BA Biological Sciences – Cancer Biology Specialization

Students in the BA Biological Sciences – Cancer Biology Specialization at the University of Chicago gain substantial practical research experience alongside advanced coursework in cancer biology. The specialization requires students to conduct individual guided research in a cancer research laboratory for at least one year, develop an original research project, and submit a research thesis; students are also encouraged to attend cancer biology seminars. The program connects undergraduate study with UChicago’s extensive biomedical research infrastructure, including cancer research laboratories, shared research facilities, and the University of Chicago Medicine ecosystem:

• Cancer Biology Courses: BIOS 25108 Cancer Biology and BIOS 25308 Heterogeneity in Human Cancer: Etiology and Treatment provide the required specialist foundation, followed by an advanced option such as Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, Tissue Immunity and Cancer, or From Diagnostics to Therapy: The Application of Translational Research in Cancer.
• Individual Laboratory Research: Students complete at least one year of original research in a cancer research laboratory, working with a research mentor and developing a project that can meet the standard of a senior honors project and potentially contribute data to peer-reviewed research.
• Research Thesis: Students must produce a research thesis based on their independent cancer research, with review by their faculty research mentor and an expert faculty thesis committee.
• Cancer Research Laboratories: UChicago provides access to a large cancer research environment involving faculty across biology, medicine, chemistry, computer science, bioengineering, and related fields. The Committee on Cancer Biology notes that more than 100 faculty work across cancer research areas ranging from molecular mechanisms to advanced therapies.
• Pediatric Cancer Research: The Thompson Lab offers undergraduate students the opportunity to undertake a year-long independent research program focused on the molecular drivers of pediatric brain-tumor dissemination and development of peptide vaccines.
• Cancer Immunology Research: The Park Laboratory investigates cancer immunity and the interaction between the immune system and microbiome, using expertise spanning immunology, microbiology, and cancer biology.
• Advanced Imaging: The Sipkins Lab uses state-of-the-art multiphoton and confocal optical imaging to study normal and cancerous hematopoietic stem-cell niches in vivo.
• Cancer Research Facilities: UChicago’s biological-sciences facilities include the Advanced Electron Microscopy Facility, MRI Research Center, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, and Pharmacology Core Facility, with the latter specifically supporting cancer therapeutics and clinical/preclinical drug-development research.
• Shared Research Infrastructure: The Office of Shared Research Facilities provides state-of-the-art instrumentation, technical instruction, and assistance with experimental design, giving researchers access to specialized technologies beyond individual laboratories.
• Cancer Seminars: Students specializing in Cancer Biology are encouraged to attend cancer biology-related seminars, including activities associated with the Committee on Cancer Biology and the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Research Internships: The Biological Sciences curriculum explicitly provides access to research opportunities and internships, including opportunities associated with the Marine Biological Laboratory and UChicago’s Paris campus.
• Collaborative Biomedical Research: The Chicago Biomedical Consortium connects UChicago with Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Chicago and provides access to additional biomedical research facilities and collaboration opportunities.
• Research Institutes: Students benefit from proximity to research organizations including the Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology, which uses genome analysis, high-throughput screening, and biological computation, as well as the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.
• Computational Resources: UChicago’s research infrastructure includes the Data Visualization Lab within the Research Computing Center, supporting data analysis, visualization, and educational activities relevant to modern biological research.
• Honors-Level Research: The Cancer Biology specialization’s independent research is designed to reach a standard appropriate for a senior honors project, giving students an opportunity to develop substantial research experience before graduation. 

The University of Chicago’s Cancer Biology pathway is offered as a Specialization in Cancer Biology within the Biological Sciences major, rather than as a standalone BA titled “Cancer Biology.” Students build expertise in cancer biology through specialized coursework, at least one year of original research in a cancer research laboratory, and a research thesis. This foundation can support careers in biomedical research and biotechnology as well as progression into medical and graduate education.

Typical career roles: Biological Research Assistant, Laboratory Research Technician, Biotechnology Research Associate, Biomedical Research Associate

: UChicago provides several career and research resources that connect Biological Sciences students with employers, laboratories, internships, and postgraduate opportunities:

• Biological Sciences Career Advising: UChicago’s Careers in Biological Sciences provides specialized advising through Handshake, internship and professional-development updates, career resources, and guidance for careers in research, healthcare, biotechnology, policy, education, and related fields.
• Research Opportunities: Students can gain hands-on research experience with UChicago faculty in its biological and biomedical research environment, supporting preparation for graduate programs, professional schools, and research careers.
• Cancer Research: The Cancer Biology specialization requires students to identify a research project and mentor, participate in an original cancer research project for at least one year, and submit a research thesis reviewed by a faculty thesis committee.
• Research Environment: UChicago’s cancer research ecosystem includes the NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ludwig Center for Metastasis Research, and more than 100 faculty working across biology, medicine, chemistry, computer science, and bioengineering.
• Employer Connections: Biological Sciences career events and treks have featured organizations including AbbVie, Biogen, Ginkgo Bioworks, Tempus, Tessera Therapeutics, BillionToOne, Shape Therapeutics, and Flatiron Health, giving students opportunities to meet employers and learn about internships and careers.
• Biological Sciences Career Cohort: UChicago’s first-year Biological Sciences Career Cohort specifically exposes students to careers at the intersection of biology and data, including biotechnology, bioinformatics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Sample employers include AbbVie, Biogen, Genentech, Ginkgo Bioworks, Illumina, Moderna, Pfizer, and Tempus.
• Medical & Healthcare Pathways: Students pursuing clinical careers can access UChicago’s specialized Careers in Healthcare guidance, covering pathways such as medicine and dentistry.
• Post-College Outcomes: For the UChicago Class of 2025, 98% received an offer for employment, graduate school, or another post-college opportunity; 71% received employment offers and 29% received graduate-school offers. These are university-wide undergraduate figures, not Cancer Biology-specific outcomes.
• Healthcare Employment: Among Class of 2025 students who received employment offers and reported an industry, 6% were in healthcare, while 13% were in science and technology. These figures cover UChicago graduates across programs rather than this specialization specifically.
• Salary Information: UChicago’s Career Advancement site publishes approximate entry-level salary figures for broad career categories. For example, it lists Biologist: $42,320 and Research Assistant in healthcare: $36,853; these are general career-path estimates and not Cancer Biology graduate salary figures.
• Industry & Translational Research: UChicago cancer research connects fundamental cancer biology with translational applications. Faculty training and research activities have included work toward diagnostics, therapeutics, computational approaches, and collaboration with industry-oriented organizations.
• Long-Term Academic Value: The specialization’s research thesis and laboratory experience can provide substantial preparation for research-intensive postgraduate study. UChicago also has a dedicated Committee on Cancer Biology PhD, where research spans cancer biology, molecular mechanisms, and advanced therapies.
• Accreditation: UChicago’s official Biological Sciences and Cancer Biology pages do not identify a separate professional accreditation specifically for the Cancer Biology specialization. Therefore, no additional accreditation claim is stated here.
• Graduation Outcomes: The Cancer Biology specialization is particularly suited to students interested in cancer research and biomedical science, with the required laboratory research and thesis providing a direct research foundation. UChicago also identifies graduate and professional education as important destinations for Biological Sciences students.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biological Sciences BA with the Cancer Biology specialization, students can progress to PhD programs in Cancer Biology, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, immunology, or related biomedical sciences, including UChicago’s own Committee on Cancer Biology PhD. Students interested in clinical careers can also pursue medical, dental, or other health-professional education, while the research thesis and laboratory experience provide preparation for research-focused postgraduate study.