Botswana Harvard Health Partnership

Program type: International, Research

Format: In-person

Location: Gaborone, Botswana

Organization Details

• Organization Name: Botswana Harvard Health Partnership (BHP)
• Location: Gaborone, Botswana
• Website: https://bhp.org.bw

Internship Details

• Intern Positions Available: 2
• Format: Fully In-Person
• Work Environment Details: Laboratory or clinical research settings in Gaborone, Botswana
• Duration: Tentatively June 2 – August 8 (10 weeks)
• Additional Requirements: Depending on the project, interns may need to complete CITI training in human-subjects research, Good Clinical Practice, or data security training.

Organization Description

The Botswana Harvard Health Partnership (BHP) is a collaborative research and training initiative between the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Republic of Botswana. Established in 1996 to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, BHP has expanded its focus to include public health challenges such as:

• Pathogen drug resistance and genomics.
• Maternal and child health.
• Cancer and STI diagnosis and management.
• Large-scale surveillance and implementation of science studies.

The BHP laboratory’s work encompasses genomic characterization of pathogens, wastewater surveillance, and studying mechanisms of immune-response evasion. Training investigators and building local research capacity remain central to its mission.

Internship Project Description

Interns will contribute to a specific research project selected from BHP’s ongoing studies. The project will be tailored to the intern’s background and interests and could involve:

Laboratory Research:

• Nucleic acid extraction from human samples.
• Gene or full-genome amplification of pathogens.
• Troubleshooting techniques for low nucleic acid copy numbers in samples.
• Bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data (Oxford Nanopore, Illumina platforms).
• Optional: Basics of phylogenetics, drug resistance, immune escape analysis.

Clinical/Epidemiologic Research:

• Assisting with clinical research conduct in various stages of implementation.
• Developing study materials, cleaning, and analyzing data.
• Exposure to analytic methods, including causal inference and statistical analysis.

Deliverables:

• A formal project report following manuscript guidelines (background, methods, results, discussion, conclusion).
• Participation in scientific presentations in Botswana and Boston.
• Co-authorship opportunities for substantive contributions to abstracts/manuscripts.

Learning Outcomes

1. Research Skills: Writing research proposals and developing clear hypotheses.
2. Science Communication: Abstract and manuscript writing, oral presentation.
3. Specialized Skills: Depending on the project, interns may learn molecular virology techniques, data acquisition, causal inference design, and more.

Qualifications

• Preferred Background: Rising juniors or seniors.
• Required Coursework: Life Sciences 1a or equivalent.
• Preferred Skills:
  • Wet lab experience for lab-based projects.
  • Exposure to data analysis and statistical software for clinical projects.
• Other Considerations: Preference for applicants with international travel experience or other relevant experiences.

Work Environment

Interns will be integrated into a dynamic team environment in Botswana. Opportunities for engagement include:

• Collaborative work with local researchers and staff.
• Hands-on experience in laboratory or clinical research settings.
• Active participation in study team meetings and discussions.

Application Details

Applicants must submit a 500-word personal statement addressing:

• Why they want this position.
• How this experience aligns with their learning and future goals.
• Relevant skills and experiences they bring to the position.

Additional Questions: Please describe prior international travel or experiences living outside the U.S.

Keywords: Bench Science/Wet Lab, Clinical Exposure/Shadowing, Data Analysis, Fieldwork, Infectious Diseases, Maternal/Child Health