Scholars in HIV/AIDS Research Education (SHARE)

The Scholars in HIV/AIDS Research Education (SHARE) Program at The George Washington University, grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory and Intersectionality Framework, seeks to enhance, in both number and quality, the HIV-research pipeline and workforce. This objective will be achieved by the following aims: Aim 1. Develop a competency-based approach to mentoring with a triad of integrated mentors (i.e., career, science, and peer) in HIV and Substance Use Disorders (SUD), and assess cognitive-related mediators (i.e., self-efficacy and science identity) of mentoring effectiveness and career success. Aim 2. Implement activities for 30 participants (six undergraduate or recent graduate participants per year over five-year project period) for mentored hands- on research experience (prospective research study or secondary data analysis) on a high-priority focused HIV/SUD research topic (e.g., HIV prevention and care continuum; comorbidities). Aim 3. Implement activities for educational and professional-career enrichment experiences through didactics and professional-career enrichment seminars. For these program aims, we will evaluate the impact and effectiveness of SHARE Program on outcomes achieved and career trajectories of the participants and disseminate program success. Expected short term outcomes will include promoting development of a cadre of undergraduate students committed to pursuing behavioral, social and health science research careers in HIV/SUD. The long-term outcome and impact of the program aligns with the priority of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)--to increase the number and quality of well-trained researchers in the behavioral and social sciences of HIV and SUD, to reduce their societal consequences and improve individual and public health.