STEP-UP Summer Research Program
STEP-UP is a multidisciplinary initiative led by Cancer Prevention and Control and Health Disparities Program faculty at the University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center. It is uniquely designed to provide Undergraduate and master’s degree-seeking students with an intensive, 10-week summer research experience in cancer prevention and control. More than 50 faculty members from diverse disciplines who are funded in cancer prevention and control research are committed to this program, which aims at training a cancer workforce that will be ready to meet the challenge of reducing the cancer burden.
Program Information:
Training will utilize many resources across campus, including the University of Arizona Cancer Center, The Collaboratory for Metabolic Disease Prevention and Treatment, and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and will include real-life experiences out in the community.
This is a research-focused program. It should be noted that there is not a large focus on basic science (i.e., wet labs). Students are not required to have any prior research experience to be eligible for this program. We are looking for students who have an interest in a future career in cancer prevention and control. Successful students will be open to new experiences, practice good communication with program mentors, and be a self-starter.
During the paid 10-week program, you will:
- Complete a research immersion with a faculty mentor or community partner.
- Develop research method skills (i.e., qualitative, quantitative, etc.).
- Complete a National Institutes of Health Responsible Conduct of Research Certificate.
- Train in literature reviews and participate in journal club.
- Train in point-of-care testing, biospecimen collection, and body composition measurements.
- Interact with the community through various community outreach/engagement activities.
- Learn and practice personal cancer preventive behaviors.
- Prior experience with D2L is helpful but not required.