HPTN Scholars Program: The Next Era of Scientific Excellence

Providing scholar recipients with the knowledge, skills, and connections to further their careers as independent investigators in the HIV prevention research field.
2026-2027 HPTN Scholars

The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) is proud to offer the scholarship program for early-career investigators funded through a supplement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Applicants should desire to work with a mentor scientist in the Network to complete a research project based upon an existing HPTN research study. Scholars are provided funding to cover a portion of their time and expenses (typically 10-30%), including travel and research materials/supplies. Successful applicants will be funded for 18 months, subject to certain restrictions. 

 

Program Goal 1: Develop a Research Project 

Scholars will develop a research project using data from a completed or ongoing HPTN HIV prevention study and complete their scholarship project within the program cycle. 

Explore HPTN Research

 

Program Goal 2: Present Findings 

Scholars will present the findings of their project at the HPTN Annual Meeting and submit a manuscript at the end of the scholarship cycle. 

Explore Alumni Research

 

Program Goal 3: Expand Knowledge and Collaboration 

Scholars will become deeply knowledgeable of the process of doing research in NIH-funded HIV networks and will have the opportunity to build their research networks within the context of the HPTN. The scholars database showcases scholars across cohorts, fostering collaboration across the network with their collective expertise.  

Explore Scholars Database

Meet the 2026-2027 Domestic Scholars Cohort

HPTN Scholars Alumni

Domestic Cohort 14 

Kathryn Thompson, PhD, MHA – Boston University
Mentor(s): Dr. Danielle F. Haley, Dr. Carlos E. Rodriguez-Diaz

Daisy Ramírez-Ortiz, PhD, MPH – Florida International University
Mentor(s): Dr. Jason E. Farley, Dr. Diana M. Sheehan

 

International Cohort 9 

Patricia Fadzayi Mandima, MBChB, MPH – University of Zimbabwe Clinical Trials Research Centre
Mentor(s): Dr. Rivet Amico, Dr. Lynda Stranix Chibanda

Rita Nakalega, MBChB, MPH, MMED – Makerere University, John Hopkins University (MUJHU)
Mentor(s): Dr. Helen Ayles, Dr. Peter Bock, Dr. Deborah Donnell

Domestic Cohort 12 

Sophia Zamudio-Haas 
Mentor(s): Sybil Hosek, Jennifer Velloza 

Maria Christina Herrera 
Mentor(s): David Metzger 

David G. Zelaya 
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer 

Donte T. Boyd 
Mentor(s): Typhanye Dyer, Leo Wilton 

Margaret (Waru) Gichane 
Mentor(s): Connie Celum 

 

International Cohort 7 

Kudzai Hlahla 
Mentor(s): Nyaradzo Mgodi 

Victoria Ndyanabangi 
Mentor(s): Mina Hosseinipour 

Domestic Cohort 11 

Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha  
Mentor(s): Audrey Pettifor 

Donaldson Conserve 
Mentor(s): Chris Beyrer 

Adedotun Ogunbajo  
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer   

Noelle M. St. Vil 
Mentor(s): Danielle Haley, Gina Wingwood 

 

International Cohort 6 

Nomtha Bell-Mandla 
Mentor(s): Peter Bock, Ayana Moore, Lungiswa Nkonki 

Manuela Bullo 
Mentor(s): Audrey Pettifor

Chiti Bwalya 
Mentor(s): Virginia Bond, Musonda Simwinga 

Please note there were no Scholars cohorts for 2020-2021

Domestic Cohort 10 

Rodman Turpin 
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer, Typhanye Penniman-Dyer

S. Raquel Ramos 
Mentor(s): LaRon Nelson

Derek Dangerfield II 
Mentor(s): Irene Kuo 

 

International Cohort 5

Rogers Sekabira 
Mentor(s): Craig Hendrix

Elzette Rousseau-Jemwa 
Mentor(s): Rivet Amico, Linda-Gail Bekker

Anita Marais 
Mentor(s): Ravindre Panchia, Theo Sandfort

Domestic Cohort 9

Tamara Taggart 
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer, Yusuf Ransome, Sten Vermund

Maria Luisa Mittal 
Mentor(s): Dave Metzger

Darren Whitfield
Mentor(s): Sheldon Fields

Allysha Maragh-Bass 
Mentor(s): Betsy Tolley

 

International Cohort 4

Yamikani Mbilizi 
Mentor(s): Sufia Dadabhai, Theo Sandfort

Wilfred T. Gurupira 
Mentor(s): James Hakim, Taha Taha

Maganizo Chagomerana 
Mentor(s): Mina Hosseinipour

Domestic Cohort 8

Jasmine Abrams 
Mentor(s): Paula Frew

Michelle Odlum 
Mentor(s): Sharon Mannheimer

Emeka Okafor 
Mentor(s): Christopher Hucks-Ortiz, Kenneth Mayer, Steven Shoptaw

Diana Sheehan 
Mentor(s): Carl Latkin

Yordanos “Yordi” Tiruneh 
Mentor(s): Theresa Gamble, Nirupama Sista

 

International Cohort 3

Ulrika Makuraj 
Mentor(s): Sinead Delany-Moretlwe

Domestic Cohort 7

Victoria Ojeda 
Mentor(s): Rivet Amico, Craig Hendrix

Yusuf Ransome 
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer

Carlos E. Rodríguez-Díaz 
Mentor(s): Steve Safren

Glenn-Milo Santos 
Mentor(s): Steven Shoptaw

Laurens Van Sluytman 
Mentor(s): Carl Latkin

Kiyomi Tsuyuki 
Mentor(s): Steven Shoptaw

 

International Cohort 2

Nomhle Khoza 
Mentor(s): Sinead Delany-Moretlwe, Catherine MacPhail

Emily Makunike-Shava 
Mentor(s): Yuhua Ruan, Yiming Shao

Jabulani Ncayiyana 
Mentor(s): Kathleen Kahn, Audrey Pettifor

Domestic Cohort 6

Brandon Brown 
Mentor(s): Tom Coates

Dustin Duncan 
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer, Steve Safren 

Mandy Hill 
Mentor(s): Carl Latkin

Florence Momplaisir 
Mentor(s): Carl Latkin, David Metzger

Tonia Poteat 
Mentor(s): David Celentano

 

International Cohort 1

Emilia Jalil 
Mentor(s): Beatriz Grinsztejn

Jesne Kistan 
Mentor(s): Linda-Gail Bekker

Domestic Cohort 5

Bisola Ojikutu
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer, Steve Safren

Nicole Salazar-Austin
Mentor(s): David Celentano

Laramie Smith
Mentor(s): Carl Latkin, Steffanie Strathde

Tiarney Ritchwood
Mentor(s): Audrey Pettifor

 

Domestic Cohort 4

Tandrea Carter
Mentor(s): Carol Golin

Grace "Chela" Hall
Mentor(s): Beryl Koblin

DeMarc Hickson
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer

Malika Roman Isler 
Mentor(s): Carol Golin

Larissa Jennings
Mentor(s): Audrey Pettifor

Brooke Montgomery
Mentor(s): Sally Hodder

Jennifer Stewart
Mentor(s): Ada Adimora

Domestic Cohort 3

C. Andres Bedoya
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer, Steve Safren

Oni Blackstock
Mentor(s): Sharon Mannheimer

Grace "Chela" Hall
Mentor(s): Beryl Koblin

Sophia Hussen
Mentor(s): Carlos del Rio, Robert Stephenson

Malika Roman Isler 
Mentor(s): Carol Golin

Brooke Montgomery
Mentor(s): Sally Hodder

Chevette Williams
Mentor(s): David Metzger

Domestic Cohort 2

Russell Brewer
Mentor(s): Darrell Wheeler

Yvonne Carter
Mentor(s): Ada Adimora

Risha Irvin
Mentor(s): Susan Buchbinder

LaRon Nelson
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer

Typhanye Penniman Dyer
Mentor(s): Steven Shoptaw

Domestic Cohort 1

Russell Brewer
Mentor(s): Darrell Wheeler

Yvonne Carter
Mentor(s): Ada Adimora

Risha Irvin
Mentor(s): Susan Buchbinder

LaRon Nelson
Mentor(s): Kenneth Mayer

Typhanye Penniman Dyer
Mentor(s): Steven Shoptaw

Zandraetta Tims-Cook
Mentor(s): Paula Frew, Carlos del Rio

If you have questions, please contact the Scholars Program Management Team at scholarspm@hptn.org.