2026 Professional Development Series Session

2026 Personalized Career Conversations

The AACR is dedicated to the education, training, and professional development of cancer research investigators, and the Professional Development Series of Sessions are an integral part of the AACR Annual Meeting experience. Organized as a collaborative effort by the AACR Science Education and Career Advancement Committee, Minorities in Cancer Research (MICR) Council, Women in Cancer Research (WICR) Council, and Associate Member Council (AMC), these exciting sessions are available to Annual Meeting registrants free of charge and provide important skills to investigators at all stages in their careers.

Participation in Personalized Career Conversations is available exclusively to AACR Associate members who are graduate students, medical students, residents, and clinical and postdoctoral fellows who are registered for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026. Pre-registration is required.

The Personalized Career Conversations session will provide a unique opportunity for early-career AACR Associate members to be paired with world-renowned, distinguished cancer researchers for a 15-minute one-on-one conversation to discuss science and obtain personal career advice. Presentations on various professional advancement and career development topics will be available while participants wait for their timeslot. 

Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be an AACR Associate member
• Must be registered for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026 at the time of registration for this session

Registration Instructions

• Click below to begin your registration. 
• Registrants will be able to select the distinguished cancer investigator with whom they would like to meet.  Pairings will be made on a first-come, first-served basis, and each Associate Member participant will have the opportunity to meet with two (1) senior investigators during the session. If the senior investigator selected is no longer available, you will be paired with another outstanding senior investigator. 

All registrants will be required to submit the following:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Bibliography (list of publications)
• Statement of research interests (limited to 100 words) 
• Statement of career goals (limited to 100 words)

Additionally, all registrants must confirm that they:

• Are registered for the AACR Annual Meeting 2026. Please note that completing registration for this session does not automatically register you for the Annual Meeting; and
• They will be available to participate once paired with their senior investigator. Once confirmed, any individual who does not show up for their meeting may be disqualified from participating in future similar opportunities and applications.

Registrants will be notified of their scientist pairing once the selection process is complete. Space is limited, so not all registrants may receive a meeting.

If selected to participate and unable to do so, notification of cancellation must be submitted before the session. No-shows to this event may be prohibited from applying to participate in this or similar events in the future. If you are not selected to participate, you may be contacted up to the day of the event if a participant cancels.

Email pas@aacr.org with any questions.