The Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine (HSRPKM) offers a robust and varied introduction to the world of kidney medicine (nephrology) for undergraduate college students considering a career in science or medicine and particularly suited for students who are interested in pursuing a PhD or MD PhD. The program is an intensive research experience and students are encouraged to become immersed in their project by reading about the focus of the laboratory and participating in meetings and events hosted by the laboratory. Students will be assigned to a laboratory that does research in kidney medicine in one of four research institutions connected to Harvard Medical School: Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Boston’s Children’s Hospital (BCH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
The program also includes a core curriculum that addresses the basic science and clinical fundamentals of kidney physiology and pathophysiology as well as challenges in the field. In addition, the program features several opportunities put these lessons into action. Students will shadow a nephrologist in clinic and will visit a dialysis unit. Finally, students will learn how to participate in a screening for kidney disease in the community.
We are committed to building the talented and diverse kidney research community of tomorrow. As part of that commitment, we encourage students who are part of the underrepresented groups in medicine (URM)* to apply.
Eligibility Requirements:
- GPA 3.4 or higher preferred
- Wet lab research experience preferred
- Currently enrolled in undergraduate degree seeking program
- Must be a US citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card holder)
- Must be committed to entire 8+ week program (June 2nd 2025-August 1st 2025)
**estimated dates, may be subject to change
Program Specifics:
- Eight-week program (June 2nd 2025 – August 1st 2025) **estimated dates, may be subject to change
- 2 months of paid housing and stipend
- Work with world class investigators at Harvard Medical School
- Experience how kidney disease affects lives through a unique clinical experience
- Attend weekly core curriculum session which will introduce the functions and dysfunctions of the kidney
- All-expense paid trip to a national symposium to present your research
- Click here for a sample curriculum
The Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine is funded by a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The program is led by Dr. Joseph Bonventre, Chief of Division of Nephrology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
The Co-directors are Dr. Li-Li Hsiao and Dr. Joshua Waitzman. Dr. Li-Li Hsiao is a nephrologist at BWH and the founder of a national program for undergraduate students to serve the community by screening for chronic kidney diseases, Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, KDSAP: http://www.kdsap.org.
*Underrepresented in medicine means those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population.” This includes students who identify as African Americans and/or Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), Pacific Islander, and mainland Puerto Rican. The definition also refers to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The 2025 program is estimated to begin June 2nd 2025 – August 1st 2025. Your application and all supporting documentation must be received by Friday January 3rd, 2025. Click here to apply.
Please email HSRPKM@PARTNERS.ORG with any questions.
PROGRAM LEADERSHIP
Joseph Bonventre, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Renal Medicine
Joe Bonventre is Samuel A. Levine Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Constantine L. Hampers, MD Distinguished Chair in Renal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). He is former President of the American Society of Nephrology, Director of the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, member of the NIH-NIDDK Council, and is the Chief of the Renal Division at BWH. Dr. Bonventre is also founding Chief of the Engineering in Medicine Division of BWH. Dr. Bonventre’s own research focuses primarily on the study of kidney injury and repair and signal transduction, with a special emphasis on the role of inflammation, biomarkers and stem cells. His recent work also involves the generation of kidney organoids from stem cells and their use in kidney disease modeling. He has had more than 200 trainees in his laboratory, many of whom are in leadership positions throughout the world. Dr. Bonventre is invested in the education and success of each Renal fellow and works with each fellow individually on their career and research goals.
Li-Li Hsiao, M.D., Ph.D. FACP
Program Co-Director
Dr. Hsiao received her M.D., Ph.D. from Thomas Jefferson University. She completed her Nephrology training in Harvard Medical School (HMS). She is currently a faculty of HMS. She is the creator of Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP), a community-based program aims to serve the underserved population. She has been the co-associate director of Harvard Summer Research Program in Kidney Medicine since 2014, a NIH, NIDDK sponsored program.
During her tenure at HMS, Dr. Hsiao has written many articles and chapters. Dr. Hsiao focuses her clinical practice in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and devotes her research in CKD-related cardiovascular complications and organ
fibrosis. Dr. Hsiao has received numerous awards for her outstanding clinical work, teaching and mentoring of students including the Starfish Award for commitment to excellence in patient care and teamwork; the prestigious Harvard Clifford Barger Young Mentor Award for her teaching abilities; the HMS Community Service Faculty Award in recognition of her community service through KDSAP. And in March 2021, she was honored by National Kidney Foundation (NKF) as a Nephrologist who has made an impact in reducing health disparities in New England. And Women In Nephrology (WIN) has established “Li-Li Hsiao Leadership Fellowship Award” in honor of Dr. Hsiao’s longstanding leadership in WIN and her role in advancing leadership in the community on behalf of patients
Currently Dr. Hsiao serves in the Education Working Group of International Society of Nephrology (ISN); she has been the inaugural editor of ISN Academy, a member of ISN North American Board representing North America and Caribbean. She will be the Deputy Chair in 2023 for World Kidney Day Joint Steering Committee for ISN and IFKF-WKA (International Federal Kidney Foundation-World Kidney Alliance)
Joshua Waitzman, MD, PhD
Program Co-Director
Joshua Waitzman, MD, PhD is a Nephrologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Waitzman grew up in West Hartford, CT, and earned his Sc.B. in biophysics at Brown University. He completed his M.D. and Ph.D. training at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where he studied the biochemistry and biophysics of kinesin motor proteins. He remained at Northwestern to complete a residency in Internal Medicine and performed two years of clinical Nephrology training there. He then came to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to perform research under the mentorship of Dr. Martin Pollak. He was appointed to the BIDMC faculty in 2021, where he studies the molecular mechanisms of APOL1-associated kidney diseases.
In addition to his research work, Dr. Waitzman maintains an active clinical practice, seeing patients with kidney disease in the inpatient and outpatient settings. He has a passion for education and mentorship, and contributes to two nephrology-focused podcasts, Channel Your Enthusiasm and Freely Filtered.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Nicole Spada
Program Manager, BWH
Nicole grew up in New England and has lived in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. She received her Bachelors’ degree in Marketing from Plymouth State University and her Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Trinity College London. She taught in South Korea and Czech Republic, and as an Adjunct Professor of ESL, teaching students from over 25 countries! She comes to us with a broad range of administrative experience, with a focus on program management. Prior to starting with BWH, Nicole worked for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, supporting the HMS General Medicine Fellowship and the HMS Integrative Medicine Fellowship. She also worked as a Conference and Event Planner for the Division of Internal Medicine and Primary Care at BWH. Prior to that, she worked for the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School as the Program Coordinator for the Annual Bioethics Conference and the Harvard Clinical Bioethics Conference. Nicole recently welcomed a puppy to her home!
Nicole can be reached at HSRPKM@PARTNERS.ORG.