INSPIRE

INfectious Diseases Summer Program Integrating Research at Emory

Individuals who identify as African American, Hispanic/Latino/a/x, Native American, and/or Pacific Islanders comprise approximately 39% of the college population but earn only 13% of doctoral degrees in the life sciences and constitute only 13% of recent medical graduates and 7.3% of full-time medical faculty.

The objective of INSPIRE is to prepare 48 underrepresented undergraduate students from throughout the country for a career in infectious diseases (ID) research by implementing a 10-week summer research experience, delivering courses for professional and research skills development, and establishing a mentorship program that directly addresses identity and underrepresentation. At the same time and in preparation, the program will strengthen the capacity of the institution to mentor underrepresented trainees by conducting workshops in mentoring and facilitation for 75 post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty who are underrepresented and 87 faculty who are research and identity mentors. 

Aims

1. Implementing an in-person summer research experience at Emory University
2. Instill skills in professional development and research by delivering in-person and online career guidance to how to enter medical and graduate school and pursue a path in research and healthcare.
3. Support trainees in their ID research career by creating a welcoming research environment and providing mentors who have been trained in research mentorship and how to educate students from diverse backgrounds more effectively.

Approach

In Aim 1, undergraduate students from groups historically excluded from and underrepresented in science and medicine will be matched with a research mentor and a laboratory or clinical field site for a 10-week in-person summer research experience that will result in an abstract and poster presentation at a research symposium conducted at the end of the period. In Aim 2, we will deliver in-person and online courses on: a) career guidance to enter medical and/or graduate school; b) biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research topics related to the NIAID mission; and c) understanding how researchers from underrepresented groups can successfully pursue a path in research and healthcare. In Aim 3, we will: a) provide undergraduate trainees with agency to select from a pool of identity mentors who have diverse ethnic, racial, cultural backgrounds, and experiences, who will maintain regular contact the trainees for one year; b) conduct Mentoring Up workshops for 75 post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty; and c) provide workshops on mentoring and facilitation for 87 faculty members who are research and identity mentors.  

 

How to apply

INSPIRE is now accepting applications from Emory and non-Emory undergraduates who will be juniors or seniors in the 2025-2026 academic year. We collaborate with the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) at Emory for the application process.

The application involves two steps:

1. Create a College Connect account with Emory College of Arts and Sciences
2. Then, apply using this link and make sure to select the application for INSPIRE.

Applicants will be asked to provide a CV, transcript, reference letter, personal statement, and career goals statement. Please apply by January 20, 2025.

If you have any questions about the application, please reach out to Amandine Zoonekyndt at aballa3@emory.edu. 

Funding

INSPIRE is funded through a US National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) grant: R25 AI175048.

Articles

June 25, 2024: Emory launches mentorship program to INSPIRE and diversify next generation of infectious disease researchers

INSPIRE Participants and their Emory Research Mentors