Victoria Searls Traylor Fellowship

Details to Remember

Program Dates: June 7 - July 30, 2027
Location: Richmond, VA

For more information, contact us at MCCCRTEC@vcu.edu.

About the Fellowship

This summer fellowship supports first-year medical students as they work with one of our researchers on blood cancer research. By immersing students at this pivotal stage in their training, the fellowship aims to aid the career development of future specialists and researchers dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and other blood cancers.

This fellowship honors Victoria “Vicky” Searls Traylor, who developed MDS just a few years after witnessing her mother suffer from the same disease. Vicky sought treatment at Massey because of the hospital’s positive reputation for pioneering cancer research and innovative treatment. This fellowship, established by Thomas J. Kohlbeck (VCU ‘08) in honor and memory of his mother, continues her unwavering commitment to serving others.

Applications are open November 16, 2026 through January 8, 2027.

Program Details
You are encouraged to apply if you:
1. Have completed your first year of medical school (rising M2) at the VCU School of Medicine.
2. Have a career interest in oncology and cancer research.
3. Have identified a primary mentor and laboratory in which to conduct research. Massey’s Office of Training and Education is available to assist with this process and can be reached at MCCCRTEC@vcu.edu.
The fellowship will take place between June 7 and July 30, 2027. You are expected to commit 40 hours/week over the 8-week program period. You are encouraged to continue this laboratory work as time permits throughout your remaining years of medical school.

Fellows will work with a researcher at Massey, giving MD, MD/PhD or PhD students hands-on experience in blood cancer research where groundbreaking bone marrow transplant, targeted therapy, cellular therapy and infectious disease research is underway.

In addition to research training, fellows will gain hands-on experience through attendance at national-level conferences and participation in VCU and Massey-led educational events.

An online application as well as a resume and an abstract is required.

Review VCU’s General Resume Guide

Fellows will receive a stipend of $4,000 to cover summer living expenses and $1,000 to support travel to a national scientific conference. The stipend will be paid in installments throughout the program.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a top-50 ranked public research university (R1) in the U.S. with deep ties to innovation, creativity and the community it serves. Nationally recognized for its robust research enterprise, VCU serves as a scientific hub for innovation that bridges state-of-the-art technology with renowned faculty expertise across a variety of disciplines. Located in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, VCU sits alongside the James River line in the Piedmont region, and serves as the center of the metropolitan area known for its rich cultural history.

VCU is home to six schools—medicine, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and health professions—and is one of only two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia. VCU Massey has more than 140 members representing more than 25 academic departments across six VCU schools and colleges and are organized into three nationally-ranked research programs.

Arpine Rostomyan is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Originally from Glendale, California, she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before medical school, Arpine served as a COPE Health Scholar at Adventist Health Glendale and worked as a medical assistant in a surgical practice. She also contributed to research validating automated measurements for strabismus and developing therapeutic glasses intended to provide a more accessible treatment option.

Learn more about Arpine

You are encouraged to apply if you:

Have completed your first year of medical school (rising M2) at the VCU School of Medicine.
Have a career interest in oncology and cancer research.
Have identified a primary mentor and laboratory in which to conduct research. Massey’s Office of Training and Education is available to assist with this process and can be reached at MCCCRTEC@vcu.edu.

The fellowship will take place between June 7 and July 30, 2027. You are expected to commit 40 hours/week over the 8-week program period. You are encouraged to continue this laboratory work as time permits throughout your remaining years of medical school.

Fellows will work with a researcher at Massey, giving MD, MD/PhD or PhD students hands-on experience in blood cancer research where groundbreaking bone marrow transplant, targeted therapy, cellular therapy and infectious disease research is underway.

In addition to research training, fellows will gain hands-on experience through attendance at national-level conferences and participation in VCU and Massey-led educational events.

An online application as well as a resume and an abstract is required.

Review VCU’s General Resume Guide

Fellows will receive a stipend of $4,000 to cover summer living expenses and $1,000 to support travel to a national scientific conference. The stipend will be paid in installments throughout the program.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a top-50 ranked public research university (R1) in the U.S. with deep ties to innovation, creativity and the community it serves. Nationally recognized for its robust research enterprise, VCU serves as a scientific hub for innovation that bridges state-of-the-art technology with renowned faculty expertise across a variety of disciplines. Located in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, VCU sits alongside the James River line in the Piedmont region, and serves as the center of the metropolitan area known for its rich cultural history.

VCU is home to six schools—medicine, public health, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and health professions—and is one of only two NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in Virginia. VCU Massey has more than 140 members representing more than 25 academic departments across six VCU schools and colleges and are organized into three nationally-ranked research programs.

Arpine Rostomyan headshot Arpine Rostomyan is a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Originally from Glendale, California, she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before medical school, Arpine served as a COPE Health Scholar at Adventist Health Glendale and worked as a medical assistant in a surgical practice. She also contributed to research validating automated measurements for strabismus and developing therapeutic glasses intended to provide a more accessible treatment option.

Learn more about Arpine

Victoria Searls Traylor Fellowship for Research and Innovation in Hematological and Infectious Diseases

Details to Remember

About the Fellowship