Student Opportunities for AIDS/HIV Research (SOAR)
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- Gary Harper - Co-Director & Research Director; Professor of Health Behavior & Health Education, School of Public Health
- Anna Kirkland - Co-Director & Academic Director; Director, Institute for Research on Women & Gender; Professor of Women's & Gender Studies
The Student Opportunities for AIDS/HIV Research (SOAR) Program is a two-year training program for juniors and seniors at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor grounded in feminist, intersectional theory and praxis.
The program aims to support students in the completion of their undergraduate degree and prepare them for doctoral-level graduate education and eventual research careers in HIV-related behavioral and social science research (BSSR), with a preferred focus on HIV prevention and treatment within sexual and gender minority communities.
SOAR students complete a mentored research experience with a faculty researcher for a minimum of one academic year, a spring graduate school preparation program, a summer mentored research experience or internship, two required seminar courses for academic credit (one each year), and receive holistic mentoring and support both during and after their formal participation in the program.
In addition, SOAR students present their research findings each year at an annual research symposium, disseminate their research findings through additional academic and community channels, and submit applications for admission into graduate school.
SOAR is funded by a five-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research, National Institutes of Health (1R25MH126703-01).
The program is administered by the University of Michigan's Institute for Research on Women and Gender, in collaboration with the School of Public Health, School of Nursing, School of Social Work, and College of Literature Science & the Arts.
Visit the SOAR website to learn more.
