Where I want to train

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Rollins' PhD in Epidemiology trains students in epidemiologic methods across many areas including cancer, social epidemiology, health disparities, and molecular/genetic epidemiology. Cancer-prevention research is anchored by Winship Cancer Institute's Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program, which draws on both the School of Medicine and Rollins to detect cancer earlier and prevent it.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• Winship Cancer Institute Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program.
• Confirmed Rollins epidemiology faculty who are Winship members include **Lauren

McCullough, Joellen Schildkraut, Kevin Ward, and Robert Bednarczyk** (whose work includes vaccine/HPV-relevant epidemiology).

• Stated strengths in health disparities and social epidemiology alongside cancer.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

Emory pairs an epidemiology PhD with an NCI cancer center's prevention-and-control program and notable strengths in health disparities and vaccine epidemiology — a good fit for a student interested in cancer prevention with an equity lens (including HPV-vaccination work).

Sources

• https://sph.emory.edu/departments/epidemiology
• https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/profiles/mccullough-lauren.php
• https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/profiles/schildkraut-joellen.php
• https://winshipcancer.emory.edu/profiles/bednarczyk-robert.php

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Harvard Chan describes its Program in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention as one of the first comprehensive academic programs in the world dedicated specifically to training cancer epidemiologists. The curriculum spans cancer research methodology, substantive cancer epidemiology and prevention, and genetic epidemiology/biomarkers, integrating biologic, environmental, and lifestyle factors into disease etiology and cancer control.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• Integration into the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, giving trainees access to

unique large-scale data resources (per Harvard Chan program page).

• Faculty conducting research on lifestyle, environmental, and genetic determinants of

cancer incidence and survival.

• Multiple internal and external funding/training opportunities noted by the program.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

For a student aiming at population-science cancer research, Harvard Chan offers one of the deepest benches in cancer epidemiology plus access to landmark cohort infrastructure through Dana-Farber/Harvard. It's an excellent fit if he wants rigorous etiologic and prevention training at scale.

Sources

• https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/cancer-epidemiology-and-prevention/
• https://hsph.harvard.edu/research/cancer-epidemiology-and-prevention/about-the-program/
• https://hsph.harvard.edu/department/epidemiology/cancer-epidemiology/

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Per JHU's own page, Bloomberg's Department of Epidemiology was ranked #1 in Epidemiology by peers in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The Cancer Epidemiology track has a long history of training masters, doctoral, and post-doctoral researchers in population-based and clinical cancer research, with graduates moving into academia, government, and the private sector.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• Three integrated training sub-tracks: **cancer etiology and prevention, genetic

epidemiology of cancer, and cancer control**.

• Signature courses including a two-term "Etiologic and Preventive Aspects of Cancer" and

an advanced "Methodologic Issues in Cancer Epidemiology."

• An NCI-sponsored T32 fellowship supporting the cancer epidemiology track.
• Faculty research spanning breast, prostate, colorectal, and HPV-related cancers, plus

health disparities and genetic/environmental risk factors.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

Hopkins pairs a top-rated methods core with a structured, well-funded cancer epidemiology track (including NCI T32 support) and explicit cancer-control training — strong fit for a student who wants both rigorous epidemiologic methods and a prevention/control focus.

Sources

• https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/epidemiology/programs/tracks/cancer-epidemiology
• https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/epidemiology/programs/tracks/cancer-epidemiology/curriculum-and-faculty
• https://publichealth.jhu.edu/academics/phd-dept-of-epidemiology

Programs:

• MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) — PhD
• UTHealth Houston School of Public Health — Epidemiology / cancer prevention research

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

The GSBS is a 50+ year collaboration between The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (the nation's flagship cancer hospital) and UTHealth Houston, letting PhD students work with faculty at both institutions. Separately, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health's Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences runs cancer-prevention research, often in collaboration with MD Anderson.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• GSBS admits "undifferentiated" PhD students who explore three first-year lab rotations

before committing to a specialization — useful flexibility for an early-career student.

• UTHealth SPH cancer-prevention funding includes grants for **obesity-related cancer

prevention and an NCI fellowship** training pathway.

• Direct access to MD Anderson's clinical and research scale.

Note: UTHealth SPH offers a research-intensive PhD in Epidemiology (Department of Epidemiology); there is no separately named "cancer epidemiology" track — cancer-prevention work sits within the broader epidemiology department, complemented by pre-/post-doctoral cancer-prevention fellowships. Confirm the current degree requirements on the program site before applying.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

For a student drawn to translational cancer prevention at the largest cancer center in the U.S., the MD Anderson–UTHealth partnership offers unusual access to clinical scale plus a public-health pathway focused on cancer prevention (e.g., obesity-related cancers).

Sources

• https://gsbs.uth.edu/programs/
• https://www.mdanderson.org/education-training/degree-granting-schools/graduate-school-of-biomedical-sciences.html
• https://sph.uth.edu/news/story/nearly-2-million-awarded-for-cancer-prevention-program
• https://sph.uth.edu/research/opportunities/nci-fellowship/

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Michigan's epidemiology faculty are integrated with the Rogel Cancer Center's Cancer Control and Population Sciences (CCPS) program, which develops methods for cancer-control and population-science research across the cancer continuum and studies environmental, lifestyle, genetic, and socio-structural drivers of cancer risk and outcomes.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• The Cancer Control and Population Sciences program at the NCI-designated Rogel

Cancer Center.

• Confirmed epidemiology faculty in CCPS include Lauren Wallner (co-leads CCPS),

Andrew Brouwer, and Nancy Fleischer.

• Trainees (undergraduate through postdoctoral) work with Rogel core members spanning

basic, clinical, and population research.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

Michigan offers a strong epidemiology department coupled to a population-science cancer program with explicit attention to socio-structural determinants and disparities — a good fit for a student oriented toward cancer prevention and population science rather than purely lab science.

Sources

• https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/research/programs/cancer-control-and-population-sciences
• https://medresearch.umich.edu/labs-departments/centers/cancer-research/research/cancer-control-population-sciences
• https://sph.umich.edu/faculty-profiles/?area_list=Cancer
• https://www.cancer.gov/research/infrastructure/cancer-centers/find/umichiganccc

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Stanford's Department of Epidemiology & Population Health lists cancer epidemiology among its particular strengths (alongside genetic epidemiology, epidemiologic methods, and others). The Population Sciences Program at Stanford Cancer Institute focuses on reducing cancer burden and improving outcomes through observational and interventional research on etiology, behavioral interventions, screening, and outcomes.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• A T32 Cancer Training Grant program aimed at developing cross-disciplinary cancer

genetic epidemiologists.

• Training grants supporting students with interests in cancer etiology, prevention, and

treatment, plus data science and population health.

• A "Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention" course covering epidemiology's role in cancer

etiology, prevention, and control.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

Stanford offers methodologically rigorous training with an explicit cancer-prevention and population-science track and NCI T32 support, plus strength in genetic/data-science approaches — appealing for a student who wants quantitative depth alongside prevention focus.

Sources

• https://med.stanford.edu/epidemiology-dept/education/phd-ecr2.html
• https://med.stanford.edu/cancer/research/research-programs/population-sciences.html
• https://med.stanford.edu/epidemiology-dept.html

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

UNC's Department of Epidemiology is tightly integrated with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center whose ~325 members span 40+ UNC departments. Lineberger has nine formal scientific programs, one of which is Cancer Epidemiology.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• The Cancer Epidemiology Research Program contributes to cancer etiology, diagnosis,

prognosis, prevention, and survivorship research.

• Confirmed Gillings epidemiology faculty affiliated with Lineberger's cancer epidemiology

program include Andrew Olshan, Melissa Troester, Hazel Nichols (co-leader of the Lineberger Cancer Epidemiology Research Program), and Lawrence Engel; other population-science faculty include Jennifer Lund, Erin Kent, and Eboneé Butler.

• Recent work includes geographic/disparities research (e.g., a cluster of NC counties

with higher colorectal cancer death rates).

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

UNC is a leading public-health powerhouse with a deep cancer-epidemiology and cancer-survivorship faculty embedded in an NCI comprehensive center. Strong fit for a student interested in cancer prevention, disparities, and population-based survivorship.

Sources

• https://unclineberger.org/cancer-epidemiology/
• https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/unc-lineberger-grant-application-earns-ncis-highest-recognition
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNCLinebergerComprehensiveCancerCenter
• https://unclineberger.org/directory/hazel-nichols/

Institute (population-science cancer-prevention research; relevant graduate training across the University of Utah). Affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute (NCI-designated)

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Huntsman Cancer Institute's Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program is a hub for population-science cancer research, including cancer health equity and HPV-related cancer prevention. This is the program tied to Deanna Kepka, PhD, MPH — a professor and CCPS member whose work focuses on increasing HPV vaccination and reducing HPV-related cancer burden, especially in rural and Latino communities.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• The Kepka group conducts population-science research on cancer health equity and HPV-

related cancer prevention in vulnerable populations.

• Kepka's training lineage runs through the **UW / Fred Hutch Biobehavioral Cancer

Prevention and Control** fellowship (see the UW/Fred Hutch file), connecting Utah's HPV-prevention work to that broader prevention-science tradition.

• Recognized work: Kepka received an HPV Vaccination Champion Award for increasing HPV

vaccination in Utah.

Degree pathway: the relevant doctoral program is the Population Health Sciences (PHS) PhD at the University of Utah School of Medicine — its Cancer Population Science division and Clinical and Translational Epidemiology emphasis connect students to Huntsman's CCPS faculty. Confirm the current PHS PhD requirements and emphasis options on the program site before applying.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

Given the Kepka tie, Utah/Huntsman is a natural fit for a student focused on HPV-vaccination, cancer health equity, and rural/underserved population cancer prevention — a clear research match rather than a generic prestige pick.

Sources

• https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/huntsman/labs/kepka/research
• https://healthcare.utah.edu/huntsmancancerinstitute/news/2025/04/deanna-kepka-phd-mph-earns-hpv-vaccination-award
• https://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/deanna-kepka
• https://medicine.utah.edu/population-health-sciences/divisions/cps

Sciences Division Departments: UW Epidemiology / Fred Hutch Epidemiology Program

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Fred Hutch's Epidemiology Program focuses squarely on reducing cancer incidence, progression, and mortality by identifying risk/protective factors, elucidating biologic mechanisms, and translating findings into prevention. Many Fred Hutch faculty serve as training faculty for UW's Epidemiology and Biostatistics programs, giving students a research home at one of the country's premier cancer centers.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• Fred Hutch Epidemiology Program studies nutrition, obesity, alcohol, medication use,

air pollution, and genetics in relation to cancer risk.

• A UW Health Services PhD Biobehavioral Cancer Prevention and Control training

program (the same fellowship lineage that trained Deanna Kepka — see the Utah file).

• A UW/Fred Hutch jointly administered PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology, with a dual

PhD-MCB / MS-Epidemiology option for students wanting population-science breadth.

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

UW + Fred Hutch is one of the strongest environments in the country for cancer prevention and control, with a clear translational-prevention orientation and a notable biobehavioral cancer prevention training pipeline — a strong fit for population-science cancer-prevention work, including the HPV-vaccination/health-equity lineage relevant to the Kepka tie.

Sources

• https://www.fredhutch.org/en/research/divisions/public-health-sciences-division/research/epidemiology.html
• https://www.fredhutch.org/en/education-training/graduate-program.html
• https://hspop.uw.edu/healthservicesphd/program-experience/training-programs/bcpt/

Why it's strong for cancer prevention / population science

Yale's Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology is, per its own description, "perhaps best known for its doctoral programs in the epidemiology of cancer," alongside aging, lifecourse, genomics, and social determinants of health. Cancer epidemiology research at Yale addresses causation, early detection, survival, and prevention across multiple cancer sites.

Notable centers / strengths (verified)

• Research spanning hormonal and occupational/environmental exposures, infectious agents

(e.g., H. pylori), cancer genetic epidemiology, energy balance/diet/physical activity, biomarkers, and public-health interventions to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.

• The GRE is no longer required (effective Fall 2025 application cycle).
• PhD students are guaranteed five full years of funding (tuition, 12-month stipend,

basic health insurance).

Why a student like Logan would want to train here

Yale offers a cancer-focused chronic-disease epidemiology department with strong funding guarantees and breadth across etiology, prevention, and survival — a solid fit for a student who wants a cancer-centered doctoral track within a well-resourced program.

Sources

• https://ysph.yale.edu/school-of-public-health/graduate-programs/phd-degree/chronic-disease-epidemiology/
• https://ysph.yale.edu/public-health-research-and-practice/department-research/chronic-disease-epidemiology/cancer/