Program Overview

Each summer, SHARE will welcome a cohort of six to seven scholars into its program. Each of these scholars will conduct a focused research project under the mentorship of experienced faculty.

The research project will be jointly selected by the scholar and their mentor(s) in one of four priority HIV research areas:

1. Health disparities
2. Social determinants of health
3. Prevention and care continuum
4. Comorbidities

Scholars will also attend a series of weekly seminars on topics including research design and methods, HIV prevention approaches, substance use and mental health research, professional development, health and racial equity, and possible research careers. Scholars may also have the opportunities to participate in their mentor's research activities and in social and networking events with other scholars. 

Research Opportunities

At the beginning of the summer program, scholars will be matched with a “Research Mentor”, based on preference, interests, and availability of the mentor. Alongside the research mentor, scholars will: 

• Use either existing data from mentors' projects or from other sources, and identify a research question they would like to see answered. The final research project will be jointly selected in one of four priority HIV research areas:
  • health disparities
  • social determinants of health
  • prevention and care continuum
  • comorbidities
• Prepare and deliver a presentation of the findings to fellow scholars, the SHARE team members, and invited guests at the end of the program
• If applicable, with support from mentors, scholars will prepare a manuscript describing research findings for submission to peer-reviewed journals, and/or to present at national or international conferences.

Didactic Activities: Knowledge and Skills

Didactics consists of a lecture series (e.g., HIV-SUD research themes) and research educational seminars (e.g., Research processes).  The lecture series and seminars will enhance knowledge of topics and methods used in research and HIV/SUD-related topics, will provide a structure to help scholars with tasks related to their research projects, and will serve as a forum for scholars to discuss progress on their research projects. Professional and career enrichment consists of professional development seminars (e.g., research ethics) and skills development workshops (e.g., manuscript development). Some examples include:

Collaboration and Networking

• Scholars will gather for career networking lunches with guest speakers who are recent graduates from an HIV training program or established researchers with an independent research program.  
• Scholars will be able to find a mentor with whom they would like to work, build their network by connecting with other scholars, and chat in real time with others in their network.
• Networking webinar in which former and current SHARE Scholars and SHARE science and career mentors will have the opportunity to share each of their ongoing experiences