Karen DSouza, PhD

Karen DSouza, PhD, is a higher education program specialist and clinical and translational scientist whose work sits at the intersection of research, education, and academic workforce development. She serves as Program Manager for Collaborative Excellence at Yale Cancer Center, where she leads education and research training initiatives that expand access to careers in cancer research and medicine. Her work spans the educational continuum, from developing pathways for high school students exploring scientific careers, to supporting post-baccalaureate fellows preparing for advanced graduate and medical training, as well as building cross-institutional partnerships that create new opportunities for trainees and early career scientists.

Karen’s professional and scholarly interests center on the hidden curriculum of academic medicine and graduate education, mentorship, and the institutional structures that shape access to and success in academic research careers. Trained as a mixed-methods researcher, she brings expertise in qualitative research, program evaluation, and data-informed program design. Across her work, she is passionate about building inclusive academic environments and creating meaningful pathways for the next generation of scientists and scholars.