FAQs: Post-Baccalaureate (PB) Fellows Program

The goal of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Post-Baccalaureate (PB) Fellows Program is to prepare recent college graduates for a career in cancer research or a health profession. The program provides mentored cancer research training paired with an Individualized Professional Development Plan (IDP) to facilitate trainees' preparation for doctoral-level graduate and professional education.

Fellows spend 2 years engaging in hands-on research at an active PB Fellows Program funded by the ACS. See a list of current ACS PB Fellow institutions.

They're mentored by an accomplished investigator in a cancer research lab or in a clinical or community setting.

Each institution sets a start date for their PB Fellows. Funded institutions typically start their programs between June and August.

ACS will monitor the program on an ongoing basis. Institutions will use surveys to collect baseline and longitudinal data. 

Aggregated data collection will help us pinpoint the successes and need for potential modifications of the program to ensure all participants are able to gain full benefit of the program, including but not limited to:

• Sustained involvement in research and career development activities
• Academic progression (diploma/certificate/degree attained, college/graduate school admission and major selected)
• Employment
• Engagement with ACS
• Professional presentations and publications
• Program satisfaction  

To apply and be eligible for funding, institutions must:

• Be in the United States and have undergraduate degree- and graduate degree-granting programs (such as for Master's and Doctorate degrees) and health professional degree-granting programs (such as MD, Nursing, and PharmD).
• Be an NCI-designated cancer center or equivalent nonprofit institution. 
• Have an established cancer research program and experience with Pathways programs such as ACS IRG, Cancer Research Internships, NCI R25 or T32, or similar grant from another national funder.

ACS CICR PB institutions may request support for 4 PB Fellows in a 2-year research and career development program..

Institutions may apply through ProposalCentral under the American Cancer Society's Grant Opportunities.

• New application deadline: April 1 (Spring cycle)
• Renewal application deadline: October 15 (Fall cycle) 

The review of the ACS PB institutional applications is managed by the ACS Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training.

April applicants receive notice of funding decisions in July. The start date for the project period is January 1. 

October applicants receive notice of funding decisions in April. The start date for the project period is July 1.

Institutions are awarded $660,000, which includes 10% allowable indirect costs for a 3-year project period. The award includes:

• Expenses for program oversight
• Fellow compensation and benefits
• Support for implementing a 2-year cancer research training certificate program for 4 Fellows 

Yes. The funds will be disbursed funds monthly in equal installments thoroughout the project period. This includes $200,000 direct costs and $20,000 indirect costs.

No. Please plan to budget $220K for each year of the project period.

Yes. Institutions may carry over unspent funds except for the last year. For a no-cost extension (NCE), institutions must submit an NCE request, and ACS must approve it. 

An emailed intent to request an NCE must be received within 90 days prior to the expiration of the grant by the Senior Vice President of the ACS Center for Innovation in Cancer Research Training.

A written request using the ACS NCE form must be received 60 days before the expiration date of the grant.

Yes. The project period is 3 years for the PI leading the grant to implement a 2-year cancer research experience and Individualized Professional Development Plan (IDP) for each trainee as well as career-developing and networking activities for the cohort of Fellows.

To be eligible for funding, applicants for Principal Investigator/Program Director must:

• Be a full-time faculty member and have attained the rank of Associate or Full Professor (or equivalent) at an eligible academic institution in the United States or an eligible nonprofit.
• Have a track record of extramural funding, mentoring junior investigators, publications in peer-reviewed journals, and administrative/leadership experience (such as deputy director or director of a program, center, or department). 

No. ACS funds a single institution and single PI. Although we do not allow multiple PIs, institutions may have other doctoral-level faculty help lead the program. Only one application is allowed from a single institution.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in any STEM discipline (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) or health profession
  
• Agree to participate in the post-baccalaureate program full-time. Fellows cannot be simultaneously enrolled full-time in a graduate degree program.
• Demonstrate a passion for cancer research and commit to the 2-year program

No. Admission to the ACS PB Fellows Program requires an application to an institution with an active PB program funded by the ACS. See a list of current ACS PB institutions.

Commitment to and participation in the Fellows Program is 2 years. The grant project period for the institution is 3 years to allow time to conduct all activities required for the program. 

Yes, that's optional. ACS PB Fellows can take up to 2 courses a semester.

No.

Fellows receive a stipend of at least $35,000 a year. Amounts vary by state. They may receive additional funds to:

• Travel to professional meetings
• Cover application fees
• Offset health insurance coverage
• Offset childcare
• Offset transportation

Upon completion of the 2-year program, Fellows will receive a certificate of completion for the ACS PB Fellows Program from the institution where they trained.