Over 200 cancer-related PhD students from VCCC member organisations participate in the Comprehensive Cancer PhD program, with stronger than ever engagement through the COVID pandemic.
“The annual Topics in Cancer Seminar Series, now hosted on the Zoom platform, is attracting three times the usual number of attendees” says Program Coordinator, Dr Erika Cretney. “We have also had over 100 of our students sign up for the DataCamp learning platform, enabling them to build their data science and analytics skills online”.
Student Vicky Tan says, “Being able to access program offerings through online platforms during the pandemic has been great, giving me the opportunity to progress my PhD in a productive way when opportunities to work in the lab were limited.”
“Being able to access program offerings through online platforms during the pandemic has been great, giving me the opportunity to progress my PhD in a productive way when opportunities to work in the lab were limited.”
During isolation, students in the program wanted to ensure that they were connected socially, even though they were distanced physically, so produced a regular e-newsletter Beyond the Bench. The newsletter contains student profiles, program updates, recipes, puzzles, podcast and music recommendations, information on student virtual morning teas and more. The students also provided contacts and resources for those feeling isolated.
The program is now in its fourth year, supporting PhD students to excel in their research and career endeavours. For two years running, all three Picchi Award winners for excellence in cancer research, have been participants in the program. Dr Deborah Meyran, 2020 Picchi Award winner and program participant says, “The networking opportunities and events are valuable as they help you to build your cancer-related research networks outside your own organisation."
“The networking opportunities and events are valuable as they help you to build your cancer-related research networks outside your own organisation."
Students undertaking cancer-related PhDs in VCCC member organisations are encouraged to join the Comprehensive Cancer PhD program. To learn more, contact Program Coordinator, Dr Erika Cretney at [email protected].
Image: Vicky Tan, PhD student, Comprehensive Cancer PhD program
