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1 year ago in Cancer Biology , Career Development By Rachna
How can one begin research in cancer biology at the PhD level?
 I'm beginning my doctoral studies with a passion for cancer research but feel overwhelmed by the field's scope from molecular mechanisms to immunology to therapeutics. I want to avoid wasting time and aim to quickly identify a tractable, meaningful research niche. What would you advise as the most effective way to navigate this early, critical phase?
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By Joshna Answered 7 months ago
From my experience, your first year should be a dedicated reconnaissance mission. I recommend deeply immersing yourself in the current literature, not just reviews, but key recent papers in top journals to identify active controversies and unsolved problems. Concurrently, have frank conversations with senior students and postdocs in labs you're interested in; they will give you the real picture of which projects are feasible and which are dead ends. I would advise choosing a lab not just for a specific project, but for a mentor whose approach and ethical standards you respect. Start broad like "therapy resistance" and let your lab rotations help you narrow down to a specific, mechanistic question.
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