Prospective Trainees
Graduate Studies at the Charbonneau
Members of the Charbonneau Cancer Institute are committed to offering outstanding graduate training leading to PhD and MSc degrees. Our students are generally registered within the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, either within the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program or the Medical Sciences (Cancer Biology) graduate program, with concentration in Cancer Biology. Depending on the area of cancer research, occasional trainees are enrolled in other programs such as Biological Sciences, Neuroscience or Community Health Sciences. Students aspiring to careers as clinician scientists can also register in the Leaders in Medicine program at the School of Medicine, in which the students obtain a medical degree combined with a graduate degree.
Learn more about graduate studies at the University of Calgary
More information
Explore more resources for graduate students at the Charbonneau.
The MeDical Graduate Education (MDGE) 600 and 700 series of 1-unit courses (formerly called modules) encompass the primary cancer biology and biochemistry / molecular biology graduate courses available at the Cumming School of Medicine. Each 1-unit course encompasses a total of eight lectures (twice a week) focusing on a specific topic. Three 1-unit courses are the equivalent of one full (3-unit) semester course. PhD students require a total of 9 units to graduate, whilst MSc students require 6 units in total.
Most students submit registration requests for these courses in August (for Fall-Winter) or December (for Winter-Spring).
An organization of postdoctoral and graduate students with an aim to improve the overall experience for all trainees in the Charbonneau labs and beyond.
Postdoctoral Training
Postdoctoral fellows play an essential role in our research programs and are mentored towards their future career goals by our senior scientists. In Canada, scientists are considered “trainee post-docs” for the first five years after being awarded their doctorate; during this time, they are eligible for a variety of lucrative national and provincial salary awards. Applicants interested in applying to our postdoctoral training program should be within 5 years of obtaining their PhD.
Undergraduate Student Research Program
A summer studentship can be a great opportunity to gain hands-on laboratory experience. Many Charbonneau members accept undergraduate students to work in their labs and contribute to research projects over the summer, and throughout the years. These opportunities are open to undergraduates looking to gain experience or complete the requirements of an honours degree program. The Charbonneau offers a program for the students participating in labs over the summer, the highlight being the annual summer student research day in August, where undergraduate trainees get to present their research to the Charbonneau community.
In partnership with the Alberta Cancer Foundation, undergraduate studentships are awarded annually to students supervised by members of the Charbonneau Cancer Institute.
More resources for prospective trainees
Research supervisors
Browse through research programs being lead by faculty members currently recruiting trainees.
Charbonneau Trainee Association
Learn more about the organization of postdoctoral and graduate students dedicated to improving the overall experience of all Charbonneau trainees in the lab and beyond.
Funding opportunities
Explore the funding opportunities available to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the Charbonneau Cancer Institute.
