The Center for Experimental Immuno-Oncology (EIO) was formed to organize and expand the research community at MSK that is focused on the full spectrum of basic science relevant to the interaction of the immune system with tumors.

As part of its mission to train and support a new generation of researchers, the EIO Center is excited to support The EIO Scholars program, a comprehensive career development program to support trainees engaged in laboratory training in the areas of immuno-oncology (IO), tumor microenvironment (TME), microbe-cancer interactions, and other areas related to the EIO Center. We are particularly interested in scientists from diverse scientific disciplines that may be new to IO/TME and its related topics.  The program is not only a funding mechanism, but also a community of scholars (with participation of the broader community) who interact with one another to discuss science, review literature, and engage with the career development activities organized by the Office of Science Education and Training.

About the EIO Scholars Program

The EIO Scholars grant will provide stipend support and discretionary funds for two years.  Eligibility is open to postdocs working in an MSK lab (SKI, HOPP, or MH) and graduate students working in an MSK lab from GSK, WCGS, TPCB or CBM. Graduate students from the Tri-I MD-PhD program, if eligible, are welcome to apply.  Eligible graduate students will have passed the qualifying exam requirement of their program and be admitted to doctoral candidacy.  The trainee may not have completed more than 5 years of postdoctoral training at the time of application. No citizenship or residency restrictions apply to this opportunity.

Additional Program Components

In addition to research funding, the program includes the following components:

Mentorship Role for MSK Bridge Program Students

EIO scholars take an active role in mentoring trainees from the MSK Bridge program, an initiative to provide mentored research experiences to recently graduated undergraduates from backgrounds historically underrepresented in science. Depending on need, EIO scholars will be available for mentorship of these students, a role that may include placement in the fellow’s lab (with the consent of the lab PI), formal mentoring sessions outside of the lab, and inclusion in the fellow activities listed below.

Intellectual Community and Career Development

EIO scholars will actively participate in activities to enhance their intellectual and professional development. Although laboratory experimental training is a key component of professional success, other aspects of training key to success are often neglected or left to chance. These include focused training in presentation skills, professional networking, grant writing, and time management. The Center will organize activities in these areas in collaboration with the office of scientific education and training, for the benefit of the EIO scholars, and make these sessions available to the community.

• Scholars will present yearly, and attend the biweekly EIO WIP on Fridays
• EIO scholars will organize and participate in a journal club of relevant literature around the tumor microenvironment, tumor immunity, microbe-tumor interactions, and related topics. These sessions will be organized and led by the scholars, in collaboration with a mentored BRIDGE scholar, but be open to the MSK research community. This activity will provide both intellectual engagement and teaching/organizational experience.

The Center will sponsor sessions on effective scientific communication, presentation skills, and time management for the scholars and, as space allows, other members of the MSK community.