Cancer research today strongly relies on the scientific input of young researchers. Motivated and skilled postdoctoral trainees design and complete many of the experiments in their labs at SKCC. It is a primary goal of SKCC to provide an environment that educates and trains postdocs to become versatile, and efficient leading to professional success. The program has emerged from the notion that nurturing young scientists during their most creative years will yield a new generation of leaders in cancer research. Renowned faculty members and senior research scientists at SKCC provide excellent mentorship, share detailed scientific insight, and help to establish collaborations and networks. The outstanding education and training of postdoctoral trainees, tomorrow’s scientists, play a vital role in the success of SKCC’s research activities.

There are two kinds of postdocs at the SKCC; associates and fellows. Postdoctoral Associates are funded by the grant to their lab which supports their work, while fellows receive stipends from funding agencies like NIH, DOD, CBCRP, TRDRP, Susan G. Komen, etc. Typical time of appointment for both positions are between three to five years, ensuring the successful completion of the postdoctoral training program and provide postdocs with the expertise needed for their further career development.

To build strong connections between the postdocs at the SKCC, but also with postdocs at the Research Institutes on the Torrey Pines Mesa (UCSD, Salk, Scripps, Burnham), the SKCC Network, a postdoctoral association, has recently been established to increase communication and networking between postdocs, junior scientists and faculty members. The SKCC Network organizes internal seminars and journal clubs and will also offer seminar series on a range of topics including grantsmanship, technical writing, communications, and leadership (see the SKCC Network website for more detailed information).