Cancer Chemical Biology

The Cancer Chemical Biology Major consists of focused training in Cancer Medicinal Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Students will also receive interdisciplinary training in the broader field of chemistry & biology through coursework and immersion in the Moffitt Cancer Center's research endeavors. Cancer drug design and discovery will be the key component of the curriculum. The research focuses are (1) design and synthesis of chemical probes to modulate oncogenic targets and pathways, and development of selective chemical probes into novel anticancer drug candidates; and (2) to identify, validate, and characterize targets with therapeutic relevance in refractory and metastatic malignancies.

This Major will provide students a unique foundation of knowledge and practical experience in the rapidly advancing arena of cancer chemical biology. Students will also train alongside individuals studying other areas of cancer biology, providing a unique opportunity to study in a multidisciplinary and highly translational research environment. Graduates of this major will be positioned to enter the technological workforce ready to discover novel probes to unravel the mechanisms underlying oncogenesis and develop innovative anticancer drugs.

The Major is a joint endeavor between the Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida. Moffitt Cancer Center is located on the campus of the University of South Florida and is a leading institution of basic research, clinical research, and patient treatment with a focused mission "to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer." The Moffitt Cancer Center is officially designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Major Research Areas
The main research areas include:
Design and synthesize chemical probes to modulate oncogenic targets and pathways
Develop potent chemical probes into novel anticancer drug candidates
Identify, validate, and characterize new targets with therapeutic relevance in refractory and metastatic malignancies using selective chemical probes

Each applicant to a graduate degree program at the University of South Florida is required to meet the following minimum requirements. Applicants should check with their program of interest to see if there are any additional application requirements (e.g. test scores, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and resume).

• The equivalent bachelor’s and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution. Bachelor’s degrees from institutions in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) are considered equivalent based on the Bologna Accord. For applicants with a 3-year bachelor’s degree with less than 120 hours, from non-Bologna Accord institutions, a transcript evaluation from a NACES member is required to confirm equivalency.

• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in one of the following ways:
  • All completed undergraduate coursework
  • All completed graduate coursework

1. Submit Your Application

Complete the USF online application or the Common App application.

2. Pay Your Application Fee

Pay the nonrefundable, $30 application fee.

3. Submit Official Transcripts

Send original or certified copies of academic transcripts, mark sheets, grade reports, diplomas or certificates, national standardized examination results, or other academic course work to USF.

• Include a certified English translation for all documents not written in English. If you need assistance translating your documents into English, we recommend using the American Translators Association to find a certified translator.

• We can accept digital copies of these secondary and post-secondary school records emailed directly from an appropriate official at your school to [email protected]. Alternatively, mail your transcripts via post to:

University of South Florida
Office of Admissions
4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SVC 1036
Tampa, FL 33620
United States 

If you have completed all 4 years of high school in the U.S., you will need to submit your coursework and grades via the Student Self-Reported Academic Record (SSAR) website. If you have attended any overseas high school, you will need to submit your official transcripts.

4. Submit Official SAT or ACT Scores

If you are submitting ACT scores, you are required to submit scores for the Writing section, per Florida Board of Governors requirements. 

• SAT Code for USF: 5828
• ACT Code for USF: 0761