SPIDR

The Summer Program in Infectious Disease Research (SPIDR) is one of several summer research enrichment programs collaborating with the Centers For AIDS Research (CFAR) to offer mentored summer research experiences for trainees from a range of academic levels.

The goal of the Centers For AIDS Research (CFAR) Scholar's Program is to increase the number of interested and academically prepared trainees from various backgrounds for careers in biomedical research or academic medicine with an interest in HIV/AIDS research. We provide mentored research opportunities to trainees at one or more level of training, from high school, undergraduate, graduate (masters, doctoral or medical) students, and post-doctoral trainees.

The Penn CFAR scholars’ and summer program in infectious diseases research (SPIDR) programs

Penn CFAR/SPIDR scholars are provided an 8-week, funded, clinical, translational, or basic mentored research experience.

Eligibility

  • Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or medical students able to commit to 8-weeks of fulltime summer research
  • U.S. Citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply
  • Have an interest in HIV/AIDS medicine or research
  • Have had limited exposure to mentorship or mentored research experiences

All application components are crucial for evaluation. We ask applicants to share their meaningful life experiences in the research statement. We encourage sharing of personal history, and experiences that motivate your academic pursuit, as well as any challenges overcome.

Application timeline

Date Item
November 1, 2026 Summer 2027 applications open
January 15, 2027 Applications due
June 7, 2027 Program start date
July 30, 2027 Program end date

You can complete your application using our online portal. Each section of the application needs to be completed before going to the next.

As a Penn SPIDR scholar, you will have access to:

  • Mentored research with a Faculty Member within the Penn ID Division
  • Educational conferences in clinical and basic science departments on campus
  • Direct interaction with senior ID trainees and faculty for career mentorship
  • Targeted clinical experiences ranging from inpatient consult service time to outpatient clinic shadowing. Specific opportunities can be arrange based on scholar’s interested, e.g., working with hospital epidemiologists/infection control
  • Stipend for living expenses

Program leadership

Past scholars

SPIDR scholars 2025

  • Megan Job – Albert Einstein COM
    • Mentor: Lauren Dutcher
    • Project: Community Disadvantage and Risk of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Infections in the Philadelphia Region
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  • Sophia Sauceda – UCLA
    • Mentor: Juan Matute
    • Project: Binding of Intelectin-1 to Pre-Weaning Gut Microbiota
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  • Bailey Van – Columbia University
    • Mentor: Joseph Ladines-Lim
    • Project: Impact of Single-Set Blood Culture Restriction on Patient Outcomes During the 2024 National Blood Culture Bottle Shortage: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis
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  • Paulina Martinez – University of Rochester
    • Mentor: Arianne Morrison
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  • Sarika Bapat – University of Pittsburgh
    • Mentor: Raiees Andrabi
    • Project: Targeted vaccine design strategies against Influenza
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  • Paula Cacho – Pennsylvania State University
    • Mentor: Aaron Richterman
    • Project: Correlates of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Recipients

SPIDR scholars 2026

  • Lauren Kole – Drexel University COM
  • Toochi Uradu – Drexel University COM
  • Kayla Harrell – Rosemont College
  • Pearl Obeng-Sefah – UMass Chan School of Medicine
  • Omaira Rivera Vazquez – University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Noelle Burwell – Columbia University
    • Mentors: Grace Johnson and Florence Momplaisir
    • Project: "Kept in the Loop": How Care Coordination Within the HIV Care Team Addresses Patient Wellness Priorities in the Context of Social Determinants of Health

2024 scholars

  • Carter Covington—University of Virginia
    Mentor—Michael David
    Project—Identifying Risk Factors for Staphylococcus Aureus/MRSA: A Dual Study Approach
  • David Del Valle Ortiz—University of Rochester
    Mentor—Christie Osborne
    Project—Comparison of molecular diagnostic techniques for detection of pathogens in tracheal aspirate samples from critically ill children
  • Sindy Desire—Lincoln University
    Mentor—Aaron Richterman
    Project—Characteristics of an Unconditional Cash Transfer Intervention to Improve ART Adherence for Pregnant Women with HIV in Rural Haiti
  • Nana Yaw Mensah—Princeton University
    Mentors—Nancy Aitcheson/ Florence Momplaisir
    Project—Integrating biomedical HIV prevention into gender-affirming care delivered via telemedicine
  • Sita Kottilil—Yale College
    Mentor—Katie Bar
    Project—Characterizing HIV Reservoirs in Acute and Early ART Initiated Participants
  • Willow Raine Jones—Xavier University of Louisiana
    Mentors—Nia Bhadra-Heintz/Navid Roder
    PASS CFAR scholar
  • Madison Burnett—Oakwood University
    Mentor—Dennis Kolson
    PASS CFAR scholar
  • Caleb Buell
    Mentor—Kelly Jordon-Scuitto
    SUIP CFAR scholar
  • Rasquinha Giselle
    Mentor—Sarah Tishkoff
    SUIP CFAR scholar
  • Kristin Stallings
    Mentor—Daniel Claiborne
    PREP CFAR scholar

2023 Scholars

  • Bernice Kear—Drexel College of Medicine
    Mentor—William Short
    Project—Exploring The Use of Long-Acting Cabenuva in Patients with Elevated BMI Living with HIV
  • Halle Bangura—Princeton University
    Mentor—Laura Starbird
    Project—E-Worth Cost Effectiveness Manuscript
  • Noelle Burwell—Columbia University
    Mentor—Rebecca Clark
    Project—Infant Feeding decisions of Parents Living with HIV
  • Maria Fernanda Rojas—San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
    Mentor—Pablo Tebas
    Project—Exploring Surgical Intervention: Bariatric Surgery in Individuals Living with HIV—A Retrospective Chart Analysis
  • Ugonna Adugba—Vanderbilt University
    Mentor—Harald Schmidt
    Project—Analyzing Alternative Methods for Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence Monitoring
  • Kayla Harrell—Graduate of Rosemont College
    Mentor—Sneha Thatipelli
    Project—Understanding OBGYN Facilitators and Barriers to providing PrEP Care
  • Sukaina Shivji—Princeton University
    Mentor—Ebbing Lautenbach
    Project—High Prevalence of Household Colonization by Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporin-Resistant Enterobacterales (ESCrE) in Botswana
  • Brianna Clifford—Lincoln University
    Mentor—Steven Meanley
    Project—Exploring The Virtual Presence of HIV Prevention Organizations: A Content Analysis for Community Engagement in Philadelphia
  • Elizabeth Garcia—University of Rochester
    Mentor—Angela Desmond
    Project—Developing an mRNA Vaccine that will Prevent Neonatal Herpes
  • Gabriela Grady, PASS CFAR Scholar—Bryn Mawr University
    Mentor—Florence Momplaisir
    Project—Clinics Engaged in Ending the HIV Epidemic in Philadelphia: Implementing an Organizational Intervention Addressing Structural Racism and Discrimination
  • Obinna Uzosike, PASS CFAR Scholar—Princeton University
    Mentor—Edward Kreider
    Project—In Vitro Assessment of HIV-1/SIV/SHIV Tat variants’ function in TZM-bl Cells
  • Brooke Solomon, SUIP CFAR Scholar—Howard University
    Mentor—Robert Gross
    Project—Examining the Reach of Community Health Workers: Preliminary Assessment of MAPS+ for Adherence to HIV Care

2022 Scholars

  • Brianna Lubin—Columbia University
    Mentor: Liz Lowenthal
    Project: The Effects of Depression on Neurocognitive Delays in Children with HIV
  • Raymond Zelada—University of Rochester
    Mentor: Angela Desmond
    Project: Developing an mRNA vaccine to prevent neonatal herpes
  • Chinweoke Ezeokoli—University of Michigan
    Mentors: Steven Meanley, David Metzger, Deb Dunbar
    Project: Awareness and attitudes regarding cure-related research among HIV care providers in Philadelphia
  • Dante Zanders—Mercer University School of Medicine
    Mentors: Helen Koenig, Tiffany Yuh, and Nancy Aitcheson
    Project: Acceptability and Feasibility of Implementing A Home-based HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Program In An Urban Clinic
  • Hiba Imad—Central High School
    Mentors: Drew Weissman, Ted Kreider
    Project: Synthesis of mRNA encoding Green Fluorescent Protein

    • 2021 Scholars

  • Bria McKenzie—Princeton University
    Mentors: Florence Momplaisir, Helen Koenig
    Project: COVID-19 vaccination among people living with HIV
  • Naomi Fields—Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
    Mentors: Florence Momplaisir, Helen Koenig, Suyung Kim
    Project: Ending the HIV Epidemic implementation project and CEAL