About the Program
The Systems Epidemiology of Cancer Training (SECT) Program is a three-year educational program designed to be broad and flexible. The SECT program provides epidemiology and bioinformatics fellows with the specialized skills to incorporate novel high-throughput technologies into large-scale collaborative epidemiology studies and to become successful, cross-trained cancer epidemiologists/bioinformaticians.
Postdoctoral training slots in Systems Epidemiology are currently available. Applicants will be selected on a rolling basis. Funding is provided by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT).
The program is open to Ph.D. epidemiologists or bioinformaticians or M.D.s/DVMs with relevant training. This program is not restricted to permanent U.S. residents or citizens. Training grant support includes stipend, fringe benefits and a modest travel and research allowance.
Unique aspects of the SECT Program include:
- Five program themes from which to select
- Specifically tailored multidisciplinary mentoring teams
- Personalized curriculum for each postdoctoral associate
- Individual development plan
- Well-funded dedicated mentors from Baylor College of Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice University and The University of Texas School of Health Informatics
SECT Program Resources
Research at Baylor College of Medicine is propelled by our Advanced Technology Cores, our suite of state-of-the-art laboratories equipped with the expertise and capacity to perform advanced analyses for studies at any scale. There are currently 26 cores, ranging in specialty from Metabolomics to the Population Sciences Biorepository. Not only are the postdocs encouraged to draw upon the capabilities of the cores, but also to attend their trainings and seminar series.
Postdocs receive financial support to pursue research at the forefront of cancer epidemiology: an annual budget of $10,000 for research expenditures, including software, experimental supplies, participant incentives, sample analyses, and other costs; and full funding for at least two trips a year to conferences, meetings, or workshops.
Each trainee's path through the program is multidisciplinary and self-directed, and they're backed by a flexible curriculum that can support them in their unique pursuits. Postdocs work directly with their mentoring team and the program director to set the trajectory of their curriculum, translate long-term career goals into achievable milestones, and cultivate a network of specialists to support large-scale research.