The Johnson Cancer Research Center (JCRC) helps train the next generation of researchers. It supports undergraduate and graduate students through competitive award programs. All student applications must be working on a cancer related project in a JCRC member laboratory

Graduate Cancer Research Scholarship and Support Award

The center will fund one-two graduate students who were born in the state of Kansas to parents who were at the time, US citizens or lawful permanent residents. The selected student(s) must be committed to a professional career of cancer research, working on prevention, treatment, medication, and other areas that would prevent patients from contracting, suffering, and dying from cancer. The student(s) must be a graduate student in a PhD program and studying under the direction of JCRC faculty members. The award is from May 2025-May 2026, so students must not be graduating before May 2026. This competitive award is provided to the students, not the faculty, and the application must be submitted by the student.          

The intention of this awards is to 1) support one or two graduate student(s) working on cancer-relevant projects; and 2) provide $25,000-$70,000 directly to the student to pay their tuition and fees, living expenses, travel and expenses directly related to the education of the student.

Both graduate students with nine-month teaching assistantships and twelve-month research assistantships qualify for the award. These awards will be made based 50% on financial need and 50% on academic merit especially focused on the student’s research, its cancer relevance, and the student's professional career goals. The application deadline is midnight January 10, 2025. 

Eligibility requirements

1. Graduate student performing cancer research in JCRC member laboratory
2. Born in the state of Kansas to parents who were at the time, US citizens or lawful permanent residents
3. Graduated from an accredited public or private Kansas high school
4. Committed to a professional career of cancer research, working on prevention, treatment, medication and other areas which would prevent patients from contracting, suffering, and dying from cancer

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION:

1. Student must submit application online.
2.  Upload the following as PDFs
   1. Submit a student-written 1,000 words synopsis of the thesis project with cancer relevance
   2. Transcript
   3. NIH Form H biosketch (no more than 5 pages), 
   4. List of all publication citations that clearly identify publications from your thesis project
   5. PDF of each publication from the last 3 years
3. Have two letters of support - one from your PI and another from a thesis committee member- sent to Betty Book (bbook@ksu.edu). Letters must be received BEFORE January 10, 2025.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: Awardees are expected to provide or participate in the following by accepting the award:

1. Provide periodic progress reports for both the Johnson Cancer Research Center and the donor
2. Participate in university and JCRC presentations and events to showcase your research and engage the university and broader community
3. Agree to media participation (social/web/print) to help promote the successes of the JCRC and increase visibility of our programs and research