NIH fellow gains experience in policy analysis, international health issues
Meet Maggie Gearhart

Maggie Gearhart, MPH, honed her skills in policy analysis and international health issues as an ORISE fellow with the Office of Global Research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Growing up, Maggie Gearhart, MPH, was encouraged by her father to be curious and learn about the world around her. When attending the University of Pittsburgh, she decided to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and found microbiology and immunology to be her favorite courses. In March 2020, the university extended their spring break in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Gearhart’s professors in turn shifted the focus of the course to be on coronavirus and the proposed vaccines that were in the works. This allowed Gearhart and her peers to become knowledgeable on what the virus was and how the vaccines conferred immunity. The learning experience was stimulating and meaningful to Gearhart, prompting her to pursue a career in the field of public health that combined her passion for science and research.
Following the completion of her degree in biological sciences and anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh, Gearhart began her Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). While at UNC, Gearhart discovered an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) opportunity that would fill the practicum requirement for her MPH at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Gearhart was placed at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Office of Global Research (OGR) with the Africa, Middle East and Europe (AMEE) team under the guidance of Holly Curtis, Ph.D.
The ORISE Research Participation Program at NIAID provides college students, recent graduates and postdoctoral fellows with opportunities to participate in project specific NIAID research, current public health research and developmental activities. The programs promote networking with world-class scientists to expand students’ knowledge in their fields of study while exposing them to new areas of basic and applied research. These research activities help transition classroom theory into hands-on experience and help provide answers to today’s pressing scientific questions.
Through her ORISE fellowship at NIAID, Gearhart supports an international research portfolio of 27 countries in in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Her contributions include coordinating jointly funded programs; disseminating information; organizing conferences, workshops and collaborative initiatives; and developing and maintaining relationships with outside organizations, including foreign government and scientific institutions. Gearhart has also gained experience in policy analysis and review of global health and international issues and the coordination of international research and grants.
“Of all the NIH institutes and centers, NIAID has the largest international research portfolio; more than half of NIH international research expenditures are made by NIAID,” Gearhart said. “OGR coordinates and facilitates the international activities of NIAID and works with similar offices in many other NIH institutes and centers, various agencies within Health and Human Services and other United States government departments.”
When arriving at NIAID, Gearhart was able to employ what she had been learning in her studies at UNC to real-world situations, but she still had opportunities to learn from others. Her appointment experience has allowed her to hone her skills in written communication and task management. She associates this with the team-oriented culture her team possesses.
“We often have initiatives or projects that are an ‘all hands-on deck’ type of situation,” she said. “There is a common adage that everyone in the office uses for these projects—ones that take the ‘whole OGR village.’”
Gearhart recommends participating in an ORISE opportunity to all STEM students looking to gain knowledge and experience in their field. She notes that she will leave with invaluable lessons and skills that have significantly shaped her growth as a student and professional.
“Even as a fellow, I was immediately made to feel part of the village,” she said. “It is an experience that I won't soon forget and hope to keep the relationships I’ve made with colleagues at OGR for a long while.”
The NIAID Research Participation Program is funded by NIAID and administered through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). ORISE is managed for DOE by ORAU.