The Division of Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School and the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) invites college students (rising sophomores - seniors), college graduates taking a gap year (or gap years) prior to postgraduate training, and medical or graduate students to participate in a 7-week summer fellowship program that provides development in clinical and basic research skills in the field of Infectious diseases, building a bridge to careers in medicine, pubic health, infectious disease research, and administration. The long-term goal is to assist underrepresented persons of color, who have historically been excluded from careers in health and medicine, in building essential skills for their future careers.

View the BRIDGE program description and application: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvNjoh9rBFbikZPhZTcjiNWQbhtZX982eg01zrXUUELjqbQg/viewform

The Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Infectious Diseases, in partnership with CFAR, brings together a range of innovative clinical care, research, education, and training programs. Our division and CFAR includes world-class experts in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, with a long history of innovation in research and clinical care, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, transplantation and oncology-related infections, microbial pathogenesis, infectious disease epidemiology, hospital epidemiology, global health, and infections in pregnancy.

Key Components of the Mentored Fellowship Include: Experiential and didactic learning through division meetings and educational sessions, including, but not limited to, journal club sessions, lectures, webinars, and guest presentations.

A specific research project, conducted under the supervision of a faculty mentor, with a presentation of this research project at the end of the fellowship program to the Division of Infectious Diseases faculty, trainees, and staff. Project and career mentoring through career development meetings. Long-term mentor/mentee pairing to guide further career planning.

Eligibility and Timelines: The summer fellowship program is best suited for college undergraduate students (rising sophomores - seniors), college graduates taking a gap year (or gap years) prior to matriculation in a post-graduate program, and medical students (Y1-Y4) or graduate/PhD students with an interest in infectious diseases, medicine, global health, epidemiology, or health services research.

Individuals who self-identify from racial and ethnic groups traditionally underrepresented in biomedical research, as defined by the National Institutes of Health (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/underrepresented-person-definition), are eligible.

Quantitative coursework, skills, or experience are preferred, but not required. Prior research experience is not required, but applicants must be able to convey an interest in infectious diseases and articulate how this program will help them achieve their long-term career goals.

Stipend: Participants of the program will receive a stipend of $4,375 for their participation in this summer research fellowship to help cover their costs of living for the 7-week period (June 12 - July 28, 2023). Housing will be provided at a local college campus (a private bedroom within a shared unit with a kitchen) for the duration of the BRIDGE program. Expenses exceeding this stipend cannot be covered by the program, unfortunately. Applicants are expected to complete the 7-week program in its entirety.

The application deadline is Friday, February 24 2023 at 5:00pm EST with a program start date of June 12, 2023 and a conclusion date of July 28, 2023. We expect to complete brief interviews and notify applicants of their selection by early March 2023.