Inspire Summer Studentships 

The EPIC Inspire Summer Studentship will provide 10,000 CAD, paid to the supervisor, to support the payroll for the summer student for a 12-16-week term. The supervisor may supplement this award, if desired. EPIC Inspire Summer Studentships are non-renewable. Recipients will have priority access to EPIC workshops, networking events and training courses for one year following the receipt of their studentship. 

EPIC anticipates supporting four summer studentships for the 2026 term. 

Recipients must fulfill the academic requirements of their degree program and plan of study. Recipients will gain a core set of interrogative skills in the area of infectious disease through their research, coursework and/or attendance and participation at EPIC trainee events and programs. Recipients must also complete a survey at the end of their summer studentship and are required to acknowledge EPIC funding in publications, presentations and communications resulting from their award. 

Applications for the EPIC Inspire Summer Studentships will be evaluated based on the following criteria for eligible trainees: 

• Research potential 
• Academic merit 

Project title: Prospecting for phage

Supervisor: Alexander Ensminger (Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: Having identified the first phage to infect Legionella (Nicholson et al, Science Advances 2025), we now set our sites on identifying additional phages, their impact on human disease, and the defences that bacteria erect to avoid them. This will involve bioinformatic analysis, bacterial genetics, and well-established phage infection models. Existing phages will be engineered to better restrict Legionella growth and strategies will be developed to activate infectious phage from isolates containing intact prophage genomes.

Mode: On-site (St. George Campus, University of Toronto)

Project title: Protein-repellent coatings for infection-resistant catheters

Supervisor: Kevin Golovin (Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto)

Description: This project focuses on the development of a surface coating for in-dwelling catheters, which often lead to hospital-associated infections due to the formation of biofilms on their inner walls. Biofilm formation starts with protein adsorption, and so the project involves the development of a coating with reduced adhesion to proteins such as albumin and fibrinogen, on catheter materials such as silicones. 

Mode: On-site (St. George Campus, University of Toronto)

Project title: Durable protection against respiratory virus infection via oral vaccination

Supervisor: Jennifer Gommerman (Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines were pivotal for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. However, breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals still occur, and systemic mRNA vaccines generate limited protective IgA responses in the respiratory tract. Similarly, intranasal vaccines aimed to elicit anti-viral immunity at the site of infection have only shown modest success. This project aims to leverage the small intestinal niche of long-lived IgA plasma cells that, importantly, can recirculate to other tissues like the respiratory tract. Orally delivered LNPs containing self-replicating mRNA vaccines will be used in proof-of-principle studies to ascertain their impact on protective IgA responses in the respiratory tract.

Mode: On-site (Medical Sciences Building, St. George Campus)

Project title: Black women’s experiences of structural racism in accessing HIV services in Toronto

Supervisor: Daniel Grace (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto)

Description: This project critically examines how race, racism, and power shape access to HIV services and biomedical prevention technologies among Black women in Toronto. Using a critical race narrative methodology, the research mobilizes Black women’s stories to expose structural forms of anti-Black racism in HIV testing, treatment, and prevention. The student will support knowledge mobilization activities, including developing publications, community reports, and presentations that translate research findings for academic, policy, and community audiences. Their work will help disseminate insights that challenge racial inequities and inform more just, inclusive, and effective HIV prevention and care responses.

Mode: Remote (Hybrid option available based at St. George Campus, University of Toronto)

Project title: Response to Infectious Disease (RID): Rapidly deployable engineering controls as non-pharmaceutical interventions

Supervisor: Sarah Haines (Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto)

Description: This project tests scalable non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens in indoor environments. We will evaluate far-UVC light, HEPA filtration, and ionization technologies using both bench-scale and human-participant studies in the novel Twin-Suites Rooftop Lab on UofTs campus. Leveraging upper respiratory tract bacteria and biomarkers as viral surrogates, data will inform models linking indoor air interventions with infection risk reduction. The interdisciplinary team will generate evidence to guide policy and implementation of NPIs in high-risk settings such as schools, care homes and hospitals. Undergraduate researchers will gain a diverse skill-set in both indoor air and epidemiology.

Mode: On-site (St. George Campus, University of Toronto)

Project title: Community-based surveillance systems for acute respiratory infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Supervisor: Benita Hosseini (Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: This project will systematically review and synthesize evidence on community-based surveillance systems for acute respiratory infections (ARI), including sentinel primary care networks, household-based sampling, participatory digital surveillance, school absenteeism monitoring, and over-the-counter medication sales. The review will assess effectiveness, timeliness, acceptability, and sustainability of these approaches, and compare them with hospital- and laboratory-based surveillance. Where feasible, meta-analyses will be conducted to quantify performance measures (e.g., sensitivity, timeliness, correlation with laboratory-confirmed incidence). Findings will inform policy and practice by identifying promising surveillance models that enhance pandemic preparedness and early detection of respiratory outbreaks.

Mode: Hybrid (MAP Centre for Urban Studies)

Project title: Are there post-vaccination or infection antibody levels that correlate with protection against COVID-19 after exposure and during outbreaks?

Supervisor: Christopher Kandel (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto)

Description: Nosocomial exposures to individuals with COVID-19 continue to occur and these events provide a unique opportunity to explore whether an immunologic marker can serve as a correlate of protection against infection. We plan to create a multicenter prospective cohort of exposed hospital roommates to determine whether antibody titres or neutralization activity confers protection. Identifying an immune correlate will be invaluable in the design and timing of future iterations of COVID-19 vaccines. The student would assist with the design and implementation of the cohort and collaborate with trainees on the PRECISE team at other institutions.

Mode: Hybrid (Michael Garron Hospital)

Project title: Understanding the genomic epidemiology of non-influenza respiratory viruses

Supervisor: Rob Kozak (Sunnybrook Research Institute and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: This project focuses on understanding the changing genomic epidemiology of respiratory viruses in Ontario and how they evade the host immune response. Whole genome sequencing and cell culture will be paired with clinical data to characterize the pathogenesis of these viruses.

Mode: On-site (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre)

Project title: Designing next-generation probiotics with enhanced biosafety for infectious disease control

Supervisor: Freeman Lan (Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto)

Description: The gut microbiome hosts millions of organisms essential for health yet also serves as a reservoir for potential pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs). Engineered probiotics are promising new therapeutic interventions but raise biosafety concerns due to possible unintended dissemination, long-term persistence, and host-to-host transmission. This project aims to engineer Escherichia coli Nissle to be auxotrophic for D-alanine by deleting its alanine racemase activity, preventing growth without external supplementation. This auxotrophy ensures genetic and cellular containment while retaining probiotic function. This work will also advance the development of safe, next-generation probiotics to fight against gut pathogens and ARBs.

Mode: On-site (St. George Campus, University of Toronto)

Project title: Characterizing toxin expression from vaginal Lactobacillus iners

Supervisor: William Navarre (Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: The vaginal microbiome is closely tied to host health, as dysbiosis causes bacterial vaginosis (BV). The role of Lactobacillus iners in the vaginal microbiome is unclear, as it can be found colonizing both healthy women and those with BV. L. iners encodes a pore-forming toxin, inerolysin, which can damage vaginal epithelial cells. However, when inerolysin is expressed is not well understood, with transcriptomics indicating expression increases during BV. This project will involve editing L. iners to create a GFP inerolysin reporter, identifying media conditions that trigger expression, and measuring inerolysin production in a panel of L. iners strains.

Mode: On-site (MaRS West Tower)

Project title: In utero exposure to HIV and antiretrovirals and impacts on placental function and fetal development

Supervisor: Lena Serghides (University Health Network and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: Using our EcoHIV mouse pregnancy model the student will participate in on going study investigating the effects of HIV and HIV medication exposure on placenta nutrient transport and fetal development.

Mode: On-site (Toronto General Hospital)

Project title: Examining the impact of unregulated fentanyl adulterated with non-medical benzodiazepines and veterinary sedatives on the health and infectious disease risks of people who use drugs: A mixed methods study

Supervisor: Carol Strike (Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto)

Description: This mixed-methods study explores the intersections of fentanyl, non-medical benzodiazepines (NMBs), and emerging adulterants such as xylazine and medetomidine in the unregulated drug supply. The project examines how exposure to these substances influences drug use patterns, injection and wound-care practices, and associated risks for HIV, hepatitis C virus, and other injection-related infections for diverse people who use drugs (PWUD): race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality. Using surveys and urine drug screening, we will estimate the prevalence of NMB/xylazine exposure and document related wounds and cognitive effects. Semi-structured interviews will further explore overdose knowledge, harm reduction practices, and barriers to accessing wound and infection care.

Mode: Hyrbid (Health Sciences Building, University of Toronto)

Project title: Scoping review on high-priority pathogens to inform inter-pandemic research directions for the PRECISE study

Supervisor: Darrell Tan (Unity Health Toronto and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: The Clinical Domain of the PRECISE (Prepare, React, Collect, Innovate, Share and Engage) study involves a flexible prospective cohort study protocol for rapidly characterizing emerging/pandemic infectious disease threats. During inter-pandemic periods, we will harness this platform to study high priority pathogens prioritized by a survey of PRECISE investigators to be conducted in the Winter 2026. This studentship will involve a scoping review of published literature on the highest priority inter-pandemic pathogens, to inform research directions for the PRECISE clinical platform over the next 1-2 years. The studentship will be enriched through collaboration with PRECISE trainees at other institutions.

Mode: On-site (St. Michael’s Hospital)

Project title: Roles of inflammation-dependent transcriptional plasticity in mouse olfactory sensory neurons

Supervisor: Tatsuya Tsukahara (Sinai Health, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto)

Description: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people experienced the impairment of sense of smell and taste. We and others have shown that inflammation is a key signal for such impairment. In addition, inflammation is known to be a critical driver of various neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, many of which are also associated with olfactory dysfunctions. Based on our recent finding that inflammation in the nose reconfigures transcriptomes of olfactory sensory neurons that detect odors, we will test if these inflammation-dependent changes modify sensory responses and odor-driven behavior by using several models that mimic bacterial or viral infection in the nose.

Mode: On-site (Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute) 

Project title: Equity, social responsibility, and determinants of health surrounding prophylactic doxycycline use to prevent bacterial STI among diverse sexual minority men and gender diverse people in Canada

Supervisor: Tin Vo (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto)

Description: The purpose of this project is to explore prophylactic doxycycline use (post-exposure prophylaxis; doxy-PEP) among diverse (e.g., Indigenous, Black, immigrants) sexual minority men (e.g., gay, bisexual) and gender diverse people (e.g., Two-Spirit, nonbinary individuals) in Canada. The implementation of doxy-PEP, including access, is a patchwork across Canada with inequitable access for certain subgroups, including Indigenous and Black individuals, as well as immigrants and newcomers. Further, the imminent launch of national guidelines might have implications for how doxy-PEP might be implemented in each province and territory. This project centres equity, social responsibility, and determinants of health that shape intentions and actual use of doxy-PEP among these populations. Some research exists in Canada about the willingness of sexual minority men to use doxy-PEP. However, the existing studies include samples with a majority of white sexual minority men. Moreover, a gap exists in understanding the factors and decision-making processes around doxy-PEP use. We will conduct a qualitative study exploring intentions and actual use of doxy-PEP (whether they currently use or intend to use) by diverse sexual minority men and gender diverse people, including people of colour and/or immigrants and newcomers to Canada. We will explore the factors and decision-making processes around doxy-PEP use (or non-use). The project will entail reviewing and updating a literature review, conducting virtual one-on-one interviews with diverse sexual minority men and gender diverse people, analyzing the interview data, and producing a research report. This study has implications on wide-scale antibiotic (i.e., doxycycline) use and concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance, which is pertinent for pandemic preparedness and national/global one health frameworks.

Mode: Hybrid or remote (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work)

Project title: Socially responsive sexual healthcare for racialized 2S/LGBTQ+ communities in Canada: Setting research priorities

Supervisor: Tin Vo (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto)

Description: 2S/LGBTQ+ communities continue to face barriers in accessing sexual healthcare, including systemic oppression (e.g., heterosexism and cisnormativity) that undermines access to primary care, leading to identity erasure and disclosure avoidance, lack of relevant services, and histories of trauma with health professionals, all of which often result in avoiding or delaying medical visits. As such, 2S/LGBTQ+ communities face disparities in sexual health, such as higher rates of sexually transmitted and bloodborne infections (STBBIs) among sexual minority men and trans people. Despite scholarship illustrating inequitable SRH outcomes for 2S/LGBTQ+ communities and racialized communities, little is known about the primary care experiences and needs at the intersections of sexual and/or gender diversity and racial diversity. This project aims to synthesize and translate research through a community-engaged approach that shapes a research agenda to improve access to, and create socially responsive, sexual healthcare of racialized 2S/LGBTQ+ communities in Ontario. The student will be involved in three key activities: 1) A rapid review of peer-reviewed and grey literature published since January 2020 on sexual healthcare of racialized 2S/LGBTQ+ individuals from high-income countries; 2) An environmental scan of Canadian organizations and sexual healthcare providers; and 3) Planning of deliberative dialogue sessions at UofT and on Zoom with sexual healthcare providers and racialized 2S/LGBTQ+ people. If the student continues with this project into their fourth-year, then they can participate in the deliberative dialogue sessions, including co-facilitating small group discussions. The student will help produce briefing notes, infographics, factsheets, and manuscripts based on the rapid review and deliberative dialogue sessions, depending on the progress of the project.

Mode: Hybrid or remote (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work)

Project title: Oxidative stress and barrier integrity during respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus (FluA) co-infection in human airway models

Supervisor: Amy Wong (The Hospital for Sick Children and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Univeristy of Toronto)

Description: This project investigates how oxidative stress and epithelial barrier integrity influence viral competition between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza A virus (FluA) in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived airway cultures. The student will quantify reactive oxygen species (ROS) and barrier function (TEER, FITC-dextran permeability, ZO-1 immunostaining) following single and co-infections. Interferon-stimulated gene expression will be analyzed by qPCR to link redox stress with antiviral signaling. Antioxidant treatment (N-acetylcysteine) will test the redox dependence of viral interference and epithelial injury. Findings will reveal how oxidative balance and epithelial tight junction integrity shape co-infection outcomes in the pediatric airway.

Mode: On-site (The Hospital for Sick Children)