Emily Knapp (’28)

This summer, I worked at the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) within the Office of the Director, where I contributed to the Computational Modeling of Hormone Homeostasis Initiative (CMOHH). This initiative supports the development of human-based computational models that use biological data to inform mathematical simulations of interindividual differences in hormone regulation across the human life course. These models are intended to support more informed clinical decisions by better accounting for patient-level variation in hormone regulation and its influence on the efficacy of therapeutics, particularly in areas where women have historically been underrepresented in biomedical research.

I joined the project during the receipt of full research applications and contributed across the review, selection, negotiation, and pre-award stages of the initiative. I reviewed confidential applications, conducted risk analyses, and synthesized scientific, budgetary, and operational considerations to support funding decisions. After priority applications were identified, I developed materials to support their preparation for award, including pay-plan documents, data-sharing and repository plans, and funding memoranda.

In preparation for the announcement of the awards to Congress, I developed concise overviews of complex research proposals, highlighting each project’s central scientific question, research strategy, clinical significance, and potential impact on human health. I also authored the public-facing overview of the CMOHH Initiative for the ORWH award webpage. 

Through my work at NIH, I had the opportunity to shadow clinical rounds at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I was also honored to receive an Outstanding Contribution Award at the conclusion of my internship. This fall, I am continuing my work with ORWH as a co-author of a literature review examining women’s health in the context of genomics for submission to Nature.

I am incredibly grateful to my mentors at NIH for their support, guidance, and thoughtfulness in making this experience as enriching as possible. It was very rewarding to be entrusted with meaningful deliverables and to contribute to this high-impact initiative as it progressed.