CANBI-PHD - Cancer Biology (PhD)
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Program Overview
The Cancer Biology PhD program was established in 1978 at Stanford University. During the past four decades, the understanding of cancer has increased dramatically with the discovery of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, DNA damage and repair pathways, cell cycle regulation, angiogenesis and responses to hypoxia, and the molecular basis of metastasis, among others. In addition, parallel analysis methods, including genomic and proteomic approaches, have begun to refine and redefine the taxonomy of cancer diagnosis. This explosion of basic and clinical science has, in turn, resulted in the first successful cancer chemotherapies and immunotherapies based on knowledge of specific molecular targets. Stanford presents a unique environment to pursue interdisciplinary cancer research because the School of Medicine, the School of Humanities and Sciences, and the School of Engineering are located on a single campus, all within walking distance of one another.
Our students are not limited to a single department in choosing their research advisors. The Cancer Biology PhD program currently has approximately 65 graduate students in various basic science and clinical departments throughout the School of Medicine and School of Humanities and Sciences. A training grant from the National Cancer Institute, a branch of the United States government, supports many students.
The Cancer Biology PhD program is committed to fostering a diverse community of students. The program welcomes all individuals and strives to support them so they achieve their full potential. It values the diversity of its students because culture, socioeconomic and educational background, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, life experiences, hobbies, and interests allow the program as a group to reach a greater level of innovation in cancer research.
Admissions Information
Learn More about Stanford Biosciences
Visit the Biosciences PhD Admissions page for detailed information on the admissions process and requirements.
The online application for Autumn 2026-27 will open in September 2025.
Any questions or concerns about the application process should be addressed to: biosciences@stanford.edu
The Cancer Biology Home Program is one of fourteen Biosciences PhD programs at the School of Medicine. We welcome applications from students with various scientific backgrounds and believe that the diversity of previous experiences enriches our multidisciplinary environment.
Qualified applicants will have completed a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences or related fields; applicants with majors in physics, chemistry, or mathematics may be admitted on condition that they complete background training in biology during the first two years of study. Students who wish to pursue a combined MD/PhD degree will be considered for admission into the Cancer Biology Program after they have been admitted to the MD program in the School of Medicine. We invite all interested students, especially those from backgrounds underrepresented in academia, to apply. Underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to, groups constructed based on race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental and physical disability, first-generation undergraduate study, and socioeconomic identity. All applicants are considered equally regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual preference, disability, age, or gender.
To check your application status, click here to Visit Your Status Page.
Stanford Cancer Biology PhD Preview Weekend
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Graduate Degrees describes university requirements for the PhD.
A small number of applicants are admitted to the program each year. Applicants should have completed an undergraduate major in the biological sciences; applicants with undergraduate majors in physics, chemistry, or mathematics may be admitted if they complete background training in biology during the first two years of study. Each student must complete at least three one-quarter laboratory rotations during the first year. Students must choose a dissertation advisor before the end of summer quarter, the first year, but not before the end of spring quarter.
Cancer Biology graduate students must be registered in all quarters. Courses may be taken for Pass/Fail unless designated otherwise. All required courses MUST BE taken with a letter grade (except for CBIO 280, 299, and 399). The course must be repeated if a student does not earn a B or better grade in a required course. Students must complete the following courses (or their equivalents) by the end of their second year.
The requirements for the PhD degree include:
Training in biology equivalent to that of an undergraduate biology major at Stanford.
The Stanford Cancer Institute’s (SCI) Comprehensive Cancer Research Training Program (CCRTP) is a two-and-a-half-day program inviting learners to participate in cancer research lectures and discussions. The program’s curriculum consists of plenary and half-day sessions on two scientific themes, each featuring three to four presentations. Speakers include nationally and internationally renowned Stanford faculty who will expound on current topics of basic, translational, and clinical cancer research.
SCI invites learners from all levels, including undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral students (residents, clinical fellows, research fellows), and junior faculty, to attend. Individuals from the School of Medicine, School of Engineering, and the School of Humanities and Sciences are highly encouraged to participate. External students are welcome and highly encouraged to participate as well. Other opportunities during CCRTP include poster sessions where learners can showcase research work through a poster session and networking with faculty, colleagues, and other peers. At the end of the program, we ask for feedback through a post-event survey to further improve the curation of topics and your experience.
Students should participate in CCRTP during autumn quarter of their first year.
Complete a total of 10 units from any of the courses listed below.
A minimum of three one-quarter laboratory rotations are required of all new students during the first year. Students must choose a thesis advisor before the end of summer quarter, first year, but not before the end of spring quarter. Two rotations must be done within the Cancer Biology Faculty participating labs. Students may rotate the third rotation with any faculty member outside the program.
You can find information about our participating faculty’s research interests on the faculty directory page.
Students undertake investigations sponsored by individual faculty members. Cancer Biology PhD students must register when they begin dissertation-related research work.
Besides coursework, students must do a single qualifying exam based on the student’s thesis proposal in their second year. The qualifying examination aims to determine the student’s preparedness to pursue research on a thesis topic, explore whether potential problems have been considered, assess the student’s ability to think, and evaluate the student’s familiarity with relevant background information and alternative experimental approaches.
The exam consists of an NIH-style written grant proposal and an oral examination. The examining committee includes three faculty members from the Cancer Biology Program but does not include the student’s thesis advisor. The student and thesis advisor chooses the composition of this committee, and it must be submitted to and approved by the Program Directors before it is finalized. If necessary, one non-Cancer Biology faculty member may be substituted to provide specific scientific expertise relevant to the student’s proposal. The written and oral proposal should represent the student’s efforts to identify a question of interest and to develop appropriate experimental approaches. The proposal must be submitted to committee members no later than ten days before the examination. The first page is a Specific Aims page, and other sections include Background-Signifance and Research Plan (including a discussion of alternative approaches). The qualifying exam must be done before the end of December of the second year. If necessary, one retake will be permitted before the end of summer quarter, second year.
A University Oral Examination is also required for the PhD degree. In the Cancer Biology Program, the PhD candidate presents a public seminar (one hour), followed by a closed-door oral examination. The University Oral Examination Committee consists of at least four examiners and a chair from a different academic department than the student’s advisor. The chair may be a faculty member in the Cancer Biology Program, provided they are not in the same academic department as the student’s advisor. All members of the Committee are usually members of the Academic Council, and the oral examination chair must be. With the prior approval of the Program Director or School Dean, one of the examiners may be a person who is not a member of the Academic Council if that individual contributes expertise not readily available from the Stanford faculty. Official responsibility for selecting the oral examination chair rests with the Department. Cancer Biology delegates this to the student and dissertation advisor.
The major accomplishment of each successful PhD student is the presentation of a written dissertation resulting from an independent investigation that contributes to knowledge in cancer biology.
Annual Dissertation Committee Meetings
In year three, each student must hold an annual dissertation committee meeting to assess progress toward the degree and for the committee to provide advice.
In the fourth year and beyond, students are required to meet with their committees twice a year.
The Annual Dissertation Committee Meeting Form should be completed and signed by all committee members attending each meeting. The forms should be returned to Cancer Biology Program Office.