Education & Enrichment
Summer Program In Diabetes & Obesity Research (SPIDOR)
SPIDOR is a 10-week (first 2-weeks online and 8-weeks in-person) summer research experience providing outstanding underrepresented students interested in science and medicine an opportunity to gain meaningful exposure to the exceptional research and clinical programs at the Keck School of Medicine (KSOM) of USC.
Summer scholars will conduct cutting-edge diabetes/obesity research in the laboratories of faculty members from the USC Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute (DORI). Students will be exposed to basic science, translational, and clinical research experiences. The summer session culminates with students presenting their research findings to the KSOM community.
Applications are closed
Program Runs May 28 - August 2, 2024
Program Director – Joyce Richey, PhD
Phone: 323-442-1939
Email: jrichey@usc.edu
Program Director – Richard M. Watanabe, PhD
Phone: 323-442-2053
Email: rwatanab@usc.edu
Program Manager – Christina Ayala, MPH
Phone: 323-442-2500
Email: trujillc@usc.edu
Program Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be an underrepresented student as designated by the NIH
- Completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 or greater
Selection will be based on:
- An essay describing how this program will enhance your educational and career goals
- Two faculty Letters of Recommendation (One Must be from a Faculty in the Life Science)
- Official college transcript(s)
Program Highlights
- Scholars receive a stipend.
- Transportation costs and University housing are paid by the program.
- Weekly didactic lectures in metabolism, physiology, and biostatistics.
- Seminars focusing on reducing health disparities and enhancing cultural competence in health care.
- Opportunities to shadow at affiliated hospitals: Keck, LAC+USC and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
- Career development workshops on financial aid, GRE/MCAT prep, graduate school admission process, test taking skills, organization skills, time management, and career choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can letters of recommendation and transcripts be submitted after the deadline?
Yes, as long as your application form with your essay are submitted by the deadline, your application will be considered on-time. However, recommendation letters and transcripts are due the week after the application deadline.
Can I still apply if I’m graduating with a bachelors in May 2024 (or prior)?
Yes, your application is welcomed as long as you are not accepted into a postbac or graduate program Please use your essay to explain how this program aligns with your future in diabetes/obesity related research.
If accepted into the program, is it mandatory to live in provided housing?
In an effort to encourage full immersion into the program, yes, it is mandatory.
My school semester/quarter ends after May 28, 2024, so can I still apply?
The first week of the program will be completing online trainings. The second week of the program will be live virtual didactic lectures, so all students must be available to attend them from June 3 – 7 from 9am to 4pm (please note that the final schedule is not finalized). Only applicants whose semester or quarter finals end before June 3, 2024, will be reviewed.
SPIDOR Ceremony Presentations
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2019
- 2018
DORI Pilot Program
The DORI pilot program was implemented to establish a track record in pilot funding and to build a critical mass of collaborative research. Pilot awards funded through DORI have supported new investigators, career development, new technologies, and team science. Since 2013, the DORI pilot program has invested $685,000 on funding a total of 14 awards supporting 12 pilot projects, two of which received a second year of support.
Principal Investigators of the pilot studies come from a diverse background and their work characterizes the integrated and translational theme of the DORI. DORI pilot projects have been successful in producing high-impact findings, and awardees have demonstrated a high success rate in translating their work into larger, externally funded projects.
We aim to reduce these social & health disparities through the development of novel precision options for treatment & prevention tailored to ethnicity & stage of life
Clinical & translational research in patient populations served by USC
Convergent science to harness & leverage unique resources & expertise across KSOM& USC through a diversity of disciplines
Effective health behavior strategies built on community engagement
Our Main Focus
Obesity and diabetes are major health burdens especially in poor and under-represented minorities. DORI establishes a unified vision across University of Southern California (USC) focused on:
- Understanding ethnic and income disparities in obesity and diabetes
- Understanding the basis of disparities in the links between obesity and diabetes
- Understanding how these disparities emerge during critical periods of the life course
DORI’s Unique Focus on Disparities
in
Obesity & Diabetes
Annual DORI Symposium
Check out the latest in diabetes research from our 2023 DORI Symposium; featuring doctors, scientists and researchers from top universities and research institutes across the globe.
