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Program in Cancer Biology

Graduate Program

The Cancer Biology Graduate Program is designed to train students for a career in basic and applied cancer research, as well as in related careers associated with the application of information through biotechnology, and the dissemination of information to the next generation of scientists and to the lay public.

Students will be exposed to a series of cutting-edge research areas (such as cancer precision medicine and tumor immunotherapy) and technologies (genomics, proteomics, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, etc.) both in the course work and in the laboratory setting.  Training will extend to exercises designed to develop independent thinking, skills in oral and written presentation, analysis of data and information, and dissemination of information through preparation of grants and manuscripts, as well as teaching.

The program combines rigorous course work with laboratory training and exercised designed collectively to provide students with the necessary theoretical and practical skills to launch productive careers.  At the conclusion of their training students will be in a position to competitively pursue an increasingly wide rage of available careers, including: academic research, undergraduate teaching, scientific consulting and science writing, basic and applied science in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and scientific administration at National Institute of Health/ National Cancer Institute and private research foundations.

Graduate students in the Cancer Biology program receiving Vanderbilt University financial support or services must devote full-time effort to graduate study. Students cannot accept jobs for pay within or outside the University unless prior approval is given by their advisor, their Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean for the Office of Biomedical Research Education and Training. Exceptions to this rule include part-time internships and activities that contribute to career development and that do not exceed the time commitment outlined by the National Institutes of Health, service as course associates at Vanderbilt, and occasional and temporary part-time pursuits (e.g. house sitting). Engagement in outside employment without obtaining approval may result in loss of financial aid, including stipend.

Graduate Student Outcomes

Name                          Year of PhD               Current Position

 

Tristin Abair                 2007                            Chief Medical writer, priME Oncology

 

Omozusi Andrews        2014                            Postdoctoral fellow, NIH

 

Meredith Brown            2008                       Intellectual property manager, Metabolon Inc.

 

Nikki Cheng                  2002                          Associate Professor, University of Kansas

 

Laura DeBusk              2008                            Scientist, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

 

Joseph Deweese          2009                            Associate Professor Pharmaceutical Science
Lipscomb University

 

Dominique Donato        2010                         Lecturer, University of Leiden, Netherlands

 

Charnise Goodings      2009                     Postdoctoral fellow, St. Judes’ Children’s Hosp.

 

Mark Harris                  2003                           Founder and CEO, NexGxDx Inc.

 

Katherine Amato         2015                            Postdoctoral fellow, Yale University

 

Rachelle Johnson       2011                             Associate Professor, Vanderbilt University

 

Nuruddeen Lewis        2011                            Senior Scientist, Codiak BioSciences.

 

Holli Loomans             2017                           Postdoctoral fellow, NCI

 

Lauren Matise             2012                Business Development Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

 

Nicole Fowler               2008                            Medical Writer, INC Research

 

Ian Nicoud                   2007                       Scientist, Kiadis Pharma of Regenerative Med

 

Daniel O’Brien             2008                      Patent Lawyer, Seed Intellectual Property Law                                                                                 Group

 

Seth Ogden                 2009                        Patent Lawyer, Patterson Intellectual Property

 

Veronica Placencio      2010                        Project Scientist, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center

 

Shenika Poindexter     2014                           Assistant Professor, Xavier University

 

Jillian Pope                  2014                          Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Florida

 

Meghana Rao              2012                       Senior Consultant, InVentiv Health Consulting

 

Alisha Russell              2010                       Assistant Professor, Trevecca University

 

Jamie Ausborn            2016                       Postdoctoral fellow, Dana Farber Cancer Inst.

 

Jennifer Tillman           2007                          Principal Scientist, Celgene Corporation

 

Yee Mon Thu               2011                           Assistant Professor, Grinnell College

 

Nicole Neel                 2008                           Scientific Writer, INC Research

 

David Vaught              2011                           Grants Manager, Komen Foundation

 

Kimberly West             2008                           Scientist, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

 

Li Yang                        2004                            Senior Investigator, Head, Tumor Micro-
environment Section, NCI

Brian Yaspan              2008                            Scientist, Genetech Inc.

 

Guanglei Zhuang         2010                           Assistant Professor, Shanghai Xiaotong
University

 

 

 

 

BeyondTheLab.jpgCurious about what biomedical PhDs do after they leave Vanderbilt? In the “Beyond the Lab” video series, the BRET Office of Career Development interviews Vanderbilt PhD and postdoctoral alumni about their career paths.

 

 

 

Nikki Cheng

 

Kim Dahlman

 

Nuruddeen Lewis

 

Seth Ogden

 

Meghana Rao

 

Graduate Student and Faculty Resources