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Graduate Programs
Explore the programs offered by this organization.
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Established in 1978, the Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program at the Stanford University School of Medicine is a premier, interdisciplinary doctoral training program. Over the past four decades, the field of oncology has undergone a dramatic revolution—spanning the discovery of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, the mapping of DNA damage and repair pathways, the delineation of cell cycle regulation, and a deep understanding of angiogenesis, hypoxia responses, and the molecular basis of metastasis. Today, advanced genomic and proteomic profiling continues to redefine the taxonomy of cancer diagnosis and drive the design of targeted chemotherapies and immunotherapies.
The Cancer Biology Program is designed to position students at the leading edge of these discoveries. Stanford provides an unparalleled ecosystem for interdisciplinary cancer research; the School of Medicine, the School of Humanities and Sciences, and the School of Engineering are all co-located on a single, contiguous campus. This close physical proximity fosters seamless collaboration across biological sciences, clinical medicine, physical sciences, and engineering.
The program is deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community of scholars. It actively welcomes and supports students from all backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences, recognizing that a diverse student body drives the unique perspectives and creative innovations required to solve the complex puzzle of cancer.
The Ph.D. curriculum is carefully structured to transform entering graduate students into independent, successful research scientists and educators within a four-to-five-year timeframe:
First-Year Foundational Coursework: Students build a comprehensive, multi-scale understanding of the molecular, genetic, cellular, and pathobiological mechanisms of cancer. Uniquely, the curriculum also educates students on the current clinical state of human cancer diagnosis, imaging, and therapeutic care.
Laboratory Rotations: During their first year, students complete three laboratory rotations to explore different research areas, methodologies, and mentoring styles before selecting their primary dissertation advisor.
Dissertation Research: By the end of the first year, students select their research advisor from a broad pool of participating faculty across basic and clinical departments, officially launching their independent dissertation projects.
Qualifying Examination: To advance to candidacy, students must successfully complete a comprehensive qualifying examination before the end of December in their second year.
Annual Cancer Biology Retreat: A hallmark of the program, this annual scientific retreat provides students with a professional platform to present their ongoing research, receive feedback, and network with faculty and peers.
The program currently hosts approximately 67 graduate students pursuing doctoral research across a diverse array of clinical and basic science departments.
Flexible Faculty Alignment: Students are not restricted to a single department when choosing their research advisors; they can collaborate with participating faculty across the School of Medicine and the School of Humanities and Sciences.
Funding and Resources: A significant number of students in the program are supported by a prestigious institutional training grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), alongside departmental and university fellowships.
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