Participating BIDMC Mentors (continuously updated)

Mentor Name: Maria Serena Longhi

Opportunity Title: Aberrant estrogen receptor alpha drives Treg dysfunction in autoimmune hepatitis

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe liver disease of unknown etiology that typically follows a relapsing-remitting course and often becomes refractory to conventional immunosuppression. AIH prevalence in the United States has increased three-fold over the last decade. The disease is mainly present in females and may progress over months or years to end-stage liver disease, requiring transplantation in about 20% of cases. In AIH, Treg dysfunction favors the perpetration of liver damage and is linked to altered aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling. AhR is a mediator of toxin responses and a potent modulator of adaptive immunity. It is activated upon binding to exogenous and endogenous ligands, including xenobiotics, dietary compounds, tryptophan metabolites and heme derivatives. Our data indicate that Tregs isolated from the peripheral blood of AIH patients display aberrantly high levels of estrogen-receptor-alpha (ERa), a non-canonical AhR binding partner that mediates estrogen signaling and pro-inflammatory immune responses. Our data also show that, in AIH Tregs, AhR preferentially binds to ERa rather than aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator, the classical AhR binding partner. ERa is markedly elevated in Tregs from AIH females, in whom it confers pro-inflammatory properties and functional instability. Blockade of ERa via methyl piperidino pyrazole (MPP), a selective ERa antagonist, results in enhanced Treg suppressive function and restored stability in vitro; and in substantially ameliorated disease activity in vivo, in a model of T-cell mediated liver injury in humanized mice. Notably, Treg transcriptome analysis has revealed that heightened ERa levels are associated with gene sets related to oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial respiration, which are key metabolic pathways involved in the generation of pro-inflammatory ATP. 

Name: Tina Porter, MD

Project Name: Prospective Evaluation of Disease Flare in Hidradentis Suppurativa

Research Type: Translational Research

Research Description: The student will be supporting an HS flares research project, including collecting data, performing data analysis, etc.

Name: William Lewis, MD

Project Name: Computational Photography and Image Processing in Dermatology

Research Type: 

Research Description: Students will have the opportunity to work with me on project(s) related to image processing and software development for dermatology, especially related to visualizing erythema in patients with skin of color and inflammatory disease. Students will have the opportunity to work on image processing algorithm development, validation, and implementation. Through this project, they will gain experience with the optical properties of skin and light-tissue interaction, image capture and processing, and dermatologic disease. Motivated students, especially those with previous experience in software development, may be able to contribute to the creation of a mobile phone application. It is expected that the student's work will lead to the generation of a first-author publication in a dermatology journal.

Mentor: Christos Mantzoros, MD

Opportunity Title: Harnessing multi-omics and machine-learning for cardiometabolic risk prediction in MASLD/MASH

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: Our Translational Endocrinology Research Laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, focuses on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnostic, and prognostic mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases. Our work bridges basic and clinical science through a wide portfolio of translational and clinical studies. The goal of this project is to investigate the multi-omics signatures of cardiometabolic outcomes in biopsy-proven adults with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Additionally, we intend to develop machine-learning models to create more accurate risk prediction models in this population. Scholars Students will have the opportunity to: a) Learn techniques in data management, biomarker analysis, and statistical software (R, Python, SPSS). b) Contribute to manuscript preparation, figure design, and literature review under mentorship from postdoctoral fellows and faculty. c) Attend weekly lab meetings.

Mentor: Christos Mantzoros, MD

Opportunity Title: Translational Endocrinology Research Laboratory (Mantzoros Lab, BIDMC / Harvard Medical School)

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: Our Translational Endocrinology Research Laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, focuses on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnostic, and prognostic mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases. Our work bridges basic and clinical science through a wide portfolio of translational and clinical studies.Research Areas 1. Metabolic Dysfunction–Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH)/Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease MASLD)
We conduct observational and interventional studies to identify molecular, hormonal, and clinical predictors of disease progression. Our current work focuses on validation of non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for MASH/MASLD. 2. Clinical Trials in Cardiometabolic Medicine:
We are currently participating in a multicenter clinical trial evaluating the cardiometabolic effects of an investigational compound (novel weight loss medication). 3. Hormonal and Omics Research on GLP-1 effects:
Ongoing metabolomic, proteomic, and hormonal studies are being performed to uncover pathways regulating body composition changes (lean mass, fat mass, bone mass). We integrate clinical data, laboratory assays (ELISA) and multi-omic analyses to translate molecular findings into clinically meaningful insights. Opportunities for Scholars Students will have the opportunity to: -Learn techniques in data management, biomarker analysis, and statistical software (SPSS, GraphPad, R). -Contribute to manuscript preparation, figure design, and literature review under mentorship from postdoctoral fellows and faculty. -Attend weekly lab meetings. This experience offers an outstanding opportunity for motivated students to explore the fundamentals of research and engage in hands-on laboratory work.

Mentor: Gyongyi Szabo, M.D., Ph.D.

Opportunity Title: To study “trained immunity” in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD); (ii) To investigate transcriptomic data in Aging

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: We are inviting a motivated student to join our research lab focused on understanding how the immune system contributes to steatotic liver diseases such as metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASH) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD). Stetotic liver disease is a major cause of liver damage globally, and although much is known about its direct effects on liver cells, how the immune system responds and influences the disease progression is less well understood. This project focuses on studying “trained immunity” in ALD. Trained immunity refers to the concept that immune cells can "remember" past insults (specifically by binge alcohol) and become more reactive to future pathogenic insults (viral or bacterial infections). The main goal of this project will be to understand how alcohol drinking can “train” immune cells (specifically innate immune cells: monocytes and neutrophils) making them hyper-inflammatory to pathogenic insults and to explore whether the presence of the metabolic syndrome has additional dysregulation. This opportunity will provide hands-on experience in immunology, metabolism, and liver disease research, using laboratory techniques, transciptomic data and clinical data analysis. It is an excellent chance for a student interested in translational research to gain valuable skills while contributing to a pressing public health challenge.

Name: Sarah Berry, MD

Project Title: Preventing Injury in Skilled Nursing Facilities through Medication Optimization (PRISM): a randomized cluster cross-over trial in post-acute patients with fracture

Project Type: Clinical Research

Project Description: Presently I am the PI of a large randomized trial in 42 skilled nursing facilities across 13 states to compare the effectiveness of a Deprescribing Care model, a Bone Health Model, and a Combined Injury Prevention Model on rates of injurious falls in patients recovering from a fracture. While the primary outcomes will not be available for sometime, our group has considerable data (by Spring 2026 anticipate more than 2000 patients enrolled) on medications, what matters most, perceptions of deprescribing and osteoporosis treatment. Students could examine variations in facility or regional prescribing practices, uptake of the intervention, or to explore the relationship between the matters most question and deprescribing. Students would have the opportunity to participate in weekly team meetings with a large multidisciplinary team. Ideally the student would be interested in leading a first author publication with support from the team.

Mentor: Dr. Seifeldin Awad, MD

Opportunity Title: Defining Tumor Immune States in Prostate Cancer

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: This project will investigate the tumor immune microenvironment in prostate cancer, with a focus on how T-cell infiltration and functional states are associated with tumor biology and treatment response. The student will learn approaches used to characterize immune populations and immune checkpoint pathways, including CD3, CD8, TIGIT, and PD-1, using human prostate cancer specimens and associated molecular datasets. Depending on the student's interests and experience, the project may include analysis of immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence images, bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data, and clinicopathologic variables. The student will receive training in tumor immunology, experimental design, quantitative data analysis, interpretation of results, and scientific presentation. The overall goal is to identify immune states that may help explain differences in antitumor immunity and treatment response in prostate cancer.

Mentor: Rushad Patell, MB, BS

Opportunity Title: Research Opportunities in Hematology: Clinical Outcomes and Translational Research

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: Our research program focuses on improving outcomes for patients with hematologic disorders and cancer, with particular interests in thrombosis, bleeding, myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and complications of novel cancer therapies, including CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies.

We offer first-year medical students opportunities to participate in a diverse range of clinical and translational research projects, tailored to their interests, experience, and available time. Projects span systematic reviews and meta-analyses, retrospective chart reviews, multicenter observational studies, mechanistic and translational investigations, and prospective clinical trials. Students may gain experience in study design, data collection, analysis, patient screening and enrollment, and scientific writing.

Examples of ongoing projects include:

1. Bleeding and Thrombosis Following CAR-T and Bispecific Antibody Therapies: Investigating the incidence, risk factors, mechanisms, and clinical outcomes of bleeding and thrombotic complications following emerging immune-based cancer treatments. Opportunities include multicenter data collection, retrospective analyses, systematic reviews, and translational investigations.
2. PAUSE-CAT – Periprocedural Management of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: A multicenter study examining anticoagulation management, bleeding, and recurrent thrombosis in patients with cancer undergoing invasive procedures. Students can participate in clinical data collection, outcomes assessment, and analysis.
3. GASTRO-MPN – Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: An international multicenter collaboration investigating treatment strategies and long-term outcomes in patients with MPN-associated splanchnic vein thrombosis. Opportunities include data analysis, evaluation of anticoagulation strategies, and scientific writing.
4. ANCORs – Translational Research in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A collaborative translational research project investigating the role of novel noncoding RNAs in DNA replication and abnormal cellular proliferation in MPNs. Students may participate in clinical phenotyping, biospecimen-related research, and integration of clinical and molecular data.
5. Prospective Clinical Trials in Thrombosis Prevention and Treatment: Opportunities to gain exposure to the conduct of clinical trials, including eligibility screening, patient enrollment, study coordination, and clinical outcomes assessment.

Students will work closely with faculty, research fellows, and clinical research staff, with opportunities to participate in research meetings, project discussions, and scientific presentations. We emphasize meaningful involvement in projects with clearly defined responsibilities and achievable goals. Our aim is to support students in developing their research skills while contributing to academic scholarship, including abstracts, national conference presentations, and peer-reviewed publications. Clinical shadowing opportunities may also be available depending on student interests and scheduling.

Mentor: Dr. Sigall Bell, MD

Opportunity Title: Clinical research in transparency and patient engagement in healthcare

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: Join a team of clinician-researchers to study topics related to transparent communication in healthcare. Projects may involve open notes, medical error disclosure, use of AI to help underserved populations better understand their health information, teaming with patients and families to improve diagnostic safety, educational projects related to transparency, or others. Some projects may also include the opportunity to partner with students or trainees at Stanford through a Harvard-Stanford Transparency Learning Colab.

Mentor: Dr. Stephen Juraschek, MD, PhD

Opportunity Title: Hypertension among Older Adults

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: Hypertension affects 85% of older adults. Many have blood pressure that differ at home from clinic. Our AHA-certified hypertension clinic is one of the only hypertension centers of excellence in the country that performs 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. We are conducting a number of innovative quality improvement projects focused on improved blood pressure measurement in the clinic setting, including home blood pressure monitoring and automated office-based blood pressure monitoring. We are also creating a registry of ambulatory blood pressure measurements, which will be used to characterize blood pressure variability at home in a wide range of general medicine patients, yielding novel and previously uncharacterized insights on blood pressure regulation in a number of understudied populations. This experience provides students opportunities to: (1) Learn the process of registry creation in the context of clinical practice for rigorous quality improvement projects (2) Participate in publications related to blood pressure measurement and hypertension diagnosis at home and in clinic (3) Collaborate with clinics throughout Harvard (and eventually nationally outside Harvard) to grow the registry (4) Work with an innovative team to improve the technologic implementation of blue-tooth enabled home blood pressure monitors in clinical practice

Mentor: Dr. Stephen Juraschek, MD, PhD

Opportunity Title: DASH Groceries for Urban Food Deserts

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: High blood pressure affects nearly 50% of adults in the US. Access to healthful foods is a critical barrier to preventive efforts to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We are conducting two randomized clinical trials to deliver groceries to Black adults living in Boston food deserts. We will recruit participants through 3 Beth Israel Clinics. Our primary outcome will be blood pressure. This experience provides students opportunities to: (1) Learn about clinical trial implementation and would emerge with knowledge on how to conduct trials; (2) Participate in the publications related nutrition, health access, and blood pressure using data sets including NHANES as well as prior clinical trials. (3) Participate in planning novel nutrition interventions involving HUD and other government subsidized meal programs (4) Network with institutions throughout the U.S. as part of an American Heart Association Strategic Network focused on health equity

Mentor: Dr. Stephen Juraschek, MD, PhD

Opportunity Title: Equitable Recruitment of Underrepresented Groups into Cardiovascular Trials

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: We are funded by the American Heart Association as part of a Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) focused on improving diversity and representation in clinical trials. We are working with a national team of investigators from University of Vermont and Johns Hopkins University to study strategies for improving outreach and enrollment of underrepresented communities. Our team is multidisciplinary and includes cardiologists, general internists, ethicists, computer scientists, and nursing. Students have the opportunity to participate in the design of novel recruitment experiments as well as lead research for presentation at conferences and publication. Through this opportunity students will gain experience in clinical trials, clinical trial recruitment, primary data collection, and experience in scientific data interpretation and communication. Moreover, there are amble opportunities for expanding professional networks through working in a national network. We have an excellent track record of mentorship with students and would be delighted to have you join our team!

Mentor: Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, MD

Opportunity Title: Population Health Research on Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, and Dementia in Older Adults

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is an ongoing cohort study that began in 1990 and has continued to follow 5,888 older adults through the end of their lives. Extensive information has been collected on a continual basis, including blood samples for genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, environmental phenotyping, and collection of all hospitalizations and Medicare claims. Analytic support is available, so that students can (but need not) conduct their own biostatistical analyses.

Mentor: Dr. Mara Schonberg, MD

Project Title: Shared Decision Making around Breast Cancer Treatment for Women Aged 70 and Older with Low-Risk, Stage I, Breast Cancer

Research Type: Clinical Research

Academic Level: Undergraduate, Graduate, Medical Student

Work Modality: Hybrid

Pay: Unpaid- stipend available

Project Description: Widespread use of mammography in older women and population aging has led to many women >70 years being diagnosed with Stage I (<2 cm, lymph node negative), estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-), breast cancer. Historically, standard treatment of these cancers included mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with axillary node surgery (dissection or sentinel lymph node biopsy [SLNB]), with BCS followed by radiotherapy (RT). Such locoregional therapy was followed by endocrine therapy (ET). However, randomized trials in women >70 have found that while RT after BCS may decrease locoregional recurrence (e.g., in-breast recurrence), omitting RT after BCS has no impact on survival and may reduce morbidity. Randomized trials have also shown a lack of impact on outcomes when SLNB is omitted in the setting of Stage I, ER+ disease. Thus, guidelines now recommend against routine use of SLNB in these women and encourage individualized decisions on RT after BCS. Despite this, many women have SLNB and/or receive RT after BCS in this setting, including many with short life expectancy. In addition, older women report being less likely to be given treatment choices, to engage in treatment decisions, and/or to be satisfied with treatment outcomes than younger women. Many also overestimate their recurrence risk and have little knowledge about their tumor characteristics. Thus, there is great need for interventions to help older women become more informed and engaged in treatment decisions.

Thus, we are testing whether training breast surgeons in shared decision making and providing their female patients aged 70 and older with Stage I, ER+, HER2- breast cancer with a breast cancer treatment decision aid affects older women’s treatment decisions, engagement in their care, and their outcomes. Our long-term goal is to improve care for older women with breast cancer in a person-centered manner.

We are currently completing many chart reviews to learn what treatment women aged 70 and older with Stage I, ER+, HER2- breast cancer received in the year before their surgeon agreed to participate in the trial. We welcome a trainee to help us complete chart abstractions and analyze some of the data being collected. 

Mentor: Mingyu Zhang, PhD

Opportunity Title: Metal Mixtures and Women's Mid-life Cardiometabolic Health in Project Viva

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: The goal of this project is to investigate the impact of exposure to a "mixture" of heavy metals and trace elements during pregnancy and at 3 years postpartum on women’s mid-life cardiometabolic health. Additionally, it examines how adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., healthy diet, physical activity, avoiding smoking, and adequate sleep) may mitigate the adverse effects of heavy metals. Participants are from Project Viva, a prospective pregnancy cohort initiated in 1999-2002 to study how environmental and lifestyle factors affect the long-term health of women and their children (https://www.projectviva.org/). Students will have the opportunity to lead research projects, conduct data management and analysis, present at scientific conferences, and author peer-reviewed manuscripts. This research opportunity is based at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with close collaboration with the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

Mentor: Mingyu Zhang, PhD

Opportunity Title: Pregnancy Metal Exposures and Diabetes Risks Across the Reproductive Lifespan of Black and Hispanic Women

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: The goal of this project is to understand the impacts of pregnancy exposure to a mixture of toxic metals (Pb, Hg, Cd) and trace elements (Mn, Se) on diabetes risks across the reproductive lifespan of Black and Hispanic women, from gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy to type 2 diabetes (T2D) in mid-life. The project also aims to uncover how metals could be an underrecognized source of racial and ethnic disparities in the progression from GDM to incident T2D. Participants are from the Boston Birth Cohort, a large, long-standing (over 20 years of follow-up), prospective U.S. cohort that comprises predominantly urban, low-income, and minority women. Students will have the opportunity to lead research projects, conduct data management and analysis, present at scientific conferences, and author peer-reviewed manuscripts. This research opportunity is based at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with close collaboration with the Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease at Johns Hopkins University.

Name: Yarden Fraiman, MD

Opportunity Title: Understanding Macro-level Drivers of Inequity for Infants and Children

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: The Fraiman Lab for Equity Science is a health services health equity research lab focused on measuring, understanding, and addressing the modifiable macro-level drivers--structural and institutional racism—of inequity for newborns, pregnant people, and their families across the life-course. Our research uses innovative methodology and multidisciplinary collaboration to understand what forces within and outside the health system cause health inequity. Our overall goal is to generate the knowledge to inform interventions, policies, and system change to improve health outcomes and health equity. Research opportunities include large data epidemiologic research, chart review and data extraction, qualitative research, education research, implementation science, and clinical equity-focused quality improvement. Students will receive hands-on mentorship from Dr. Fraiman and members of the research team. Students will have a scholarly project to present at the completion of the mentored experience and will be included as authors, including as first authors, when projects are completed.

Mentor: Dr. Chenxi Qiu, PhD

Opportunity Title: Responsible/Interpretable AI for Science

Opportunity Type: Basic Science Research

Opportunity Description: We are building AI systems that combine fleets of specialized agents with carefully engineered scientific harnesses to accelerate biological discovery. These systems autonomously interrogate large functional-genomic datasets, develop and test predictive models, and iteratively refine scientific hypotheses under human oversight. One example is our recent participation in the Virtual Cell Challenge, where we used a multi-agent system to approach complex biological questions and explore the potential of AI to drive scientific discovery. Our broader goal is to develop AI that functions as a rigorous scientific collaborator, to help uncover biological rules and generate discoveries that conventional workflows may miss.

Mentor: Rose Molina, MD

Opportunity Title: Language Access in OBGYN Care

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: I lead a portfolio of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research related to language access in health care. The summer student will have the opportunity to join an existing project or develop their own research projects based on their interests.

Mentor: Rose Molina, MD

Opportunity Title: HMS Health Equity Curriculum Evaluation, Innovation, and Improvement

Opportunity Type: Clinical Research

Opportunity Description: I am the Director of the Health Equity Pillar of Practice at HMS and am looking for a student interested in evaluating the longitudinal health equity curriculum and identifying areas for innovation and improvement.

Mentor: Dominik Glodzik, PhD

Opportunity Title: AI and Genomics for Cancer Inception

Opportunity Type: Basic Science Research

Opportunity Description: Among carriers of pathogenic variants in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, the cumulative incidence of breast and ovarian cancer reaches 66% and 69%, respectively, corresponding to relative risks of 8.3- and 37.8-fold compared to the general population. This elevated cancer risk underpins current clinical guidelines recommending risk-reducing surgeries, including prophylactic mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Nonetheless, these irreversible procedures are often performed even though the risk is not certain, meaning some individuals may undergo interventions that might not yet be clinically necessary. These drastic measures underscore a critical clinical gap—the absence of reliable early detection or screening tools for HRD-associated cancers. Advancing our understanding of the molecular timing and evolution of HRD tumors is therefore essential to optimize precision prevention strategies and reduce reliance on prophylactic surgery.

Mentor: Sizun Jiang, PhD

Opportunity Title: Spatial-omics and Systems Immunology: Finding clinical insights from tissues

Opportunity Type: Translational Research

Opportunity Description: The Jiang lab (https://sizunjianglab.com/) develops cutting edge spatial technologies across experimental and computational platforms towards clinically impactful and deployable assays. We broadly study a spectrum of diseases from cancer, autoimmunity to infectious diseases. Our recent work include work into spatial multi-omics technologies (Immunity 2022, Nature Communications 2023, 2025, Cancer Discovery in revision), machine learning approaches (Nature Communications 2024, Nature Immunology 2025, Nature in revision), clinically deployable technologies (Nature Methods accepted, Nature Methods in revision), and their applications to various diseases such as Chronic Rhinosinusitis (Immunity 2025), Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Immunity in revision), and others. Ongoing work including AI foundation models and agentic aspects, spatial-omics and their applications in health and diseases, amongst others. We look forward to working together!

Name: Christopher Ogilvy, MD

Project Name: Outcomes for surgical and endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms

Research Type: Clinical Research

Project Description: New perspective on outcomes for aneurysm surgery and endovascular treatment of unruptured aneurysms looking at combined modality management with cognitive and functional outcomes