Returning HSMP scholars pair first-hand research experience with peer leadership—helping new researchers build confidence, sharpen methods, and move consequential ideas forward.
Peer mentors
Research experience, returned to the community.
Research Fellows are former program participants invited back to help incoming students make meaningful progress on their own studies.
They work alongside undergraduate and graduate mentors, facilitate journal clubs, support project development, organize meetings, and help student research directors monitor milestones across the cohort.
Current fellows · 2026
Meet the research team.
Portraits are intentionally replaced with editorial monograms.
HSMP01
SR
01Director of Student Research
Sarah Roelke
Research record
Examined peripartum cardiomyopathy and identified novel risk factors associated with the condition in women. Her current work analyzes rural health access and outcomes in Virginia.
Fellow biography
Sarah oversees the peer mentor system, matches students with mentors according to project scope and interests, manages the research timeline, and helps teams meet key milestones.
Women’s health
Health policy
Rural health
HSMP02
AH
02Incoming Director of Student Research
Arabella Horton
Research record
Research profile forthcoming.
Fellow biography
Arabella is named in the Summer 2026 welcome packet as the incoming Director of Student Research. Additional biography and research details will be added when published by the program.
Student research leadership
HSMP03
RR
03Machine Learning & AI Tutor
Rishi Rajmanna
Research record
Applies machine learning to glioblastoma imaging, with a focus on medical imaging and computational modeling.
Fellow biography
Rishi supports students conducting computational and data-driven research, helping them apply machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques introduced in program lectures.
Machine learning
Medical imaging
Glioblastoma
HSMP04
EB
04Machine Learning & AI Tutor
Emmanuel Beakal
Research record
Uses machine learning with the AACR GENIE database to study prognosis among African-American males with colorectal cancer.
Fellow biography
Emmanuel guides students working with computational methods, health datasets, and AI-assisted approaches to clinically relevant research questions.
Machine learning
Cancer outcomes
Health equity
HSMP05
SA
05Journal Club Organizer & Systematic Review Specialist
Sajeela Ahmad
Research record
Studies translational and clinical medicine, including cancer treatment outcomes and evidence-based healthcare. Her recent work was accepted for presentation at an American Physician Scientists Association Regional Conference.
Fellow biography
Sajeela mentors students in scientific literature analysis, journal club discussion, systematic review methodology, and research communication.
Systematic reviews
Clinical medicine
Cancer treatment
HSMP06
AJ
06Student Success & Support
Aysha Jafar
Research record
Conducted research on ovarian cancer and endometriosis, developing experience in scientific investigation, literature analysis, and collaborative research.
Fellow biography
Aysha helps students meet academic competencies through individualized guidance, supplemental sessions, and ongoing support throughout the program.
Ovarian cancer
Endometriosis
Student support
HSMP07
KB
07Clinical Trials Lead
Kyle Buffardi
Research record
Compared monoclonal antibody treatment approaches for melanoma using clinical trial datasets.
Fellow biography
Kyle supports students studying clinical research and healthcare outcomes. He teaches clinical efficacy research, randomized controlled trial design, interventional methods, and interpretation of clinical data.
Clinical trials
Melanoma
Treatment efficacy
The mentorship model
Three levels of guidance.
Each high school researcher has access to graduate, undergraduate, and peer mentorship—connecting technical rigor with practical and social support.
01Primary advisor
Graduate mentor
Provides scientific oversight, advanced methodological guidance, and support for higher-level research challenges.
02Hands-on guide
Undergraduate mentor
Supports literature reviews, data organization, academic writing, poster creation, and day-to-day project progress.
03Peer mentor
Research fellow
Builds community, facilitates journal clubs, helps brainstorm projects, and reports progress to student research directors.