Early-Career Opportunities

We hope that our support of early-career members is part of what keeps so many of our members active and engaged in the society throughout their careers. Below are some of programs we offer to build skills and enhance career opportunities.

International Mentorship Program

A long-standing program dedicated to the principles of education, mentorship and collaboration, the IASLC’s International Mentorship Program is an initiative designed to turn today’s young researchers into tomorrow’s lung cancer leaders.

The program’s structure is two-fold. Each year’s participants are assigned well-established mentors who live and work in the region where the IASLC’s annual WCLC is taking place. Mentees initially meet their mentors on-site at the WCLC before traveling to their mentor’s home institution for a week to shadow them and learn more about their practice. During this shadowing period, program participants discuss their desired career path and interact with multidisciplinary cancer care teams.

The 2019 mentee class hailed from a diverse array of countries, including China, India, Indonesia, Namibia and Thailand.

IASLC Academy

Few things are as integral to the IASLC’s mission as helping support early-career physicians and researchers, which is why the IASLC Academy is one of the association’s most important WCLC-affiliated programs. The IASLC Academy is a two-year program open to medical school graduates focusing on thoracic cancer care. Those accepted into the Academy work closely with senior faculty: attending two WCLCs, honing their presentation skills and deepening their knowledge of multidisciplinary research in the process.

The most recent Academy participants include early-career specialists from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States of America.

IASLC Reviewer Workshop

The IASLC Reviewer Workshop is typically held in conjunction with WCLC. Interested registrants must apply following the criteria below. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, IASLC is working hard to create a plan for applications and presentation of the workshop at some point in 2021.

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World Conference on Lung Cancer Education Awards

The IASLC offers a variety of education awards to help researchers from around the world to participate in the IASLC 2020 world conference on lung cancer (WCLC 2020). Award winners are determined by an international, multidisciplinary review committee composed of IASLC members.

Early-Career Education Awards

Early Career awards are available for fellows, students, trainees or post-doctoral researchers with a professional degree within three years of initial faculty appointment. This award provides the opportunity for presenters of high rated abstracts to grow professionally by attending educational sessions, networking and developing professional relationships with colleagues from around the world.

Eligibility for Criteria for Early-Career Award

Fellow, student, trainee or a post-doctoral researcher with a professional degree within three years of initial faculty appointment (e.g., you must be appointed to faculty after January 24, 2018)
Submit (as presenter) and have accepted an abstract for WCLC
You must certify/agree that you do not already have funding from another source (employer, etc.)

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Developing Nations Education Awards

Developing Nations awards are available for trainees and residents of countries listed on the IASLC Membership Guidelines webpage*. This award provides the opportunity for presenters of high rated abstracts from developing nations to grow professionally by attending educational sessions, networking and developing professional relationships with colleagues from around the world.

Eligibility Criteria for Developing Nations Award

Reside in a Developing Nation^*
Fellow, student, trainee or a post-doctoral researcher with a professional degree within three years of initial faculty appointment (e.g., you must be appointed to faculty after January 24, 2018)
Submit (as presenter) and have accepted an abstract for WCLC
You must certify/agree that you do not already have funding from another source (employer, etc.)

_{*Currently corresponds to the World Bank list of countries listed on the IASLC website}

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Nurse or Allied Health Professional Education Awards

The Nurse or Allied Health Professional awards consist of up to 5 awards offered in two categories: Early Career and Developing Nations. The number of awards in each category will be approximately equal with the final numbers determined by the quality of applications received. The awards provide opportunities for Nurse and Allied Health presenters of high rated abstracts to grow professionally by attending educational sessions, networking and developing professional relationships with colleagues from around the world.

Eligibility Criteria for Nurse or Allied Health Professional Award

Submit (as presenter) and have accepted an abstract for WCLC
Professional role in Nursing or Allied Health (see list below)
For Early Career Applicants: Within 3 years of initial faculty appointment or within 3 years of completing training in a nursing or allied health professional setting (For example, the candidate must be appointed to faculty or have accepted placement no later than January 24, 2018).
For Developing Nation Applicants: Must reside in one of the countries identified by the World Bank list as a Developing Nation. This list is located on the IASLC website.
You must certify/agree that you do not already have funding from another source (employer, etc.)

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Patient Advocacy Awards

The IASLC provides up to five Patient Advocacy Awards to individuals who foster awareness, support and hope in the lung cancer community.

Designed to increase connections between the IASLC and patient advocacy organizations throughout the world, the awards are open to nonprofit organizations, as well as to individuals.

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Grants and Fellowships

Locating and securing funding can be challenging. The International Lung Cancer Foundation provides numerous opportunities for early-career researchers to chase their dreams.

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