Sir

Each year the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyons, France, announces a competition for training fellowships. As a rejected candidate in last year's round, I would like to draw attention to what I consider to be a non-transparent system of selection, which fails in its responsibility to give feedback to young scientists trying to establish a career.

I was given only seven days notice of an interview which was conducted by only one person. Yet, despite this short notice, I had to wait three months before being told — by fax — that my application was unsuccessful.

I immediately asked the IARC for the reason for my rejection. I was told that it was against agency policy to give such information. I then asked for more precise information about the list of applicants, the scoring each received and, again, the reason for my failure to be shortlisted. After some delay I was told that this information was confidential.

Obtaining a research fellowship is a very important step in the career of a young researcher. I consider it fair that unsuccessful applicants should be allowed to understand the reasons for their exclusion and the evaluation criteria used. And interviews should be conducted more openly. IARC, and all grant-giving agencies, should employ more transparent practices.