AACR-Early Career Scholar in the Field of Cancer Research Award (formerly AACR Minority Scholar Award)

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is extremely pleased to announce the availability of scholar awards in cancer research for full-time eligible scientists wishing to participate in AACR Annual Meetings.

Purpose

The purposes of this award program are to increase the scientific knowledge base of early career scientists and to encourage them to pursue careers in cancer research.

Eligibility

• Candidates must be full-time graduate students, medical students, residents, or clinical or postdoctoral fellows.
• Candidates must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada.
• Candidates must be the presenters of meritorious abstracts at the AACR Annual Meeting or special conferences.
• Candidates need not be members of the AACR to apply for this award. 

Required Application Materials

• Complete online application
• Applications for the AACR Annual Meetings and AACR special conferences can be completed in the myAACR membership portal. Provide all information requested. The applicant must list one mentor in a faculty capacity (i.e. department head, advisor, etc.) at their institution who could certify the information in the application upon request.
• Personal statement written by the candidate (no longer than two pages in length) describing the benefit he/she expects to derive from attending the conference and the reasons for the candidate’s interest in the conference.
• Two letters of reference from faculty members from the applicant’s institution or an institution that the applicant has attended. The letters should be addressed to the AACR-Early Career Scholar in the Field of Cancer Research Awards Committee and should comment on the applicant’s academic and personal qualifications for this award. Letters of recommendation should always be on letterhead with visible signatures.
• A copy of the abstract submitted for presentation at the meeting. Candidates must provide the abstract control number.
• Curriculum vitae, including a complete bibliography (list of publications).

Deadlines

Application deadline is December 12, 2025