<p>Im intending to pursue a PhD in cancer biology and I wonder if MD Anderson Cancer centre is good? I have been thinking about graduate studies in Research Institution or Universities. In Research institution e.g. MD Anderson, scripps research, salk institutes, it seems more better as it allows you to work alongside professional scientists while im universities, its still more of an "learning" acadaemia environment. so share your thoughts please?</p>
<p>I disagree that research institutions are any different than universities. I worked as a tech for a couple of years at a health science center and now am a graduate student at a traditional university. The environment is pretty identical. The major shifts in culture come from differences like size of lab, clinical division vs academic department, age of PI, make up of lab the lab (# of postdocs, # of students). I looked in depth at Univ of Houston Health Science Center and Baylor College of Medicine for graduate school and the shortcomings I found with those institutions in MD Anderson had nothign to do with being affiliated with research institutions.</p>