Early Career Research Programs: POST Program Grant | Instrumentl (2024)

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Predicted deadline: Feb 20, 2025 5:00pm PST

Grant amount: Up to US $5,000

Fields of work: Pediatric Cancers Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Applicant type: Undergraduate Student, College / University, Masters Student

Funding uses: Biomedical

Location of project: Canada, United States

Location of residency: Canada, United States

Overview:

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4- year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Her spirit and determination inspired others to support her cause, and when she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. Since then, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement. Today, ALSF is one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada, funding more than 1,000 research projects and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer. ALSF is also the only childhood cancer research organization that has been given the NCI peer-reviewed funder designation for rigorous selection of research grants. The mission of ALSF is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.

Early Career Research Programs

Attracting and retaining the best and brightest early career scientists is critical to the future of childhood cancer research. Funding at this stage will encourage and steer promising researchers toward long-term careers in pediatric oncology investigation.

POST Program Grant

The POST Program is a summer research internship designed for undergraduate, graduate (only students pursuing a master’s degree are eligible, PhD students are not eligible) and medical students interested in pursuing a career in pediatric oncology research. The goal of the ALSF POST program is to expose students to the field of pediatric oncology research while experiencing a real-time research project. It is expected that students will develop practical research skills and engage in a mentoring relationship with a pediatric oncology researcher.

POST provides an opportunity for students to train with a mentor who is conducting research in the field of pediatric oncology. A mentor/mentee pair is a prerequisite for applying. Students may join a research project underway in a mentor’s lab or begin an original investigation with the mentor. Although the mentor and the student should work together on the application, it should be submitted online by the mentor. Students may train at an institution other than their own college, graduate or medical school, and the internship should last 8-10 weeks during late spring/summer over a time period mutually acceptable to both the mentor and the student.

ALSF seeks to increase diversity in the pediatric oncology research community by supporting the next generation of biomedical researchers from underrepresented communities. Approximately 1/3 of the ALSF POST Program awards will be reserved for students who identify as being from a racial and/or ethnic group that is underrepresented in the scientific workforce as defined by the NSF and NIH. The following groups have been shown nationally to be underrepresented in biomedical research: Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. Please refer to Section A of the following NIH guideline to confirm eligibility: Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity.

As of 2022, we have added three required virtual events to the POST Program to ensure that the students and mentors are introduced to one another, network, and share their experiences. There will be an Orientation/Welcome, webinar with guest speakers, and Speed Presentations by the students.

Funding

A maximum of $5,000 will be awarded, and indirect costs are not allowed. Funds must be sent to and administered by the mentor’s institution. A specific lab may be designated.

The budget may be allocated as follows:

• Student Stipend: At least $4,000 must be used for the student stipend over the program period.
• Supplies: A maximum of $1,000 may be designated for supplies associated with the student’s work. Supplies should be for consumables during the program time period. The remaining balance must be used for the stipend.
  • Excludes equipment/computers, service contracts, or long-term supplies.

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Eligibility:

• The following eligibility criteria apply:
  • Mentors must be ALSF grantees (past or present, including those who have previously mentored POST students), Advisory Board, or Review Board members.
  • Mentors must be active in the field of pediatric oncology research.
  • The Mentor’s Institution must be in the U.S. or Canada.
    • The Mentor/Mentee do not need to be U.S. citizens.
  • Mentor/Student pairs must be identified prior to submitting an application.
  • Mentor must commit to training the student by submitting a commitment letter with the application, and during the Program period plan training activities and provide guidance.
  • Student must currently be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate (only students pursuing a master’s degree are eligible, PhD students are not eligible), or medical degree-granting program.
  • Student must be able to dedicate at least eight full consecutive weeks to the program.
    • The dates may vary depending on the student’s scheduled break.
• The student is expected to reach program goals and complete the submitted training plan. ALSF expects the student to become productive in their role on a project; however, completion of a full research project
• is not required.
• Attendance at seminars and other educational events related to the field, occurring at the mentor’s institution, is encouraged.
• Students are required to attend three ALSF POST Webinars and are encouraged to attend the additional networking events.
  • Dates to be determined.
• Students are expected to respond to occasional follow-up surveys in subsequent years.

Ineligibility:

• Restrictions:
  • ALSF funds cannot be used for research utilizing human embryonic stem cells or non-human primates.
  • Research with human induced pluripotent stem cells is permissible.
  • Overlap with other funding sources for research or stipend is prohibited.
  • Each mentor is allowed to submit only one POST application.
  • Students may not work on a research elective, or curriculum-related activity during the POST Program time.
  • The program willsupport qualified graduate candidates pursuing Master’s degree only.
    • Doctoral students and candidates may not apply.
  • If the student withdraws or does not complete the 8-week minimum, the remaining funds must be returned to ALSF.