C-STEPS Program
The Cancer Research – Scholarship and Training in Population Sciences (C-STEPS) program provides a cancer-focused research experience, career mentorship, interactive seminars, and team building that culminate in a Capstone project at the end of 10 weeks.
Rich Research Experience
Students gain a hands-on, skills-based, mentored research experience that is focused on cancer control and population science.
Defined by the National Cancer Institute, Cancer Control and Population Science is a study of a group of individuals taken from the general population who share a common characteristic, such as age, sex, or health condition.
This group may be studied for different reasons, such as their response to a drug or risk of getting a disease. In addition, students participate in career planning and team-based activities. Students who participate in C-STEPS will also have the opportunity to submit an abstract of their Capstone poster project at the annual American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) conference to further enhance their presentation skills. The C-STEPS program will cover travel to the annual conference if the abstract is accepted. C-STEPS will provide ongoing support to students to present their research at their home university by assisting in poster printing.
Program Focus
The C-STEPS program is part of the Undergraduate Pipeline Network (UPN).
The goal of the C-STEPS program is to facilitate and support undergraduate students in their completion of a degree in the STEM-H (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and health sciences) field. This program also facilitates the student’s selection of and application to graduate or professional schools while encouraging their interests in research careers. The long-term goal of C-STEPS is to increase the biomedical and behavioral research workforce by providing specialized and experiential curricula that highlights team-oriented population sciences.
To provide a mentored research experience, students are paired with a faculty member who is focused on cancer control and population science at The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. The program also offers peer and near-peer mentors to serve as role models, offer research seminars, facilitate team building, and provide research and career planning mentoring.
C-STEPS Details
Students must apply to the UPN program in the fall to be considered for the following summer. Each summer, C-STEPS will have a cohort of 10 undergraduate students and two peer mentors from the prior cohort.
Interested students may apply for C-STEPS through the
that opens every fall.
The 10-week program runs from late-May to early August on The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center campus.
C-STEPS covers
- transportation to and from the University of New Mexico
- housing while on UNM campus
- stipend for the 10-weeks
C-STEPS has similar eligibility to UPN that include:
- Minimum of 3.0 GPA
- Be an enrolled undergraduate at the time of the program and a graduation date no earlier than the December following the program
- Currently attend a college or university in the United States
- Be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (green card holder)
Additionally, highly qualified students should apply to C-STEPS if there is interest in translational research, including the following areas:
- Cancer risk and risk prediction
- Risk reduction
- Screening determinants and interventions
- Cancer care delivery and survivorship
For questions specific to C-STEPS, please email C-STEPS@salud.unm.edu or contact Dr. Prajakta Adsul: PAdsul@salud.unm.edu, (505) 272-7351
For questions related to the UPN application, please contact School of Medicine Research Education Office: SOMREO@salud.unm.edu, (505) 272-1887
Frequently Asked Questions
- C-STEPS provides transportation for those who are coming to the UNM campus from outside the Albuquerque area, in keeping with UNM travel policies.
- C-STEPS provides parking permits for those who will be commuting daily to campus. Housing is provided and paid for by the program.
- C-STEPS is a full-time, 40 hours per week commitment. While the average days vary depending on your mentor’s research, all C-STEPS students must participate in several activities on a set C-STEPS schedule, including weekly Seminars and Journal Clubs.
- Most students choose to stay in the dorms on the UNM campus.
- C-STEPS provides the dorm room at no cost to the student, but we have a limited number of rooms available.
- Students will need to bring their own bedding and towels.
- Students will have access to a kitchen in the dorms, but no kitchenware is provided (pots, pans, utensils, etc.).
- The application deadline is February 1.
- The Undergraduate Pipeline Network (UPN) will notify applicants of the outcome by early March.
- After your acceptance, you may need to wait several weeks for us to identify your mentor.
- In our matching process, we review your application and note your expressed research interests, research statement, coursework, and prior research experience.
- We then compare your interests, coursework and experiences with UNM faculty members who are available to mentor you, have expertise in your area(s) of interest and can offer you a research opportunity.
- Our matching process is the foundation of a productive and enjoyable experience for everyone. We are deliberate in this matching process and take it extremely seriously.
- If you have a preference of working with a specific UNM faculty member(s), it is highly recommended that you write their name(s) in your personal statement to facilitate the matching process.
- You will work with your mentor to develop a project that is achievable within the duration of the 10-week program based on their ongoing research and your specific interests and skills.
- Reach out to C-STEPS team to let them know. Please also inform your mentor and your mentor’s research team.
- Please reach out to the C-STEPS team and we will work with you to provide a letter.
- Participation is exclusively in-person on the UNM HSC campus in Albuquerque.
The C-STEPS program offered an amazing experience that allowed me to collaborate with many peers that other programs wouldn’t allow. This included the journal clubs, assignments involving teamwork, and the work that we did with our mentors and our research team.
Danielle Alejandrez
University of New Mexico; Biology
Mentor: V. Shane Pankratz
Julian Angell
University of New Mexico; Emergency Medical Services
Mentor: Kate Cartwright
Yitzed Rodriguez Arcelay
University of New Mexico; Biology
Mentor: Elba Saavedra Ferrer
Galilea Baca
Oklahoma State University; Biology
Mentor: Stephanie Rieder
Catarina Bruton
University of New Mexico; Criminology
Mentor: Dr. Debra MacKenzie
Anabell Duran
San Diego State University; Biology
Mentor: Kim Page
Alexandra Harding
Clemson University; Microbiology & Anthropology
Mentor: Shuguang Leng
Daniel Mejia
New Mexico State University; Biology
Mentors: Acadia Buro & Prajakta Adsul
Caitlyn Ragan
Albany State University; Biology
Mentors: Marianne Berwick & Adam Reynolds
Connor Rudy
Appalachian State University; Biology
Mentor: Cindy Blair
Ailani Saiz
University of Arizona; Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mentor: David Savage
Mackenzie Billings
University of Virginia, Psychology
Mentor: Dolores Guest & Andrew Sussman
Elizabeth Marshall
University of Missouri, Biological Science
Mentor: Erika Maestas
Taryn Penny
Howard University, Biology
Mentor: Acadia Buro
Alejandra Pawlak
California State University, Bernardino; Biological Psychology
Mentor: Jessica Richardson, Honey Hubbard & Tyler Smith
Alivia Abernathy
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology; Biology
Mentor: Linda Felton
Andrea Ibarra
University of New Mexico; Pharmaceutical Sciences
Mentor: Pavan Muttil
Amari Hutchins
Howard University; Biology
Mentor: Aaron Neumann
Audrey Raupp
Providence College, Psychology & Studio Art
Mentor: Debra MacKenzie & Mallery Quetawki
Tiffany Pei
Texas A&M College; Public Health
Mentor: Shuguang Leng & Huining Kang
Abigail Ringer
University of New Mexico, Population Health; Biology; Statistics
Mentor: Cindy Blair
Tanisha Medha
University of New Mexico, Biochemistry; Anthropology
Mentor: Peng Mao
Onamma Edeh
University of New Mexico, Chemistry
Mentor: Katie Zychowski
Pauline Nelson
University of New Mexico, Nursing
Mentor: Jamie Krashin
Ernesto Morales Carrasco
University of New Mexico, Biochemistry; Psychology
Mentor: Shuguang Leng
Grace Acle
Loyola University, Biochemistry
Mentor: Debra MacKenzie and Elaine El Hayek
Cade Chilcoat
University of New Mexico, Biochemistry; Psychology
Mentor: Miria Kano; Dolores Guest
Jari Tavira
Heritage University, Biology
Mentor: Kate Cartwright
Andre Villegas
Texas Lutheran University, Biology; Environmental Science
Mentor: Bryce Chackerian
Lyza Lash
Wayne State University, Statistics; Public Health; Computer Science
Mentor: V. Shane Pankratz
Stephanie Dominquez
University of New Mexico, Population Health
Mentor: Andrew Sussman, Dolores Guest
Amy Martins
University of Arizona, Biomedical Sciences
Mentor: Ursa Brown-Glaberman
Rayna Vue
University of New Mexico, Biochemistry Major
Mentor: Debra MacKenzie, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Jolie Walker
Vassar College, Biochemistry Major
Mentor: Catie Willging, PhD, Center Director (PIRE-Southwest) and Senior Research Scientist II
and
Miria Kano, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Rae Templeton
University of Pittsburgh, Environmental Engineering Major
Mentor: Matt Campen, PhD, MSPH, Director, New Mexico Center for Metals in Biology and Medicine; Regents’ Professor, College of Pharmacy
Abigail Ikechi-Konkwo
University of New Mexico, Biochemistry Major
Mentor: Cindy Blair, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Samuel Barans
Michigan State University, Psychology and Mathematics Major
Mentor: Annette Crisanti, PhD, Vice Chair of Research and Tenured Professor Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Prabhuti Vansadia
University of Florida, Dietetics Major
Mentor: Dolores Guest, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Dana Baca
Duke University, Biology and Global Health Major
Mentor: Kate Cartwright, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, School of Public Administration
Megan McCarthy
University of New Mexico, Biology Major
Mentor: Kim Page, PhD, MPH, MS, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Edgar Carrete
University of New Mexico, Biology Major
Mentor: Prajakta Adsul, MBBS, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Sreeya Kairamkonda
Colorado State University, Biomedical Sciences Major
Mentor: Prajakta Adsul, MBBS, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Jordan Charlie
University Of New Mexico, Biology Major
Mentor: Debra Mackenzie, PhD Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Kailyn Goodwin
University of San Francisco, Biology Major
Mentor: Jean McDougall, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Jessica Hoffman
Austin College, Biology Major
Mentor: Prajakta Adsul, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Sophia Jaramillo
New Mexico State University, Kinesiology Major
Mentor: Cynthia Blair, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and
Preventive Medicine
Sophia Mourad
University of California, Los Angeles, Biology Major
Mentor: Miria Kano, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Samantha Ogata
New Mexico Highlands University, Biology/Mathematics Major
Mentor: Andrew Sussman, PhD
Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Karenna Sandoval
Arizona State University, Medical Studies Major
Mentor: Marianne Berwick, PhD
Distinguished Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Destinee Sandy
New Mexico Highlands University, Biology Major
Mentor: Laurie Hudson, PhD
Regents’ Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Cristian Soto
Utah State University, Biology Major
Presented at the 2022 International Cancer Education Conference
Mentor: Dolores Guest, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Alexander Vanderwiel
Macalester College, Biology Major
Mentor: Bernard Tawfik, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology
Peer and Near Peer Mentors
The C-STEPS program invites students from the prior cohort to serve as peer mentors to a new student cohort to gain experience as an educator.
Alejandra Pawlak
Summer: 2025
Institution: California University, San Bernardino
Degree/Major: BS in Biological Psychology
Year of Graduation: 2025
Ernesto Morales Carrasco
Summer: 2024
Institution: University of New Mexico
Degree/Major: BS, Biochemistry and Applied Mathematics
Year of Graduation: 2026
Pauline Nelson
Summer: 2024
Institution: University of New Mexico
Degree/Major: BS in Nursing
Year of Graduation: Enrolled
May McCarthy
Summer: 2023
Institution: University of New Mexico
Degree/Major: BS, Biology
Year of Graduation: Enrolled
Sam Barans
Summer: 2023
Institution: Michigan State University
Degree/Major: BS, Psychology and Mathematics
Year of Graduation: 2024
Kailyn Goodwin
Summer: 2022
Institution: University of San Francisco
Degree/Major: BS, Biology
Year of Graduation: 2022
Paige Lynch
Summer: 2023, 2024, 2025
Institution: University of New Mexico
Degree/Major: PhD, Anthropology
Year of Graduation: 2025
Monica Asencio Pimentel
Summer: 2021, 2022
Institution: University of New Mexico
Degree/Major: PhD, Special Education
Year of Graduation: 2023
Team & Advisory Committee
Senior Director for Research and Professor, Pathology
Director, Undergraduate Pipeline Network (UPN) Program
Associate Director for Education, Training and Mentoring, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
Professor, UNM Department of Pathology
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Co-leader, Cancer Control and Population Sciences Research Program, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
Prajakta Adsul, MBBS, MPH, PhD
Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine
Cancer Control and Population Science Research Member, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
Director and Associate Professor,
School of Public Administration
Judith Sheche, MS
Senior Research Scientist
Behavioral Measurement and Population Science Shared Resource (BMPS), UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Executive Advisory Committees responsibilities include:
- Meeting 3 times per year
- Reviewing: recruitment, selection process, annual cohort selection, evaluation of seminars and mentor-mentees, and the long-term sustainability and program enhancement plans
- Regular email updates; provide advice, comments, and recommendations as needed
Jani Ingram, PhD
I am a Regents’ Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, the PI of the Partnership of Native American Cancer Prevention, and the Director of Bridging Native American Students to Bachelor’s Degree Program. My expertise is developing training programs for undergraduate students and hands-on mentorship programs. I am also a member of the Navajo Nation.
Shine Chang, PhD
I am the Director of the Cancer Prevention Research Training Program (www.CancerPreventionTraining.org) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas System Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Ashbel Smith Full Professor (tenured) in the Department of Epidemiology. At my institution, I also serve as co-program leader for our NCI P30 Cancer Center Support Grant’s Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination resource. With a unifying theme to reduce differences in health outcomes and increase access and opportunity in health and the biomedical workforce, my expertise is cancer epidemiology and cancer prevention and in training and education for leadership in the field of cancer prevention and control from college through faculty ranks.
Former Members
Robin Harris, PhD, MPH
I am a Professor of Epidemiology at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona, Co-Director of the Skin Cancer Institute at the Arizona Cancer Center, and PI of a National Cancer Institute funded T32. My expertise is in population science research focused on community-based research that addresses chronic disease prevention and control.
Meet the C-STEPS Mentors
Research Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Area: Pharmaceutical sciences
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Research Area: Individual-, provider-, and organizational-level determinants influence the implementation (uptake and delivery) of cancer screening services in underserved communities.
Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Research Area: cancer survivorship; lifestyle behavior interventions to improve health and well-being among cancer survivors.
Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine
Research Area: Shared decision-making among populations with differences in health outcomes, health service delivery, and qualitative methodologies.
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Research Area: Nutritional interventions to improve cancer outcomes during and after treatment in outpatient cancer care facilities, nutrition cancer care policy, cancer survivorship.
Distinguished Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine
Research Area: Etiology and survival of melanoma patients. Evaluating understanding and interest in genetic testing among New Mexicans and in establishing biomarkers to stratify melanoma patients into aggressive and non-aggressive disease in order to improve treatment
Regents’ Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Area: Metals toxicology and cancer biology including biochemical, cellular, organismal and population studies
Environmental health, effects of complex inhaled pollutant mixtures on health outcomes.
Epidemiology to shape policy decisions and evidence-based interventions by reducing uncertainty in population level exposures to environmental pollutants, key risk factors and targets for intervention.
Cultural and environmental contributors to health; environmental exposures and birth outcomes, cancer risk, and risk reduction.
Breast cancer epidemiology, breast cancer survival differences in Hispanic women, breast premalignant conditions, and over-diagnosis of breast cancer.
Statistical methodologies, observational epidemiologic studies, clinical trials.
Molecular epidemiology, molecular diagnostic development, translational spectrum of cancer etiology, diagnosis, and prevention.
Structural factors and social determinants influence racial and ethnic health inequities.
“Systems epidemiology” approach in the understanding of etiology and mechanisms for human diseases.
Biological mechanisms following inhaled toxic exposures
Immune-based prophylactics targeting diverse pathogens (including malaria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Sin Nombre virus, and SARS-CoV-2) and immune-based therapeutics for chronic disease (including dyslipidemia, Alzheimer's, and migraines)
Toxicology and biochemistry
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