Alba Ganem Vojta
Education
Marymount School of New York | High School Graduation: 2026
Experience
Clinical Research Intern, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ),
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
On-site summer research intern (Brazil);
ongoing comparative analysis from New York
Supervisor: Dr. Juliana dos Santos Barbosa Netto, MD, PhD, Infectious Disease Physician & Medical Coordinator, Day Hospital, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Evandro Chagas (Fiocruz)
– Conducted clinical observations and research on HIV/AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI) and the Souza Araújo Outpatient Clinic. FIOCRUZ, is recognized as a leading science and technology institution in Latin America and serves as a reference in the understanding and treatment of diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
– Shadowed physicians treating patients with advanced Kaposi, gaining exposure to therapeutic protocols and patient management in a specialized public health setting.
– Assisted with data collection and organization for observational studies and randomized trials; contributed to draft reports and presentations on patient outcomes and treatment efficacy.
– Participated in multidisciplinary case discussions with clinicians, researchers and public health professionals, enhancing knowledge in tropical medicine, epidemiology and healthcare delivery in resource-constrained settings.
Independent Science Research, Marymount School of New York,
Research Scholar, 2024–present
Chosen through a competitive application process as one of 10 students from both Junior and Senior classes for a 2-year research program. Focusing on skin diseases and cancer, with a particular emphasis on endemic diseases in Latin America.
Meyer Cancer Center (MCC) at Weill Cornell Medicine + Englander Institute for Precision Medicine (EIPM)
Research Intern, Summer 2024 (7-week program)
Supervisor: Himel Mallick, PhD, Assistant Professor of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine Meyer Cancer Center
– Researched immunotherapy, gut microbiota, and CTLA-4, to understand their roles in cancer treatment.
– Conducted data collection and analysis on anti-CTLA-4 efficacy, working with diverse data types (sequencing technology, microbiome data, patient demographics).
– Authored a two-page scientific paper summarizing the findings on CTLA-4’s interaction with gut microbiota.
More Active Girls in Computing (MAGIC) Mentorship Research Program for Women
Researcher, 2023-2024
Mentor: Kourtney Sprague, MS
– Researched Fogo Selvagem, the Brazilian endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus, with a focus on its prevalence in rural areas where deforestation and limited healthcare access exacerbate the disease.
– Shadowed doctors and visited patients at Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a leading center for Fogo Selvagem treatment.
National Youth Leadership Forum Advanced Medicine and Health Care,
University of California Los Angeles (July 2023)
– Studied core areas of medicine and healthcare, including first aid, clinical skills, surgical technology, and and robotic-assisted medical procedures
– Developed and presented a final research poster on the opioid epidemic, focusing on fentanyl’s impact on public health, earning 2 college credits
Xavier Church Soup Kitchen
Volunteer, 2024 – 2025
Served food to houseless, organized the food pantry, sorted clothing donations
Including You
Mentor and Tutor, 2021-2022
Mentored students struggling academically and emotionally.
Honors and Awards
National Honors Society (XI)
Marymount First Academic Honors Award (IX, X, XI)
Fogo Selvagem Research Publication
"Stop and Spot: Everything You Need to Know About Fogo Selvagem"
Published on Medium, May 2024, alongside my MAGIC mentor, Dr. Kourtney Sprague
Read the article
Howard Gilman Foundation MPACT Grant (May 2024)
Collaborated with peers to secure a $5,000 grant for the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), supporting refugees and immigrants.
– Developed a multimedia advocacy project highlighting the NYIC’s work
– Created a financial analysis proposal exploring the organization’s 990 forms and how the grant would be utilized.
Most Improved Player Award, Marymount Volleyball (IX, X)
Activities
Marymount Student Ambassador (2025)
Medical Society Club (2022-present), Secretary (2023-2024)
- Coordinate meetings, lead event planning, and manage member communication to promote engagement in medical discussions and activities.
Latinx Club (2022-present)
Multiracial Student Affinity Hub Club (2022-present)
Debate Club (2023-present)
Club Volleyball (2022-present)
Junior Varsity Volleyball (2022-present)
- AAIS Tournament and Season Champion
Varsity Swim (2023-present)
Languages Spoken
English, Portuguese, French