Undergraduate Research Fellowship

Credit: Yale School of Medicine

Women’s Health Research at Yale’s Undergraduate Fellowship matches students with Yale faculty members as mentors. These faculty members are experts in their fields and dedicated to exploring the health of women and the influence of sex and gender on health.

Mentorship is designed to enrich students’ current studies while complementing their career direction. Students learn to investigate new and timely health and clinical care questions all while gaining exposure to the most contemporary approaches in the science of women’s health.

Mentoring tomorrow’s leaders

Credit: Robert A. Lisak

Each academic year, we draw from a pool of undergraduate students who share an interest in women’s health and the intersection of social and biological variables with health.

WHRY’s goal is to provide an immersive experience that fosters and develops each student’s interest in women’s health, more inclusive research, and integrative clinical care.

Apply for Research Fellowships

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is undergraduate research important?: Participating in Women’s Health Research at Yale’s undergraduate research program can help you explore career interests, gain practical experience, and clarify your post-graduation plans. Undergraduate research also strengthens your communication and critical thinking skills.
Why is women’s health important to study?: Women were long excluded from research studies because scientists incorrectly assumed the data gained from studying men could always be applied to women. Now we know there are sex and gender differences in many diseases and conditions, and the assumption that women were just scaled down versions of men is incorrect. By studying women and sex and gender differences, we make important discoveries that can advance health care for all people.
What is the program like?: Women’s Health Research at Yale undergraduate fellows can explore women’s health and the influence of sex and gender on health through scientific research with experts in a variety of fields. All undergraduate fellows participate in an interactive seminar on the science of women’s health. Fellows can interact with faculty directly to investigate new health data on women and sex and gender, learn about scientific communication while writing for the student-led blog, and/or learn the latest information on the intersection of biology and sex and gender in various medical conditions. The opportunity to help integrate health data into the YSM curriculum is also available.
Who can apply?: Applicants must be actively enrolled undergraduate students in Yale College and have an interest in the health of women and/or sex and gender differences in health.
Are fellows paid?: Research fellows have the option of receiving course credit.
What is the time commitment?: Fellows are asked to commit a minimum of six hours per week to the program.
How do I apply?: For more information and to apply click here.

Undergraduate Fellowship Recipients

2024-2025 Fellows: Zaharaa Altwaij ’25
Mentor: Dr. Linda Freed

Kira Berman ‘25
Mentor: Sara Luciano

Aeka Guru ’25, returning
Mentor: Dr. Kelsey Martin

Chernice Mbogori ‘25
Mentor: Dr. Marc Potenza

Alexis Ramirez-Hardy ‘26
Mentor: Dr. Manuel Paris

Andrea Rix ‘26
Mentor: Dr. Samit Shah

Kayla Yup ’25, returning
Mentor: Dr. Caroline Johnson
2023-2024 Fellows: Emily Anghad ’25
Mentor: Dr. Sarah Lichenstein

Aeka Guru ‘25
Mentor: Dr. Kelsey Martin

Stephanie Montealegre ‘26
Mentor: Dr. Manuel Paris

Mahnoor Sarfraz ‘24
Mentor: Dr. Audrey Merriam

Kayla Yup ’25, returning
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure
2022-2023 Fellows: Gillian Clouser ’23
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Nandini Erodoula '23
Mentor: Dr. Kelsey Martin

Christina Lee '25
Mentor: Dr. Marc Potenza

Yeji Lee '24
Mentors: Dr. Sarah Yip and Dr. Sarah Lichenstein

Sophia Silwal '24
Mentors: Dr. Sarah Yip and Dr. Sarah Lichenstein

Kayla Yup '25
Mentor: Dr. Clare Flannery
2021 - 2022 Fellows: Gillian Clouser ’23

Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure and Rick Harrison

Margaret Hankins ’24

Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure and Rick Harrison

Michelle Osagie ’22

Mentor: Dr. Kelsey Martin
2020 - 2021 Fellows: Ke'ala Akau '22
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure and Rick Harrison

Olivia Genao '23
Mentor: Dr. Kelsey Martin
2019 - 2020 Fellows: Suyeon Hong '20, returning
Mentor: Dr. Njeri Thande

Nardos Kebede '20
Mentor: Dr. Nii Addy

Hannah Lee ‘20
Mentor: Dr. Akiko Iwasaki

Natalie Schoen ‘20
Mentor: Dr. Megan Smith

Sita Strother ‘20
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Freed

Anjali Walia ‘21
Mentors: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure and Rick Harrison
2018 – 2019 Fellows: Kaveri Curlin '19, returning
Mentor: Dr. Njeri Thande

Suyeon Hong '20
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Nafeesa Abuwala ‘19
Mentor: Dr. Megan Smith

Cecilia Crews ‘19
Mentor: Dr. Njeri Thande and Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Jillian Eckroate ‘19
Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Yonkers

Devyn Rigsby ‘19
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Freed
2017 – 2018 Fellows: Haleigh Larson '18, returning
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Rose Davis '18, returning
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Freed

Dhikshitha Balaji '18
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Kaveri Curlin '19
Mentor: Dr. Njeri Thande

Lauren McNeel '18
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Cosgrove

Seyram Dodor '19
Mentor: Dr. Njeri Thande

Kanan Shah '18
Mentor: Dr. Kimberly Yonkers
2016 – 2017 Fellows: Benjamin Fait '17, returning
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Haleigh Larson '18
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Milana Bochkur Dratver '18
Mentor: Dr. Lynn Fiellin

Rose Davis '18
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Freed
2015 – 2016 Fellows: Biruktawit “Birdy” Assefa '18
Mentor: Dr. Philip Smith

Ann Sarnak '17
Mentor: Dr. Sherry McKee

Lillian Bitner '17
Mentor: Dr. Sherry McKee

Benjamin Fait '17
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn M. Mazure

Teddy G. Goetz '17
Mentor: Dr. Kelly Cosgrove