Application Deadline: February 15, 2021 (11:59 pm AST)

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic or institutional requirements, we may offer “remote”, hybrid and/or combined research experiences, as approved by the National Cancer Institute.

Program Overview

Research being performed in Puerto Rico provides an opportunity to advance knowledge of cancer risk, and cancer prevention and control among Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations in the United States (US).

The Cancer Prevention and Control (CAPAC) Research Training Program at the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC) aims to increase the pool of master’s degree graduates and other health professionals to pursue a doctoral degree and/or a career in cancer prevention and control research with a focus on Hispanic health and health disparities. The long-term goal of this Program is to contribute to the development of the next generation of successful cancer control researchers with a cultural sensitivity to the Hispanic population.

The program will recruit participants from all racial/ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds to participate in a hands-on research experience in a Hispanic population and cultural environment. Participants will be matched to a mentor based on their research interest in basic, clinical, and population-based research.

Overall, 25 participants will be recruited every year to the program. This 10-week full-time research experience will be scheduled for every summer; activities will include their participation in a research project and complementary educational and professional skill building activities. Upon application and evaluation of the request, the program will support a maximum of 10 participants to extend their research experience for up to 15 weeks. The official languages of the program will be English and Spanish.

Timeline

Requirements For Applicants

Successful applicants must comply with the following requirements:

Master level graduate students (from public health or biomedical sciences programs),* Health professional students (i.e. Medicine [MD], Dental Medicine [DMD], Pharmacy [Msc or PharmD], Nursing [MSN or DNP], etc.),* OR persons that have recently graduated from any of these programs (within the past 12 months).
≥ 2.8 grade point average
Two letters of recommendation
Research experience
Excellent written and communication skills in English
Basic knowledge of Spanish language is highly recommended
US citizen or US legal resident

*Students must have completed 1st year of graduate studies by the start of the CAPAC program. Current doctoral students (for example, PhD or DrPH) or those already accepted into doctoral programs (for example, PhD or DrPH) will not be eligible..

Application Deadline: February 15, 2021 (11:59 pm AST)

ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE EMAILED NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 15, 2021 at 11:59pm (AST), TO THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS: capac@cccupr.org
Faxed/mailed applications are NOT accepted.

For more information, contact CAPAC staff members:

Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz
Program Director
Email: ana.ortiz7@upr.edu
787-772-8300 ext. 1204

Dr. Guillermo Tortolero-Luna
Associate Director
Email: guillermo.tortolero@upr.edu
787-772-8300 ext. 1207

Dr. Marievelisse Soto-Salgado
Supporting Staff
Email: marievelisse.soto1@upr.edu
capac@cccupr.org
787-772-8300 ext. 1121

Prof. Mirza Rivera
Research Evaluator
Email: mirza.rivera@upr.edu
787-772-8300 ext. 1138

News and Publications

Funding

Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Program (CAPAC) is led by Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz and Dr. Guillermo Tortolero-Luna, of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC), San Juan, Puerto Rico, with support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant (1R25CA240120-01).