The Henry and Alexia Fernandez Computational Oncology Fellowship

The Henry and Alexia Fernandez Computational Oncology Fellowship program seeks to support the career development of the brightest early career computational scientists striving to improve and accelerate cancer research. The program is rooted in the belief that as computational oncology grows in importance, its integrity will depend on future academic leaders that come from diverse backgrounds. To that end we will support outstanding postgraduate-level scientists from gender, racial, ethnic, and other underrepresented groups in biomedical sciences who are committed to an academic career at the intersection of cancer and computational biology. The program will train individuals from historically disadvantaged groups to assume faculty roles and establish independent laboratories to advance scientific discovery and patient care in the next decade and beyond.

This fellowship is part of the Maximizing Excellence in Research Education and Technology (MERIT) initiative at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). MERIT aims to provide the strategic framework toward recruiting, supporting, and developing individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and other groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, including those individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, within the MSK research community.

This fellowship is part of the Maximizing Excellence in Research Education and Technology (MERIT) initiative at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). MERIT aims to provide the strategic framework toward recruiting, supporting, and developing individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and other groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, including those individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, within the MSK research community.

Eligibility

Applications are open to individuals who:

  • self-identify as underrepresented in the U.S. biomedical sciences and fields, as defined by the Notice of NIH’s interest in diversity.
  • hold a PhD or MD (or be in their last year of study) in a computationally related field such as computer science, statistics, computational biology, bioinformatics, mathematics, electrical engineering, or physics;
  • have at least one first author publication demonstrating the analysis of large-scale data, or development of tools for such analysis.

*Note that there are no citizenship requirements.

Application components

  • CV summarizing education and prior training
  • Overview of prior research experience and track record of productivity
  • List of publications and short summary of their significance
  • Personal statement outlining interest in computational oncology, career goals, and how they fit into the program goal of supporting scientists from underrepresented backgrounds
  • Specification of prospective research mentor (see here for Computational Oncology faculty)
  • Outline of scientific research goals and justification for selecting your prospective mentor
  • Two letters of reference, including the candidate’s PhD advisor

Fellowship

The fellowship will support four outstanding scientists for up to three years while they pursue their postdoctoral research in a lab in the Computational Oncology program at MSK. Fellows will receive a competitive salary plus fringe benefits and a moving allowance, a yearly provision for travel to conferences to present their research, guidance and mentorship to successfully compete for faculty positions at the end of their training, and access to the comprehensive support systems for postdocs at MSK. Selection of candidates will be done on a rolling basis.

How to apply

Submit your materials via our application portal.