Career Enhancement Program

The goal of the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) of the MSK SPORE in Soft Tissue Sarcoma is to support and mentor the most promising and motivated early-career investigators to prepare them for independent careers in translational research focused on sarcoma. The CEP leadership team, Dr. Meera Hameed and Dr. Hedvig Hricak, have a history of successful mentorship and a sustained commitment to education/training. The CEP will: 1) recruit early-career investigators to the field of translational research in sarcoma to enhance the overall translational research capability of the SPORE and bring fresh ideas and new talent to our program, and 2) provide these individuals the scholarly basis and mentorship needed to complete high-impact translational research and advance their careers to become leaders in the field. CEP funds, supplemented by institutional funds, will allow us to support up to two exceptional candidates each year. Early-career investigators (applied and basic scientists, clinicians, and physician-scientists within 2 years of their faculty appointment) with a demonstrated interest in sarcoma research from MSK or institutions within the Tri-Institutional Program (Weill Cornell Medical College or Rockefeller University) will be eligible to apply. Applications will be peer-reviewed by the Career Enhancement Committee, which is composed of the SPORE PI, CEP Co-Directors, members of the SPORE Executive Committee, and other leaders in sarcoma research at MSK. The most promising candidates proposing the most innovative mentored research projects with the greatest translational potential will be selected. CEP awardees will prepare an individualized development plan with their clinical and/or laboratory mentor(s), and take part in various educational programs, conferences, and curricula at MSK, including Sarcoma SPORE-organized seminars at which MSK and external researchers will present, that support their career development. CEP awardees will have full access to all SPORE Core facilities and expertise and will be an integral part of monthly SPORE meetings, where they will present their research. CEP recipients will be formally evaluated annually, and training will be modified when appropriate. Metrics of success for CEP awardees include presentation and/or publication of original research, successful competition for independent research support, establishment of new collaborations, and institutional recognition by academic promotion.