Results of the 2023 Inspire Summer Studentship Competition
The Emerging and Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC) is an integrated network for researchers, trainees and partners working to confront infectious disease challenges. We unite members across the University of Toronto and its hospital partners to accelerate cross-disciplinary work in the understanding and development of new countermeasures against pathogens. A key pillar of EPIC’s work is training the next generation of infectious disease research leaders that will help stop future pandemics and reduce the societal burdens of infectious disease.
The EPIC Inspire Summer Studentships aim to foster inclusive excellence by providing third-year Black and Indigenous undergraduate students with opportunities to engage in infectious disease research with and receive mentorship from EPIC’s faculty members. These awards support Black and Indigenous students who are interested in infectious diseases and to create a more diverse talent pool for the next generation of infectious disease research leaders.
We are pleased to share the results of our inaugural Inspire Summer Studentship competition.
Meet our 2023 Inspire Summer Studentship recipients
Mary Addo
Faculty of Arts and Science
Project title: Investigating the mucosal immune response in the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Supervisor: Rob Kozak (Sunnybrook Research Institute)
Siham Mohamud
University of Toronto Scarborough
Project title: Pilot test of a cross-sectional questionnaire about long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) technologies
Supervisors: Darrell Tan (Unity Health Toronto)
Spencer Brooks
Faculty of Arts and Science
Project title: Examining the impact of HIV/ARV in utero exposure on testicular development
Supervisor: Lena Serghides (University Health Network)
Fatma Samatar
McMaster University
Project title: A scoping review on interventions to improve vaccination among adults at high risk of pneumococcal disease
Supervisor: Shaza Fadel (University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health)
