Education POWERED
by Prouty

POWERED opens doors for undergraduates eager to explore oncology by giving them the hands-on experiences they need to pursue advanced training. Over two years, undergraduates interested in pursuing MD or PhD or other advanced degrees prepare through one or two nine-week summers of mentored, full-time research at Dartmouth Cancer Center, followed by four semesters of part-time work—about ten hours a week—in laboratories at their home institutions.

This sustained engagement produces real scientific outcomes, with all participants presenting posters at the annual NH-INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) conference and sharing their work at Dartmouth Cancer Center’s summer open house. Since 2017, 64 students have participated in POWERED and its predecessor, the Dartmouth Opportunities in Oncology Research (DOOR) program—the first NCI-funded research experience for undergraduates at DCC. Of the 46 participants who have graduated thus far, 80% pursued careers in STEM, biomedical, and cancer-related fields. Alumni have become published researchers, earned bylines in top journals, and advanced to train or work at other leading institutions.

Finding Community in Science

For some students, like Kwabena Asare ’25, POWERED provides more than research skills; it also offers belonging and confidence in pursuing ambitious scientific careers. In 2021, Asare arrived at Dartmouth eager to pursue an independent research project at a skin cancer lab. But Asare was beset by doubts about whether his ambitions were “unconventional for a Black person” and “out of reach,” as he writes in a 2023 essay published in Science. Mentors reassured Asare and encouraged him to apply to POWERED, which Asare now credits for helping him find his community.

Before joining the program, the thought of presenting in lab meetings filled him “with utter dread,” Asare wrote in a 2024 essay published in Nature. But once immersed in a tight-knit POWERED cohort, “interacting with people who share both my skin color and my passion for science reinvigorated my drive to be a scientist.”

Asare adds that POWERED, “beyond supporting minorities in science, empowers us to impact our communities.” Writing is one way he chooses to do this, as in his recent editorial about gender parity in African science and the need to support African women scientists, which he co-authored with Fatima Cody, MD, MPH, MPA, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, in October 2024.

While Asare is a Dartmouth alumnus, other POWERED participants hail from small colleges across the country. “The impact on students coming from relatively small colleges is transformative,” explains Fiering, who also serves as professor of microbiology and immunology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. “We try to help them feel like they do belong in a serious biomedical research institute, that they belong here with [other] really bright and well-trained people.”

The ripple effects of this transformation extend well beyond Dartmouth. Take David Laseinde, who arrived from the University of Southern Mississippi and has since worked across multiple labs in areas, from structural biology and chemokine development to cancer immunotherapy. Under the mentorship of Fiering, oncologist Rodwell Mabaera, MD, and Olúwatóyìn Ajíbọ́lá Aṣojò, PhD, associate director for inclusive excellence at Dartmouth Cancer Center and professor in biochemistry and cell biology at Geisel, Laseinde has researched how macrophages—immune cells that can either fight or fuel tumors—respond to specific protein signals. He’s also explored combination therapies to enhance the body’s anti-cancer response, co-authoring publications from his collaborative work at Dartmouth Cancer Center. Students from institutions nationwide may arrive unsure of their place in research, but they leave as confident contributors to cutting-edge cancer science, with experiences ranging from vaccine development to novel gene-targeted therapies.

Building Lasting Networks

Relationships forged through POWERED last well beyond graduation, creating a network of young cancer researchers who support each other’s careers and the program itself. Recently, Aṣojò asked a member of the 2023 cohort to write a letter of support for a grant renewal. Instead of one letter, Aṣojò received responses from the entire cohort. Apparently, 2023 graduates were so readily in touch that reaching out to one of them was like reaching out to all of them.

“A lot of our activities are cohort-based. It’s very interesting to see the kind of friendships the cohort builds. They become lifelong friends,” notes Fiering. “Even when they come from research-intensive institutions, it’s kind of isolating when you have this specific niche interest within STEM or cancer biology.”

POWERED has also become both a recruitment and retention tool for Dartmouth itself. Six program graduates have chosen to continue their education or careers at the institution, including current medical students and research associates who discovered their calling through the program. This return on investment strengthens Dartmouth’s research enterprise while building loyalty among emerging scientific leaders.

Overcoming New Challenges

With increasing volatility in federal funding, many higher education programs have adapted their focus and sought alternative support. POWERED has always leaned on supplemental funding to eliminate roadblocks to students’ participation, with federal grants covering only $1,000 for housing that costs $2,800 per student. Prouty funding continues to consistently fill these gaps, ensuring talented students aren’t excluded due to financial barriers.

With support from The Prouty, POWERED students receive a $16.50 hourly stipend, and practical support for housing, transportation, and meals, removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent talented young scientists from accessing training. The program particularly benefits first-generation college students and those from underrepresented backgrounds, helping level the playing field in competitive scientific careers—and ensuring that every qualified scholar has access to cancer research training. After all, the next breakthrough in cancer treatment could come from any one of these students.

As POWERED prepares to welcome its next cohort in March 2026 (applications open fall 2025), the program stands as testament to what’s possible when community support meets scientific excellence. Current students continue pushing the boundaries of cancer research—studying tumor immunology, addressing rural patient barriers, developing diagnostic innovations—all because the Prouty community stepped in to sustain this important training program.

POWERED now stands as a living symbol of the Prouty’s mission: powering bold ideas, supporting dedicated people, and proving that when it comes to fighting cancer, community support can transform individual lives while building the scientific workforce of tomorrow.