Research opportunities in many areas of contemporary Cancer Biology are offered including cancer therapeutics, metastasis, tumor microenvironment, breast cancer biology, carcinogenesis, cancer genetics, and cancer immunology.

Year One - Students will complete three laboratory research rotations during the first year of study (one in each term), after which they will choose a dissertation mentor. Mentor selection is a major milestone leading to the successful completion of the program. Students can use the mentor selection guide to make the best possible choice. A signed mentor agreement is a requirement of the program.
Year Two - During the second year, students submit a "Plan of Work" that documents the academic curriculum leading to the PhD, and choose a permanent dissertation advisory committee. PhD candidacy is conferred upon successful completion of the oral comprehensive exam.

Year Three through Graduation Students are required to arrange dissertation committee meetings no less than annually. It is very common for students to have more frequent dissertation committee meetings during the last year 18 months of the PhD program. Frequent committee meetings help keep the dissertation project on track. Committees will complete an annual appraisal form at the end of each committee meeting.