Ride for Jim

About the Fellowship

The James D. Popp Student Research Fund has been established in memory of Jim Popp who died of cancer at the age of 45 in August of 2007. He was a caring physician, talented athlete, faithful friend, devoted husband and loving father of five children. Jim worked in the laboratory of Dr. Jack Haar prior to and during the years he was a medical student and at MCV from 1984 to 1988.

A 4000 mile TransAmerica bicycle ride, RideForJim, was undertaken in 2008 by Dr. Haar and his son Philip as a way of raising funds and promoting the need for more resources to end the scourge of cancer. Dr. Haar completed the ride in the summer of 2008 with the support of Philip. A second year medical student, Charley Nottingham, completed the RideForJim in the summer of 2009 thus establishing it as an annual event. Four riders completed the 3rd Annual RideForJim in the summer of 2010 and eight cyclist rode portions of the Trans America route in 2011.

The purpose of the James D. Popp Student Research Fellowship is to support talented first year medical and dental students to do cancer related research at the Massey Cancer Center beginning in the summer between their first and second year of professional school. The intent is to expose bright students to the world of cancer research with the hope that the experience will lead them to pursue a career that incorporates cancer research with patient care.

Through the efforts of the riders and contributions from hundreds of family members, friends, and supporters the fund reached the point at which the first award was made to a student in the summer of 2010 and a second award was made in 2011. Applications are now being solicited from students interested in being considered for the 2012 James D. Popp Student Research Fellowship.

Criteria

Applicants for the fellowship should be either an entering or first year medical or dental student and will need to articulate a compelling reason for wanting to learn more about cancer research. The award is not intended for students who have previously had extensive research experience or who have already made a commitment to research. Instead it is intended for professional students who may not have previously had research experience but who, during their first year of professional school, have been awakened to the connection between research and treating or solving a perplexing clinical challenge.

Stipend and expectations

James D. Popp Summer Research Scholars will receive a stipend of $4000 to be used for summer living expenses plus $1000 to attend a national scientific conference such as the American Association for Cancer Research or a small specialty meeting of the AACR or the Gordon Conferences dedicated to the area of research being studied. They will also be expected to participate in the Forbes Student Honors Colloquium in the spring and the annual Watts Research Symposium in the fall.

Applicants will be required to identify a mentor and laboratory in which to work. Dr. Gordon Ginder, Director of the Massey Cancer Center, and Dr. Richard Moran, Associate Director for Basic Research, will assist the applicants in identifying an appropriate setting in which to work. The mentor must be a member of the Massey Cancer Center, be willing to serve as a sponsor, and provide an environment where the research fellow can be an active participate in a research project.

Recipients of the award will be expected to devote their maximum effort to full-time work in the laboratory for a minimum of eight weeks either during the summer for medical students, or an equivalent amount of time scheduled in concentrated periods as time permits for dental students. There is also the expectation that throughout the remaining years of professional school recipients will make an effort to continue working in the laboratory when time is available.

The James D. Popp Summer Research Scholars will be expected to attend the two events that culminate the TransAmerica RideForJim fund raising effort, namely the Richmond Rally to welcome the TranAmerica riders back to Richmond and the Yorktown Finale ride from MCV to Yorktown. There will also be opportunities for the recipients to serve as spokespersons for RideForJim and participate in future fundraising efforts.

Applying

The deadline to apply for this summer's fellowship is March 1, 2012

To apply, please fill out the below document. Feel free to expand the space to meet your needs.

Please submit your application online to Dr. Jack L. Haar jlhaar@vcu.edu If you have questions about the application feel free to contact Dr. Haar.

2012 Application