Peter Mac offers a range of educational opportunities to help younger researchers improve their understanding of cancer research and to provide hands-on experience in a laboratory or clinical research setting.
What we offer
Successful applicants have the opportunity to work on a specific project alongside research students, postdoctoral scientists and senior researchers in the laboratory or clinical research areas.
In doing so, you will gain experience in laboratory research, use state-of-the-art equipment and learn many new and exciting laboratory techniques. International students undertaking research placements will be required to obtain a visa for this period.
Summer Scholarship Program
Our Summer Scholarship Program offers outstanding undergraduate students an opportunity to get involved in real-life laboratory-based research.
Students undertake research projects during their summer break in areas as diverse as cancer cell biology, oncogenic signalling, growth control, cancer genomics, tumour angiogenesis, cancer immunology, cancer therapeutics, bioinformatics, pharmacy, survivorship, familial cancer and radiation therapy. The program is a great way to get involved in real-life biomedical research, and to get inspired about cancer research at the postgraduate level and beyond.
The 2022 summer scholarships program is not currently taking applications.
Applications for 2023 summer scholarships will open mid-July 2023.
Summer scholarships are highly competitive and applicants will be short-listed for interview before places are offered.
- Scholarships are for six weeks, or 30 days full time (not including public holidays). These dates are scheduled in consultation with the supervisor and the student.
- Students receive a tax-free payment of $250 per week (five working days). Peter Mac cannot make any contribution towards accommodation or travel costs.
- Successful applicants are required to attend an induction program before commencing the Summer Scholarship Program.
- Summer scholarships are funded by Peter Mac.
- If you are awarded a Peter Mac summer scholarship and are studying at a Victorian university, we will also work with you to prepare an application for a Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) Summer Vacation Studentship, for which applications are due in September. Note: All CCV summer applications for Peter Mac students are prepared as part of this summer selection process.
Research Placement Program
A limited number of research work placements or research internships are offered to undergraduate and postgraduate university students who come to Peter Mac to fulfil a formal requirement of their education program.
Obtaining a student placement or internship
There are 2 mandatory requirements for voluntary placements
- The placement component should be a mandatory component in a subject/unit in your current degree. We will require a placement agreement to be in place prior to the commencement of the placement. This is normally provided by the university.
- You will have to liaise with supervisors to find the placement that suits you. Once a supervisor agrees to take you on as a placement for a project the Research Education team will facilitate the placement administrative process. Look through the Peter Mac Student Project book and directly contact the supervisors to see if they are interested in hosting you in a lab and if the project is available.
These are unpaid positions. No fees are charged and all research costs are covered by the host research group.
When you are emailing potential supervisors, please attach the resume, transcript and other relevant documents related to your placement (agreement) for reviewing as well
Contact details
For all placement and summer scholarship enquiries and assistance
Email: [email protected]