Summer Student Research Awards
The WCHC Hub is dedicated to community leadership, training and mentoring the next generation of researchers and leaders. The Summer Student Research Awards Program (SSRAP) is an annual initiative that is designed to support collaboration between the WCHC Hub and research trainees passionate about working on research with and for women living with HIV.
Applications are invited from WCHC Hub Co-investigators and Collaborators who have identified (1) a summer research project that would be suitable for a student in the area of women and gender diverse people and HIV, and (2) a student co-applicant for the award.
​
The total amount available for this funding opportunity is $21,000, which is distributed across three student projects. Award funding is allocated as follows: $6,000 student award plus $750 research allowance per student.
The application window for the 2024 SSRAP closed on April 15th, 2024
and no new submissions will be accepted at this time.
Thank you to all those who applied!
​
The Summer Student Research Awards Program (SSRAP) is a summer-exclusive opportunity hosted by the WCHC Hub to mentor and support early-career researchers interested in topics related to women and HIV.
​
Through the SSRAP, undergraduate research projects related to women and HIV, as well as women-centred HIV care (WCHC), are funded and facilitated through partnerships between students and senior researchers.
Check out the projects that our 2024 summer students are working on right now to learn more about the types of projects we support.
Meet Our 2024 Scholars!
This year we are happy to have four WCHC Hub summer students!
Three of these students have been fully funded through the
Summer Student Research Awards Program
ON
SK
Dileesha Fernando
Anthony Olver
is a University of Toronto graduate with a major in Human Biology and minors in Immunology and Medical Anthropology. In the fall, she will begin an MSc in Health Systems Research at U of T. She aspires to advance public health research at the PhD level and work in academia, committed to fostering equitable health outcomes.
Hub Project: Dileesha will work on a scoping review of STBBI testing and care for young women and lead knowledge mobilisation for the Ontario Sub-Hub.
is a Métis man currently living in Treaty Six Territory, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Saskatchewan in 2022 and is now completing his medical degree at UofS. Anthony plans to graduate in 2027 and practice medicine in Saskatchewan.
Hub Project: Anthony’s project utilizes a community-based, peer-led approach to create educational resources by and for Indigenous women with HIV in Saskatchewan.
BC
Kayla Fong
is an undergraduate student at Simon Fraser University studying molecular biology and biochemistry. Her interests include women's health and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Hub Project: Kayla is working on objective 3 of the WCHC Hub grant and is creating a national repository of women and HIV resources in Canada.
_edited_edited.jpg)
ON
Siya Sharma
is an undergraduate student at York University studying in the Honours Global Health Program and pursuing a Bachelor of Science. She will begin her second year in Global Health in the fall and hopes to pursue a career related to sexual and reproductive health research and community well-being.
Hub Project: Siya will compile resources for the WCHC Hub, including its website. In addition, she will learn how to conduct qualitative interviews to generate feedback on an upcoming Hub resource.
The Summer Student Research Awards Program is one of the ways in which the WCHC Hub aims to support the careers of young professionals and foster an interest in women-centred and community-based HIV care in alignment with our second objective: training and mentoring.
​
Learn more about the Hub's 5 objectives!