Job Description

Request for Applications

Training Program in Basic and Translational Pediatric Oncology Research

(T32 CA269052; NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement Number PA-20-142)

We are pleased to request applications for trainees to join the Training Program in Basic and Translational Pediatric Oncology Research, a National Cancer Institute-funded T32 program.

Application deadline: Monday, April 6, 2026 Appointments to start: June 1, 2026 (or shortly thereafter)

Background and Program Summary:

The overarching goal of the “Training Program in Basic and Translational Pediatric Oncology Research” is to provide postdoctoral fellow and graduate student trainees with the requisite skills and expertise to develop into successful researchers focused on pediatric oncology. The Training Program is centered at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a world-renowned pediatric research hospital environment, and also leverages the strengths of The Ohio State University as an academic partner.

The Training Program has 6 training slots per year: 3 postdoctoral fellows and 3 graduate students. Trainees will generally spend 2 years in the Training Program. Postdoctoral trainees include Pediatric Heme/Onc/BMT MD (or MD/PhD) fellows and PhD (or MD/PhD) postdoctoral trainees. This year, we are also able to offer one additional position supported by Pelotonia Kids, either a PhD candidate or post-doc.

The Training Program offsets the cost of stipends, tuition and fees, and training related expenses, including health insurance, for appointed trainees in accordance with standard NIH support levels. Travel funds are also available. An additional $5,000 in will be provided to the trainee’s laboratory to offset operating costs. Mentors and/or departments/divisions must be able and willing to cover expenses that are not covered by the Training Program.

Overall, the Training Program in Basic and Translational Pediatric Oncology Research will expand highly skilled pediatric oncology research and improve its collaborative potential to transform the care of children with cancer.

In brief, the Proposed Training includes:

•Laboratory-based, topic-focused training to develop experimental skills, scientific methodologic skills

•Knowledge expansion via core and elective coursework

•Career development, including collaboration, communication, and interpersonal relationships skills

•Understanding the human impact of pediatric oncology via a Clinical Exposure Plan (for non-clinical trainees)

•R&R Coffee Talk, where we discuss current challenges that scientists face in performing rigorous and reproducible science, including real-life scenarios from our faculty and the news.

Eligibility

The Training Program is accepting both graduate and postdoc/fellow applicants. The following eligibility criteria apply:

•Applicants must be performing research focused on pediatric cancer or in topics strongly relevant to pediatric cancer.

•Applicants must be deeply interested in pursuing a research career pediatric oncology.

•Graduate student applicants must have passed their qualifying exams by the time of the anticipated appointment.

•Applicants must have at least two years of training remaining at the time of appointment.

•Applicants must be able to pursue full-time training (40 hrs/wk), inclusive of laboratory research.

•Applicants must be willing to participate in all program activities and provide yearly written progress reports when requested.

•Applicants must be willing to acknowledge support from T32 CA269052 in all publications resulting from work performed during the training period.

•Applicants may be working in a listed Primary Faculty or co-mentor laboratory. Applications will also be accepted from trainees in laboratories that are not listed, provided the Principal Investigator is willing to apply for membership to the Training Program

Faculty Advisor:

Primary Faculty mentors must have R01/equivalent funding, a strong publication record, and an exceptional history of mentorship. Faculty that do not meet criteria to serve as Primary Faculty may serve as co-mentors in partnership with Primary Faculty. The current list of faculty who have been approved to serve as T32 Primary Faculty are as follows:

Primary Faculty:

Rob Baiocchi, MD, PhD Kevin Cassady, MD Arnab Chakravarti, MD Long-Sheng Chang, PhD Tim Cripe, MD, PhD Jayajit Das, PhD, Kevin Flanigan, MD Zihai Li, MD, PhD Elaine Mardis, PhD

Michael Poirier, PhD Ruoning Wang, PhD Dawn Chandler, PhD Genevieve Kendall, PhD Ryan Roberts, MD, PhD Ben Stanton, PhD, Emily Theisen, PhD Rachid Drissi, PhD Dean Lee, MD, PhD

Application Process:

Prospective trainees should submit an application packet to include:

•A 3-page research proposal outlining your research plans for a 2-year period (use NIH rules for font size, margins etc.)

•A 1-page narrative describing your career path (including prior research experiences, current research, and short- and long-term career goals)

•Your NIH-formatted biographical sketch (old or new format NIH-approved format)

•Letter of support from their laboratory research mentor (Program Faculty and Co-mentor, where applicable)

•Letter of recommendation from a prior mentor (e.g., undergraduate mentor, PhD mentor, prior postdoctoral supervisor, or clinical mentor, as appropriate)

•NIH-formatted biographical sketch (in the latest NIH-approved format) for the proposed mentor (and Co-mentor, where applicable)

•Current funding information for the proposed mentor (and Co-mentor, where applicable)

•If the proposed mentor is not a current Primary Faculty, a letter should also be included briefly outlining their research, history of mentorship, and acknowledgement of their willingness to participate in Training Program activities, as needed. Such individuals should identify a mentor from the T32 list of approved mentors or submit a cover letter asking for consideration to be appointed as a T32 Primary Faculty.

All materials should be combined into a single pdf document and sent to Nicole.Smith3@nationwidechildrens.org

Trainee Selection:

Completed applications will be reviewed by the T32 Review Committee. Criteria for selection will include (i) the excellence and extent of prior research accomplishments and the research proposal; (ii) commitment to a research career in pediatric oncology; (iii) extent of existing knowledge in the specific and related research areas; (iv) likelihood of future career success.

T32 Review Committee:

Timothy P. Cripe, MD, PhD (T32 PI)

Dawn Chandler, PhD (Executive Committee member)

Genevieve Kendall, PhD (Executive Committee member)

Kevin Cassady, MD (Executive Committee member)

Ryan Roberts, MD, PhD (Director of T32 Education)

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