INTEGRITY Post-Baccalaureate Program

Integrating Transdisciplinary Research and Training to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities

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INTEGRITY (Integrating Transdisciplinary Research and Training to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities) is a comprehensive two-year cancer post-baccalaureate (‘postbac’) research program funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS) Center for Diversity in Cancer Research (DICR), with support from the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our goal is to train a new generation of health disparities researchers through an educational and training experience that will empower trainees to visualize and embrace their future studies with confidence, excitement, and purpose within a culture that fosters fearless scientific inquiry, communication, and belonging. Fellows will be taught and mentored by internationally recognized experts in the science of cancer health disparities research, community outreach, and community-based research participation.

The American cancer rate now approaches 5.5% of the population. However, certain communities are impacted more than others. Black Americans have a lower incidence of cancer compared to non-Hispanic Whites but suffer from significantly higher cancer mortality rates. The reasons for these disparities are complex and involve many factors, such as social determinants of health (SDoH) and tumor biology. To better understand how these factors contribute to cancer health disparities, a transdisciplinary collaboration, including scientists, physicians, and community health researchers, is required. Unfortunately, the traditional approach to cancer research often hinders this collaboration, making it difficult to develop effective interventions to eliminate cancer inequities. The INTEGRITY Pathway Program is our response to this critical need.

At the core of INTEGRITY is the completion of a substantial mentored research project presented at a national conference with complementary coursework credits. In addition, throughout the program, post-bac fellows will attend seminars, lectures, and other educational events around Columbia University. By the program’s end, our fellows will have the foundational scientific knowledge and forward-looking career guidance to successfully transition to the next phase of their education with a fundamental understanding of the power of transdisciplinary research to transform cancer research and clinical outcomes.

Apply here. 

Program Director

Eligibility

The INTEGRITY Program is committed to training cancer researchers from diverse ethnic, cultural, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. We will be able to accept 4 INTEGRITY fellows per year.

Eligibility requirements

  • Must have a bachelor’s degree, in any STEM discipline or health profession, from an accredited college or university awarded before applying to the program.
  • Must be able to commit to full-time participation in the program for two years and cannot be simultaneously enrolled in a graduate degree program.
  • Preference will be given to applicants from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds, such as economically low-income households, a person with a disability, or a first-generation college attendee, determined by self-report on the application.
  • US Citizenship is not required for DICR Post-Baccalaureate Fellows.

Application Information

Apply Here. 

Applications are reviewed and evaluated on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2024, 11:59 pm EST

Required components:

  1. Resume/CV.
    Preference will be given to candidates with prior research experience.
  2. Statement of Intent/Interest (1000 words).
    Must contain:
    • Qualifications (prior research experience)
    • Scholarly interests and long-term education and career goals, including intent to apply to PhD or MD/PhD programs within two years of beginning the DICR Post-Baccalaureate Program
    • Interest in a career in cancer research
    • Commitment to fostering diversity and
    • Their choice of up to two potential faculty mentors, named on the website, with reasons for their selection.
    • If applicants wish to explain factors that affected their undergraduate performance, such as family care responsibilities, illness, disability, or military service, they will do so here.
  3. Two Letters of Recommendation.
    Referees will be asked to comment on the applicant’s interest in cancer research, their potential for conducting research, and how the applicant will benefit from the INTEGRITY Program.
  4. Transcripts.
    Official or unofficial. Transcripts from international universities or colleges require a written explanation of the institution’s grading system and criteria.

What we look for in INTEGRITY candidates

Throughout the selection process, we will use a holistic approach to assess commitment to a cancer research career. What we look for in the application includes:

  • Interest in pursuing a career in cancer disparity research
  • Excellence in a student’s chosen undergraduate major
    • We recognize that personal circumstances can impact academic performance (especially during pandemics).  We will consider extenuating circumstances that may have affected undergraduate GPA, including the impact of COVID-19.
  • The INTEGRITY program is an intensive research experience, and candidates will require intellectual curiosity, interest in particular areas of cancer research, motivation, rationale for research, and resilience.
  • Individuals who bring diversity to graduate study in the biological or biomedical sciences because of their culture, class, background, disability, work and life experiences, skills, and interests are encouraged to apply for the program. 

What INTEGRITY provides

INTEGRITY is a comprehensive two-year post-baccalaureate (‘postbac’) research program. As such, we provide participants with the following:

  • Full-time research experience with mentorship from faculty and peers
  • Workshops, symposiums, and courses on rigorous research and cancer disparity topics
  • Professional development and scientific networking activities
  • Support in applying for graduate programs or jobs toward the end of the program
  • $15,000 stipend
  • On-campus housing

Sign up for program updates!

Important Dates

  • January 2024: Application Opens. Apply here.
  • March 31, 2024: Application Deadline (Late applications will not be accepted)
  • April 2024: Interviews with the Selection Committee
  • Late-April, 2024: Cohort decisions announced
  • August 2024: Program starts

Program Directors and Administrators

Kevin Gardner, MD, PhD, INTEGRITY Program Director; Chair, Pathology and Cell Biology

Contact Us

Have questions about the INTEGRITY program? You can reach us by emailing integrity@cumc.columbia.edu

Apply Here!

Apply here. 

Applications are reviewed and evaluated on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: March 31, 2024, 11:59 pm EST

Related Pathways Programs at Columbia

Visit Columbia University Pathways Programs (CUPP) for many more programs that serve as a bridge for candidates from historically underrepresented groups.

Affiliations

In Partnership with:

ACS and CUIMC Pathology Partnership