Program Description

The Training Program in Cancer Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health Sciences is premised on the belief that high-quality investigators in these areas require, in addition to expertise in their individual disciplines, a broad-based, multidisciplinary perspective in order to conduct and direct effective cancer and public health research programs. In addition to such a perspective, a substantive understanding of molecular genetics, clinical oncology, toxicology, and behavioral science is also essential. For the past thirty years, this training program has emphasized a broad-based curriculum for our trainees while they pursue their individual research disciplines in-depth.

The epidemiology component focuses on acquiring the knowledge necessary to formulate meaningful hypotheses and to design, conduct, analyze, and interpret epidemiologic studies concerned with cancer etiology and prevention.

The biostatistics component emphasizes the development and application of statistical methods in studies of survival, etiology, prevention, and risk assessment.

The environmental health sciences component has a dual emphasis: the design and conduct of molecular epidemiologic studies, and the development and application of expertise in methodology and substantive knowledge through course work, seminars, and research experience. At the postdoctoral level, the emphasis is on supervised research and seminar, with formal courses included when desirable

The program utilizes a rich research environment that includes the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Harlem Hospital, the Washington Heights/Harlem communities, and New York City. Research opportunities are open to all trainees with 40 faculty preceptors in the participating departments of the Mailman School of Public Health, with a large number of funded projects available.

Each trainee is required to complete courses in pathology, research ethics, and research funding, and to undertake an in-depth multidisciplinary project with a focus on his/her specialty area. Trainees are also required to make two presentations per year at the weekly multidisciplinary seminar series, which is attended by all trainees and faculty, facilitating interaction among the trainees and faculty and providing an opportunity for public speaking experience.

Additionally, trainees have the opportunity to attend cancer meetings and meetings within their discipline, and are encouraged but not required to make presentations at those meetings. Postdoctoral trainees are required to submit research grant proposals for mock peer review by the faculty.