The Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA) at Yale University established the Shawn Lang Legacy HIV Health Equity & Social Justice Fellowship (HESJF) in 2022 in honor of the life and legacy of longtime CIRA affiliate and HIV activist Shawn Lang. The fellowship supports and promotes community-engaged student work focused on equitable HIV outcomes. In collaboration with the Yale School of Public Health Heaney Fellowship, the annual fellowship provides assistance for student-led research and field work in HIV-related areas, including with a monetary stipend for students and community organizations that host them.
The program is currently open to Yale Master of Public Health (MPH) students to complete either: (1) A practice-based opportunity working on an HIV-focused project relevant to local community organizations; and (2) a research-based opportunity working with a CIRA researcher conducting community-engaged research with a partnering community organization. Students are expected to produce several deliverables; examples include surveys, interview guides, impact evaluations, grant proposals, and policy analyses.
The ideal community organization for a practice-based project:
- Has a focus on HIV or serve individuals from communities disproportionately impacted by HIV.
- Can identify one or more specific projects with relevance to HIV that an MPH student could complete or make significant progress on this summer.
- Has a staff person with a Master’s degree who has sufficient capacity to work with a student this summer (minimum 3 hours per week providing direct oversight or feedback).
- Has local, in-person work that a student could engage in.
The ideal faculty mentor:
- Has an ongoing community-based research project related to HIV being conducted in partnership with at least one community organization based in Connecticut.
- Has sufficient capacity to mentor an MPH student’s meaningful contribution to this research, with additional assistance from CIRA as needed.
To express interest for summer 2024, please use the appropriate link:
Student: https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7OP41ESSELguc3Y
Faculty: https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a92dsQk21fjB0F0
Community Organization: https://yalesurvey.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cMuMQX9I9dvuV7w
Contact CIRA Program Director Daniel.Davidson@yale.edu with questions.
