Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination

The Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination Core (CRTEC) was established by Cancer Center Director David Tuveson in 2019 to complement the rich intellectual research training environment at CSHL. CRTEC is overseen by Associate Director of Education Lloyd Trotman and managed by Assistant Director of Administration and Education Jessica Peluso. CRTEC provides consistent education and career development for more than 350 researchers in the Cancer Center and takes advantage of existing institutional education efforts, including programs to educate elementary and secondary level students, undergraduates, and the public. CRTEC efforts are broadly organized around three central themes: Scientific Enrichment; Career Progression and Exploration; and Essential Professional Skills. CRTEC uses surveys and evaluations to guide workshops, lectures, streamlined resources, and financial investments in each of these three focus areas. In its first year, CRTEC ran 27 workshops/courses with more than 175 Cancer Center lab members registering to attend. The efficacy of these programs is evaluated based on rigorous outcome data for both trainees and faculty. Cancer Center graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have co-authored 157 papers, and there are 13 trainees in the Cancer Center supported through NIH NRSA training grants as well as NIH and philanthropic career development awards totaling more than $875,000. CRTEC is supported by substantial coordination and financial commitment from the Institution. Initial outcomes suggest that the above efforts are having a broad and significant impact on the training environment in the Center. In the next five years, the Core will continue to expand its academic programming and streamline data acquisition.