Summer Researchers in Global Health is a paid six-week summer internship for rising high school seniors that introduces students to global health concepts and immerses them in challenging, real-life projects.
Since 2018, the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences hosted the Summer Researchers in Global Health Program for rising high school seniors in the Bay Area. This summer, with the support of generous private donors and the UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences, the UC Global Health Institute is excited to launch the Summer Researchers in Global Health program as a multi-campus Northern California six-week global health summer internship program for rising high school Seniors in Northern California that introduces students to the field of global health, immerses them in challenging real-life projects with researchers at UCSF, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Merced. Interns will receive direct mentorship from global health professionals and participate in weekly case discussions and group activities led by a graduate student instructor. Topics may be HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, reproductive health, planetary health, emerging infectious diseases and more.
Important Announcement: Due to current funding limitations, the UCGHI Summer Researchers in Global Health program will not be offered in its full six-week format for Summer 2026. We remain deeply committed to cultivating the next generation of global health leaders and are actively developing a condensed virtual global health education opportunity in Summer 2026. We anticipate offering a 1 week (or 2 week) virtual global health bootcamp that would be designed to provide high school students with foundational knowledge on global health topics from UC faculty and guest lecturers. Please stay tuned for more details on eligibility criteria, application process, and overview of the bootcamp by March 13th, 2026.
UCGHI SRGH Alumna, Asha Spitzer (UC Berkeley), reflects on the impact the UCGHI Summer Researchers in Global Health Program had on her educational and career trajectories.
UCGHI SRGH Alumna, Marikit Flores (UCSF), reflects on the multidisciplinary nature of global health and the importance of networking.
Anushka Kabra is a rising senior at Dougherty Valley High School with a strong commitment to global health equity, health policy, and science-driven advocacy. As National Youth Lead for EkamUSA, she leads maternal and child health efforts in rural India. Through journalism and speech & debate, she explores how health systems can better serve communities excluded from care and policymaking. In the future, Anushka aspires to build data-driven, justice-oriented public health systems that protect vulnerable populations.
Mentors: Ndola Prata, MD, MSc, Bhavya Joshi, Karen Weidert, MPH
Project: From Policy to Prevention: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights to End Child Marriage
Asha Spitzer is a student at Campolindo High School. She is drawn to the field of global and public health because of her inherent interest in data, statistics, and historical patterns. Her experience as both a swimmer and youth swim coach has cultivated her unique perspective on the impact of policy decisions at a local level. She hopes to expand her local experience through her journey with the UCGHI program.
Mentors: Ndola Prata, MD, MSc, Bhavya Joshi, Karen Weidert, MPH
Project: A Medical Complication of Child Marriage: Obstetric Fistulas, Prevention and Treatment
Nadia Basar is a rising senior at San Mateo High School, completing her final year through the Middle College program at College of San Mateo. She is part of her school’s biotechnology program and works part-time at a biotech firm in Foster City. Nadia is exploring various fields with a growing interest in public health. With family in six countries across Europe and the U.S., she’s especially drawn to global health and how healthcare systems differ worldwide.
Mentor: Maeve Forster, MS
Project: Codebook for Strengthening Interprofessional Education (STRIPE) HIV Data
Chan is a rising senior at Lowell High School in San Francisco passionate about the intersection between medicine and advocacy. She's passionate about advocating for healthcare for underrepresented communities internationally and equitable education. She has been working at the Youth Empowerment Fund since sophomore year, supporting youth to have resources to fund their initiatives to benefit the overall community. Outside of that, she works at her family business, creating community all over the city.
Mentors: Jessica Hernandez-Ortiz, MA, William Martinez, PhD, ABPP, Maria Jimenez-Salazar, PhD
Project: Fuerte: School-based Prevention Services for Newcomer Immigrant Youth
Deetya Potakamuri is a student at Wilcox High School with a strong interest in biology, neuroscience, and local/global public health, both in her community and worldwide. She is dedicated to researching and understanding strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities worldwide. Through the UCGHI SRGH program, she hopes to further engage with her community members, peers, and global health professionals to build a strong foundation for her future endeavors in health care.
Mentor: Grant Hartzog, PhD, Nina Reeves, Sommer Fowler
Project: Assaying Wolbachia Genes in Yeast
Divya Gill is a rising senior at Dougherty Valley High School with a passion for harmonizing scientific discoveries and public health. Her laboratory and dry-lab work has allowed her to appreciate the complexity of chemistry and biological research and how it can be leveraged to enhance existing paradigms. Additionally, through her work with FemTruth Youth's Green Team, which aims to provide girls with sustainable and healthier menstrual products, and her research at institutions such as SDSU, Divya has explored the social and economical underpinnings of pressing community health issues. Divya is excited to explore various nuanced aspects of public health through UCGHI and aims to apply these experiences to a career dedicated to medicine and health communication.
Mentors: Ndola Prata, MD, MSc, Bhavya Joshi, Karen Weidert, MPH
Project: Child Marriage in America: Factors and Policy Recommendations
Angie is a determined and hardworking student with interests in global public health, healthcare, and biomedical science. She applies her knowledge from rigorous courses in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental studies, and biomedical studies. Being a quick learner, problem solver, and a person who does exceptionally well in stressful situations. Having been driven by a firsthand personal experience with medical error, she's dedicated to advocating for equal care and improved patient outcomes by science and service.
Mentors: Woutrina Smith, DVM, MPVM, PhD, Camilo Echeverria Jr., Crystal Rogers, PhD
Project: Microtubule Modifications during Early Vertebrate Development
Erick Soto Martinez is a Santa Cruz High student with a 4.0 GPA, varsity athlete, and is a music producer. He’s passionate about public health education and correcting generational misinformation. Erick plans to study civil engineering at a four-year university to help build healthier and more informed communities through infrastructure.
Mentors: Matt Sparke, PhD, MA and Svasti Kandpal
Project: Education Pathways, Workforce Opportunities, Health-Related Careers in Farmworker Communities
Hana Alhamadsheh is a student at The College Preparatory School passionate about global health, equity-driven leadership, and pediatric research. She has conducted opioid-related neonatal studies at the University of the Pacific and represented her school at the NAIS Civic Leadership Summit. As a student leader and mentor, Hana aims to bridge science and social justice to address global health disparities. She hopes to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. to serve underserved communities worldwide.
Mentor: Beth Phillips, MPH
Project: Innovations for Choice and Autonomy (ICAN) Project Dissemination
Harshith Ramreddy is a dedicated student with a strong interest in global health, health equity, and community service. They have conducted academic work on social determinants of health and volunteered with Alzheimer's fundraisers and local food pantries. Passionate about medicine and public health, they aim to bridge local and global health disparities through research and advocacy.
Mentors: Andrea DeLuca, MHS, Sarah Hutchinson, BA, Priya Shete, MD, MPH, Patrick Phillips, PhD, MS, MA, Mohsen Malekinejad, MD, MPH, DrPH, Cecilia Lipp, MA, MLS
Project: Versa Assistance: A Grant Finder for UCSF Researchers
Isabella Medina was born in Merced, CA, and is a high school student at Merced High. She is interested in STEM fields, environmental science, and literature. Isabella has taken academic coursework in biology and has explored biotechnology. In her free time, she loves to read, garden, and spend lazy weekends with family and friends.
Mentors: Kesia Garibay, PhD, MSPH and Nancy Burke, PhD, MA
Project: Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health: Expanding Access and Support in the San Joaquin Valley
Ishmael Bolls is a motivated rising senior curious about the intersection of technology, health equity, and storytelling. He explores how innovation in computing can expand healthcare access and outcomes. His experiences include a big data apprenticeship at UC Berkeley and a city government internship. Outside of academics, Ishmael enjoys singing, gaming, exercising, and traveling. This internship marks his first opportunity to engage directly with UCSF and global health work.
Mentors: Stephanie Sumstine-Felice, MPH and Madhavi Dandu, MD, MPH
Project: Global Health Communications and Storytelling with the UC Global Health Institute
Jason Nishio is a rising high school senior at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley. His interests include bioinformatics/machine learning, explainable AI for promoting the trustworthiness of computational technology in public health, and medical ethics. His past work has involved using deep learning to detect and classify breast tumors, brain tumors, dementia, and cervical spondylosis in medical images such as MRI, histopathology, and X-ray. He is devoted to contributing in bringing universal access to healthcare technologies.
Mentor: Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH
Project: Specialized Deep Learning Frameworks for Multi-Regional Detection of Ophthalmologic Disease in Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging
Jennifer is a rising senior at Rancho San Juan High School, nestled in between the Salinas Valley in the central coast of California. She is interested in conducting research and implementing diverse programs. She is looking forward to gaining a unique perspective on healthcare. In the future she hopes to improve the healthcare system and attain equity for everyone.
Mentors: Ndola Prata, MD, MSc, Bhavya Joshi, Karen Weidert, MPH
Project: Strengthening Policy Frameworks of Child Marriage in Nicaragua
Joann is a dedicated student in the healthcare field. She is very involved in her community with a strong passion for high quality healthcare services. She spends her free time working at her local homeless shelter and well as participating on the Merced Youth Council. She highly values her family and culture. She is on track to complete a nursing program with ambitious sights set on becoming a medical doctor serving the underrepresented in the Central Valley.
Mentors: Andrea DeLuca, MHS, Sarah Hutchinson, BA, Priya Shete, MD, MPH, Patrick Phillips, PhD, MS, MA, Mohsen Malekinejad, MD, MPH, DrPH, Cecilia Lipp, MA, MLS
Project: Versa Assistance: A Grant Finder for UCSF Researchers
Katey currently attends Encinal High school, and plans to major in biology during college. She is passionate about researching public health to deepen her understanding of the field and to educate the community on relevant health topics. Katey aims to apply her knowledge from SRGH into her future career, medical profession. Aside from science, she enjoys running, photography, and volunteering with the red cross.
Mentors: Andrea DeLuca, MHS, Sarah Hutchinson, BA, Priya Shete, MD, MPH, Patrick Phillips, PhD, MS, MA, Mohsen Malekinejad, MD, MPH, DrPH, Cecilia Lipp, MA, MLS
Project: Versa Assistance: A Grant Finder for UCSF Researchers
Mahika Goswami is a high school dedicated and hard working student. She has a passion for AI in the field of health care. She also is passionate about advocacy for conditions that could be prevented such as Thalassemia.
Mentors: Ndola Prata, MD, MSc, Bhavya Joshi, Karen Weidert, MPH
Project: Study of Cultural Drivers of Child Marriage
Margo Weber is a high school student passionate about global health equity, pediatric care, and science education. She has conducted gene-editing research on cystic fibrosis, volunteered in pediatric orthopedics at UCSF Children’s Hospitals, and led STEM workshops for elementary students. She aims to address health disparities in local and global communities through research, clinical work, and education.
Mentors: Andrea DeLuca, MHS, Sarah Hutchinson, BA, Priya Shete, MD, MPH, Patrick Phillips, PhD, MS, MA, Mohsen Malekinejad, MD, MPH, DrPH, Cecilia Lipp, MA, MLS
Project: Versa Assistance: A Grant Finder for UCSF Researchers
Mari Flores is a rising senior at The Urban School of San Francisco. Her public health interests include epidemiology, preventative health, and infectious disease. A career goal of hers is to join the Epidemic Intelligence Service. Last summer, she was accepted to the CDC Online Summer Course, and she currently serves as a research intern assisting with projects investigating lung cancer disparities in Asian populations. Outside of academics, Mari is a nationally ranked competitive artistic swimmer.
Mentors: Rikita Merai, MPH, Karen Horn, MBA, MPH, Denise Barrios, BA, Jess Celentano, MS
Project: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Workforce Surge Readiness & Extreme Weather Preparedness for Large-Scale Events
Mason Ellis Layug, a current high school junior, seeks to further his understanding of the branches of public health. His profound interest in the betterment of public health is demonstrated by enrolling in biotechnology and Advanced Placement courses in psychology and biology. He participates in extracurricular activities emphasizing mental health awareness, community service, and public speaking. Mason is a proud descendant of Filipino immigrants and enjoys meeting new people from diverse backgrounds.
Mentor: Danny Rahal, PhD
Project: Systematic Review on Prenatal Substance Use Exposure and Children's Autonomic Nervous System Activity
Navya is a rising senior at Hillsdale High School interested in neuroscience, bioinformatics, and promoting health equity through research. She became interested in public health while working at the Public Health Research Institute of India, where she contributed to a project focused on the health and safety of tobacco workers. As a researcher at the Aspiring Scholars Directed Research Program, she studies brain-computer interfaces, and hopes to apply her current research to public health challenges.
Mentors: Patti Orozco, MPA, Aleena Jacob, MPH, Kara McCloskey, PhD, and Maria Mendoza
Projects: Spotlighting the Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia (CHESA): Amplifying Global Voices for Equitable Surgical Care; Characterizing Endothelial Vascular Cells Through Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Data Analysis
Sarah Border is a junior at Da Vinci Charter Academy who's passionate about making healthcare more accessible to everyone. She's maintained a 4.21 GPA while taking challenging courses in computer science, chemistry, and calculus. As a lifeguard and former camp counselor, Sarah has learned how to stay calm under pressure and connect with people of all ages. She's also an Eagle Scout candidate who's led groups of scouts on wilderness adventures and community service projects. Sarah's excited to explore how technology and medicine can work together to improve public health, especially in communities that need it most.
Mentors: Woutrina Smith, DVM, MPVM, PhD, Raneesh Ramarapu, Crystal Rogers, PhD
Project: Characterizing Structural Elements of the Developing Cornea
Sathvega Somasundaram is a passionate student with interests in public health, biomedical research, and science communication. She is an advocate for speech impediments, having one herself, and aims to impact the youth through empowerment and storytelling. Sathvega enjoys expressing herself through speaking engagements, writing, and serving her community, and strives to use science to create meaningful change. She aspires to pursue a career in the medical field.
Mentors: Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH and Jennifer Ko, MLIS
Project: California Home Abortion by Telehealth (CHAT)
Shradha Kesari is a rising senior in high school dedicated to impacting global health. Shradha aims for a future in medicine and is passionate about molecular biology, public health, neuroscience, and environmental sustainability. She contributed to molecular biology, stem cell research, and cancer biology by working on research projects on isolating a unique bacteriophage, exploring how media impacts public understanding of stem cell research, and investigating how mental stress impacts cancer development.
Mentors: Kesia Garibay, PhD, MSPH and Nancy Burke, PhD, MA
Project: Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health: Expanding Access and Support in the San Joaquin Valley
Sofia Ramos, a recent Holy Names High School graduate, is passionate about public health advocacy, environmental justice, and global health policy. Through UCSF’s Summer Student Research Program, she studied a culturally grounded parenting model and strategies to address the generational impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). At Centre College, she plans to major in international studies and explore the intersection of health and international policy while continuing to advance equity for underserved communities.
Mentors: Matt Sparke, PhD, MA and Svasti Kandpal
Project: Education Pathways, Workforce Opportunities, Health-Related Careers in Farmworker Communities
Sophia Guan is a rising senior in high school with a strong passion for addressing health disparities in underserved communities around the world, especially those worsened by climate change. She looks forward to building on her experiences in public health and advocacy to create a meaningful impact that protects the most vulnerable. In the future, Sophia aspires to earn a PhD in Public Health and drive policy solutions that ensure access to care for all.
Mentors: Allison Tatarsky, MPH and Katie Giessler, MPH
Project: The Intersectionality of Gender and Malaria
Tanisha is a rising senior from San Jose. She is interested in mental health, health ethics and equity, and advocacy. Through her volunteering experiences, she has developed a passion for public health and aiding underserved communities. She hopes to deepen her understanding of pressing public and global health matters in order to one day create lasting change.
Mentor: Ben Breen, PhD
Project: Ghosts of the Machine Age: A Family, an Empire, and the Prehistory of Artificial Intelligence
Tanya is passionate about computer science, global health, and cognitive science. With strong foundations in computer science, statistics, and biology, she explores data-driven approaches to health, behavior, and brain science. Interested in Freud’s theories of childhood development, she studies how childhood observations influence one’s long-term mindset on well-being. Rooted in her South Asian heritage, she researches how natural, common kitchen ingredients can replace harmful products—aiming to advance sustainable, culturally informed solutions to global health challenges.
Mentor: Isabel Madzorera, ScD, MS
Project: Ultra-processed Foods (UFPs) Consumption and its association with Pregnancy, Birth Outcomes, and Future Adult Life
Tom was born in Santa Cruz, CA to parents from Spain/UK and Australia. He spent nine years in Hong Kong where his interest in global issues began. A life-threatening car accident, as well as his mother’s fieldwork in Nepal, sparked a passion for global health, particularly cross-cultural care and health equity. Further, spending the pandemic in Hong Kong highlighted stark policy contrasts, reinforcing his commitment to understanding how different health policies impact communities.
Mentors: Matt Sparke, PhD, MA and Svasti Kandpal
Project: Education Pathways, Workforce Opportunities, Health-Related Careers in Farmworker Communities
Xiaoyin Zeng is a rising senior student at KIPP King Collegiate High School. She is passionate about community education, immigrant advocacy, and promoting both local and global health equity. As a Youth Build Immigrant Power organizer, she developed bilingual health and social issues workshops for more than 20 Oakland families. Assisting low-income families in navigating community resources and medical benefits.This summer, she hopes to deepen her global health knowledge through the internship with UCGHI.
Mentor: Robert Mansfield, MSc
Project: Building Local Community Support for HIV/AIDS Initiatives
Driven by her personal experiences growing up, April is passionate about global health, public education, and she looks forward to pursuing a career in healthcare where she can work directly to improve the lives of individuals and communities. She is the founder of the Adopt a Hospital chapter at her school, fundraising for healthcare initiatives in Ghana, and she also teaches English to middle school students in Taiwan!
Mentor: Alison El Ayadi, ScD, MPH
Project: Landscape Evaluation of Global Fistula Programming
As a multi-campus program, we are partnering with 41 faculty, staff, and graduate student mentors who are working with our high school interns this summer. Meet the mentors from UCSF, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Merced, and UC Santa Cruz!
Week 1 |
Lecture: Foundations of Global Health Lecture: Communicable Diseases Guest Lecture: Global Health Communications and Story Telling - Stephanie Sumstine-Felice, MPH, UCGHI Communications Specialist Professional Development: Intro to Journal Club |
Week 2 |
Lecture: Non-communicable Diseases Guest Lecture: Policy Impact in Global Health - Professor Gavin Yamey, MD, MPH, MA, Director, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute Guest Lecture: Weather, Climate, and Land-Use - Kathryn Conlon, PhD, MPH, Epidemiologist focused on weather, climate, land-use (UC Davis) Professional Development: Journal Club – Smallpox Case Study Workshop: PubMed & Research Methods |
Week 3 |
Lecture: Malaria Lecture - Chris Cotter, PhD, MPH, UCGHI SRGH Program Co-Director, UCSF IGHS Affiliate, UCM Health Sciences Research Institute Affiliate Lecture: Current State of Global Health - Madhavi Dandu, MD, MPH, UCGHI Director, UCGHI SRGH Program Director Guest Lecture: Professional Development – Building your Internet Presence, LinkedIn Profile, and Networking – Sun Yu Cotter, MPH, UCGHI Deputy Director, WomenLift Health Fellow Professional Development: Elevator Pitch for Mentored Research Projects - Shannon Prudhomme, MPH, CSM, Director of New Business Development, Water for People, WomenLift Health Fellow |
Week 4 |
Lecture: Global Health Career Pathways Panel: Kelly Song (Project Coordinator, UCLA BRAVE study, UCGHI Student Ambassador Alum), Francelle Kwankam Toedtli, MSc (Technical Specialist, UNFPA, WomenLift Health Fellow), and Akshat Nikhil Ubale (UCGHI SRGH Alum, Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology/Pre-Med at UCLA [Class of 2028]) Professional Development: Project Check-in/Elevator Pitch facilitated by Sun Yu Cotter, MPH, UCGHI Deputy Director & UCGHI Team |
Week 5 |
Lecture: Colonial Legacies in Global Health; Cultural Humility - Madhavi Dandu, MD, MPH, UCGHI Director, UCGHI SRGH Program Director Guest Lecture: Global Mental Health - Ja'Nelle Blocker, MD, Global Mental Health Fellow, UCSF Psychiatry HEAL Fellowship Guest Lecture: Global Health Advocacy & Policy - Porter DeLaney, MIPP, MA, Kyle House Group Guest Lecture: Abortion Law in a Global Context - Lara Stemple, JD, UCGHI Executive Committee Co-Vice Chair, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies & International Student Programs, UCLA Law School Professional Development: Presentation Prep – Robert Mansfield, MSc, Senior Executive Assistant, UCSF IGHS - Central Admin |
Week 6 |
Lecture: Maternal Health Wrap-up: Evaluations, Funding Activity, Final Project Showcase Preparations Guest Lecture: Humans and the Environment - Woutrina Smith, DVM, MPVM, PhD, UCGHI Center for Planetary Health Co-Director, Associate Dean of School of Veterinary Medicine Global Programs, UC Davis Check-ins: Final Project Showcase Preparations |
UCGHI Summer Researchers in Global Health interns take you behind the scenes to share a glimpse of their daily experiences while in the 2025 UCGHI SRGH Program. Hear directly from the students as they reflect on what they learned, the challenges they tackled, and how this program shaped their paths in global public health!
Jason engaged in research with Dr. Jeremy Keenan (UCSF) that involved specialized deep learning frameworks that can help doctors diagnose eye diseases more quickly and accurately.
Deetya engaged in laboratory research on Wolbachia with Dr. Grant Hartzog, Nina Reeves, and Sommer Fowler (UCSC) to explore the bacterium’s significant potential in controlling mosquito-borne diseases.
Sophia worked with Allison Tatarsky and Katie Giessler (UCSF) to examine the intersection of gender and malaria, and Xiaoyin was mentored by Robert Mansfield (UCSF) to help build local community support for HIV/AIDS initiatives.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, April 20th, 2025 at 11:59pm PT
The online application asks students to provide the following information:
| Sunday, April 20th, 2025 at 11:59pm PT | Application deadline |
| Monday, April 28th, 2025 | Applicants notified of their admission status |
| Tuesday, May 6th, 2025 | Applicant response deadline |
| June 9th - July 18th, 2025 | UCGHI Summer Internship Period |
| July 17th, 2025 | UCGHI SRGH Final Showcase & Graduation |
“ Through the UCGHI SRGH internship, I hope to build a stronger global health foundation and deepen valuable skills in strategic communication, partnership building, and evidence translation, while contributing to meaningful progress in global reproductive justice.”
-Hana Alhamadsheh, UCGHI SRGH Intern (UCSF)
