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PCEN Summer Scholars Program
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· Last Updated 1 week 4 days ago
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Center of Excellence in Nephrology (CHOP PCEN) is pleased to request applications for our 2025 Summer Research Scholars Program. This program aims to inspire future leaders in pediatric kidney disease research by engaging students in meaningful research and clinical experiences in pediatric nephrology.
The program is open to undergraduate, post-graduate, or medical students. The program runs from June 9, 2025-August 1, 2025 and does allow for some flexibility in dates. Students will work with a mentor on a research project and will have opportunities for didactic training and clinical shadowing in nephrology. Students will also attend seminars about research and careers in medicine and will take one or more courses on epidemiology or data science.
Students will receive a $4500 stipend. Please note: Housing is not provided as a part of the program.
The program structure includes:
- Practical research training and mentorship
- Responsible Conduct of Research training (including, as applicable to the research project: human subjects research, animal care and use in research, laboratory safety)
- Full-time research experience on a clinical, translational, or basic science project under the mentorship of a PCEN investigator
- Weekly meetings with PCEN faculty mentor
- Preparation of an abstract and/or manuscript, as appropriate
- Oral presentation of research findings at the end of the program
- Didactic training
- Participation in Nephrology Fellow's Core Curriculum weekly lecture series – provides exposure to core clinical nephrology topics and opportunities to interact with nephrology fellows
- Research Seminars: students will attend weekly Summer Scholar cohort meetings and research team/lab meetings as appropriate based on their research project and mentor
- Online Instruction: Students will complete online training/coursework
- Clinical shadowing in nephrology
- Observe nephrology clinic at least once per week
- Attend inpatient rounds once per week
Eligibility
*Must be currently enrolled in or recently graduated from an accredited college or university. Must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
How to Apply
We are now accepting applications for Summer 2025!
Please complete the online application: PCEN Summer Research Scholars Program Application
Complete applications must be received by 11:59pm (ET) on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025.
A faculty recommendation letter must be received by 11:59pm (ET) on Monday, January 27th, 2025.
Applicants who are selected for interviews will be notified by mid-March.
Questions?
For more information, contact the program coordinator, Jessica Lalli or the program director, Dr. Erum Hartung at [email protected].
Educational affiliation reflects status at time of program participation.
2024 Alumni
Erika Ezumba
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Meredith Atkinson, MD
Project: Ethical Considerations in a Prenatal Treatment for Fetal Renal Failure
Alexandria Irene Hawkins
Medical Student, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Mentors: Michelle Denburg, MD, MSCE and Rebecca Scobell, MD, MS
Project: Understanding Patterns of Healthcare Utilization in Children and Adolescents with High-Risk Kidney Disease
Nikhil Lavu
Undergraduate Student, Haverford College
Mentor: Greg Tasian, MD, MSc, MSCE
Project: The Pediatric KIDney Stone (PKIDS) Care Improvement Network
Elena Park
Medical Student, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Mentor: Stephanie Kerkvliet, MD
Project: Understanding Barriers to Living Donor Pediatric Kidney Transplantation in Families with Non-English Language Preference
Megan Woods
Undergraduate Student, Oakwood University
Mentors: Michelle Denburg, MD, MSCE and Madhura Pradhan, MD, MBBS
Project: Practice Patterns for Treatment of Frequently Relapsing/Steroid Dependent Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome amongst Pediatric Nephrologists at Sites Participating in GLEAN (Glomerular Learning Network) Collaborative
Daniel Zhang
Undergraduate Student, Cornell University
Mentors: Terence Gade, MD, PhD and Steve Kadlecheck, PhD
Project: Metabolic Imaging to Detect Kidney Transplant Rejection
2023 Alumni
Mina Ebrahimi
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentors: Michelle Denburg, MD, MSCE and Arthur Lee, MD
Project: Characterization of a Targeted Panel of Gut Microbiome-derived Metabolites in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease
Nicole Kye
Undergraduate Student, Cornell University
Mentor: Greg Tasian, MD, MSc, MSCE
Project: The Pediatric KIDney Stone (PKIDS) Care Improvement Network
Kayla Lichtner
Undergraduate Student, Bucknell University
Mentor: Erum Hartung, MD, MTR
Project: T1 Mapping to Assess Liver Disease Severity in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD)
Martha Nkangabwa
Medical Student, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Mentors: Terence Gade, MD, PhD and Steve Kadlecheck, PhD
Project: Metabolic Imaging to Detect Kidney Transplant Rejection
Samhita Vasu
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Meredith Atkinson, MD
Project: Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in the RAFT (Renal Anhydramnios Fetal Therapy) Trial
Elizabeth Ward
Undergraduate Student, Howard University
Mentor: Dayna Mazza, MD
Project: Examining the Association of the COVID-19 Vaccine with New-Onset and Relapse of Nephrotic Syndrome
Eleanor Wood
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentors: Benjamin Laskin, MD, MS and Madhura Pradhan, MD, MBBS
Project: Use of Diuretics with or without 25% Albumin for Edema Management in Children with Nephrotic Syndrome
2022 Alumni
Elisha Barbanel Beh
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Meredith Atkinson, MD
Project: Implementation of Eplet Mismatch Analysis in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation
Matthew Lin
Undergraduate Student, Cornell University
Mentor: Erum Hartung, MD, MTR
Project: Cardiovascular Health in Patients with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD)
Fahmida Sarmin
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentor: Rebecca Scobell, MD, MS
Project: Improving Access to Optimal Care in Pediatric Patients with High-Risk Kidney Disease
Abhay Singh
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentor: Greg Tasian, MD, MSc, MSCE
Project: Machine Learning to Predict Chronic Kidney Disease
Elizabeth Ward
Undergraduate Student, Howard University
Mentor: Dayna Mazza, MD
Project: Examining the Association of the COVID-19 Vaccine with New-Onset and Relapse of Nephrotic
Syndrome
Adam Wright
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentor: Dana Weiss, MD
Project: Examining Risk Factors for UTI after Renal Transplantation
Nathaniel Zona
Undergraduate Student, Kalamazoo College
Mentor: Bernarda Viteri, MD
Project: Single Center Experience of Surveillance Biopsies in Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients
2021 Alumni
Maya Abdel-Megid
Undergraduate Student, University of Pennsylvania
Mentors: Michelle Denburg, MD, MSCE and Benjamin Laskin, MD, MS
Project: Kidney Disease in Long Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Mathew Lin
Undergraduate Student, Cornell University
Mentor: Erum Hartung, MD, MTR
Project: Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD)
Kiarra Mouzon
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentor: Sandra Amaral, MD, MHS
Project: Examining the Risk Factors of Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome (PTCS) among Pediatric Kidney Transplant Recipients
Joya Sims
Undergraduate Student, Spelman College
Mentor: Susan Furth, MD, PhD
Project: Socioeconomic Demographic Characteristics Can Influence Effective Patient-Provider Communication
Syed Waseem
Undergraduate Student, Temple University
Mentor: Kevin Meyers, MBBCh
Project: Longitudinal Outcomes in Children with Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) caused by Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD)
Miahjé Williams
Undergraduate Student, Howard University
Mentor: Meredith Atkinson, MD, MHS
Project: Social Determinants of Health in Children with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis in the CKiD Cohort Study
Alumni
Lauren Andree
Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine
Mentor: Susan Furth, MD, PhD
Project: Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Diet Quality in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Regan Burgess
Medical Student, Howard University College of Medicine
Mentor: Meredith Atkinson, MD
Project: Socioeconomic Characteristics in Children with Lupus Nephritis
Ra’Ann Merceir
Undergraduate Student, Temple University
Mentor: Erum Hartung, MD, MTR
Project: Multi-parametric MRI and Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Evaluation of Kidney Transplant
Rachael Odusanya
Medical Student, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Mentor: Michelle Denburg, MD, MSCE
Project: Patient-Reported Outcomes in Glomerular Disease: Focus on the Musculoskeletal System (PROGRESS) Study
Joya Sims
Undergraduate Student, Spelman College
Mentor: Susan Furth, MD, PhD
Project: Social Determinants of Health in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease in the CKiD Cohort Study
2019 Alumni
Julie Chotivatanapong
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Jeff Fadrowski, MD
Project: Inappropriate Application of Intravenous Fluid Clinical Practice Guidelines
Stephen Chu
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Meredith Atkinson, MD
Project: Effect of Cholecalciferol Supplementation on FGF23 in children with Chronic Kidney Disease
Lindsay Fleischer
Medical Student, Rowan University Cooper Medical Student
Mentor: Erum Hartung, MD, MTR
Project: Evaluation of Galectin-3 and Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein as Serum Biomarkers in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease
Brianna Heintzelman
Undergraduate Student, Drexel University
Mentor: Erum Hartung, MD, MTR
Project: Diffusion Weighted Imaging and T2 Mapping of the Kidneys in Healthy Controls and Patients with Autosomal Recessive Polycsytic Kidney Disease (ARPKD)
Natalie O’Toole
Medical Student, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mentor: Lisa Guay-Woodford, MD
Project: Identifying Imaging Biomarkers to Classify In-Utero Renal Cystic Diseases: Development of an Initial REDCap Data Collection Instrument
Zoey Tweh
Undergraduate Student, Spelman College
Mentor: Susan Furth, MD, PhD
Project: Associations of Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity with Hypertension in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease
2018 Alumni
Simisola Afolayan
Undergraduate Student, University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Daniella Levy Erez, MD
Project: Urine Biomarkers for Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Tamika Queen
Medical Student, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Mentor: Sandra Amaral, MD, MHS
Project: Risk Factors and Malignancy Outcomes among Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Any publications or presentations that are the direct result of this funding must acknowledge the grant support:
Research reported in this publication was funded by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Pediatric Center of Excellence in Nephrology and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award number P50DK114786. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Additionally, please submit an electronic copy of publications supported by CHOP PCEN funding to Hannah MacLean.