Doctor of Philosophy in Cancer Biology

The Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program was established in 1978 at Stanford University. During the past three decades, our understanding of cancer has increased dramatically with the discovery of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, pathways of DNA damage and repair, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis and responses to hypoxia, and the molecular basis of metastasis among others. In addition, methods of parallel analysis including gene expression arrays, protein arrays, and tissue arrays have begun to refine and redefine the taxonomy of cancer diagnosis. This explosion of basic and clinical science has in turn resulted in the first successful cancer chemotherapies and immunotherapies based on a knowledge of specific molecular targets. Stanford presents a unique environment to pursue interdisciplinary cancer research because the School of Medicine, the School of Humanities and Sciences, and the School of Engineering are located on a single campus, all within walking distance of one another. The goal of the Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program is to provide our students with education and training that will enable them to make significant contributions to this remarkable field. Coursework during the first year is designed to provide a broad understanding of the molecular, genetic, cell biological, and pathobiological aspects of cancer. Students will also learn about the current state of clinical diagnosis and treatment of human cancers. Equally important during the first year is a series of three rotations in research laboratories chosen by each student. By the beginning of the second year, each student will have chosen hisher research advisor and will have begun work on hisher dissertation project. A qualifying examination must be completed by the end of the second year. An annual Cancer Biology Conference provides our students with an opportunity to present their research to one another and to the faculty. The expected time to degree is four to five years.

Toefl ibt/pbt: 100/600. To be eligible for admission to graduate programs at Stanford, applicants must meet one of the following conditions: Applicants must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association. Applicants from institutions outside the U.S. must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing. Qualified applicants will have completed a bachelor's degree in biological sciences or related fields; applicants with majors in physics, chemistry or mathematics may be admitted on condition that they complete background training in biology during the first two years of study. Students who wish to pursue a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree will be considered for admission into the Cancer Biology Program after they have been admitted to the M.D. program in the School of Medicine. All applicants are considered equally regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual preference, age, or gender. Transcripts- When completing the \u201cEducational History 1\u201d section of the application, you will be asked to list every college and university you have attended for one year or more (i.e. three quarters or two semesters) and any degree program in which you are currently enrolled. Please list the highest undergraduate degree awarded (e.g. Bachelor\u2019s, Diplom, Maitrise, etc) in the Post-Secondary Institution 1 section. Three letters of recommendation are required, but you may have up to six letters submitted on your behalf. All recommendations must be submitted using the online application system. As part of the online application, you will be required to register the names and contact information, including e-mail addresses, of your recommenders. Recommenders will then receive an e-mail with directions on how to proceed. Letters of recommendation cannot be mailed, emailed, or faxed. GRE General Test Requirements by Department The GRE General Test score requirement varies across the 14 Home Programs. Some programs have optional GRE score submission, while others do not use the GRE scores in their review process. Please consult the table below for specific program GRE General Test score requirements. For those programs that have GRE General Test scores \u201cOptional\u201d, scores will be considered if submitted and may be helpful for applicants to complement their academic records or for applicants with gaps or weaknesses in their academic records.