows. They also provide the opportunity for ongoing peer-mentoring and community building.
Travel Funds
Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination Travel Awards
Our office provides travel fellowships for PhD and MD postdoctoral fellows to attend the annual meetings of the American Association of Cancer Research and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Our office funds several $1,000 travel awards to offset the cost of attendance. Awards are restricted to postdocs, residents, and fellows, with abstracts already accepted at one of the conferences listed below:
- American Association of Cancer Research (AACR): April 25 – 30, 2025, in Chicago, IL
- Regular abstract deadline is November 26, 2024
- Travel award request deadline is February 3, 2025
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): May 30 – June 3, 2025, in Chicago, IL
- Regular abstract deadline is January 28, 2025
- Travel award request deadline is April 2, 2025
If you are interested in taking advantage of these funds contact us. Travel funds will be awarded on a rolling basis.
Postdoctoral Travel Assistance Awards
The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs can provide up to $500 and reimburse airfare, car mileage (in lieu of airfare), ground transportation fares such as shuttle or taxis, lodging, abstract fees, and conference registration fees. Learn more about the postdoctoral travel assistance awards.
Professional Development
Core Competencies
Postdoctoral training experiences, although highly individualized, have elements in common. The National Postdoctoral Association has articulated the core competencies gained during this training period.
| Postdoctoral Core Competencies | Faculty assess these in: |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific conceptual knowledge |
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| Research skill development |
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| Communication skills |
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| Professionalism |
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| Leadership and management skills |
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| Responsible conduct of research |
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Reflecting on these, and how they are assessed, can help you map your training path. An Individual Development Plan, tailored to your specific training objectives, is also strongly encouraged.
BREO
The Biomedical Research Education Office (BREO) supports the educational and professional advancement of all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars engaged in biomedical research in the five health sciences-focused colleges/schools at the University of Utah.
Postdocs: Career development resources
Individual Development Plan (IDP)
A tool to help trainees reach short and long-term career goals, as well as improve current job performance. An IDP is not a performance evaluation tool or a one-time activity. It should be seen as a partnership between the trainee and the mentor. It involves preparation and continuous feedback.
Fellowship & Awards
The Susan Cooper Jones Endowed Fellowship in Cancer Research
This fellowship recognizes a talented post-doctoral trainee or medical fellow who has performed exceptional cancer-focused research during their training. The strongest candidate must have produced a significant body of work during their training. However, an early-stage trainee with exceptional promise will also be considered.
The award will include $1,000 that goes directly to the recipient, $1,500 to use toward their research, and $1000 to use toward conference travel that supports their career development. This award is made possible by the generosity of the family of Susan Cooper Jones, a young mother who lost her life to cancer.
Fellowship Writing Support
CRTEC has a repository of funded K, F, and private foundation grant applications written by trainees. If you are a current trainee applying for a fellowship, and want to see writing samples from funded applications, you may request to view them by contacting us. We can also put you in touch with a peer who is willing to provide guidance about funding mechanisms based on their experience.
The BREO office has a list of funding mechanisms.