Introduction
Soma Weiss Student Research Day is an annual forum where Harvard medical and dental students present their scholarly work and learn about the investigative work of their peers. The day consists of a poster session, selected student oral presentations, and the awarding of prizes. It’s a unique opportunity for students to connect and engage with faculty, staff, and fellow students from across the greater Harvard community.
The event, first organized by Harvard faculty and medical students in 1940, honors the memory of Soma Weiss, MD (1899-1942), an inspiring teacher and physician at HMS and an ardent supporter of student research.
Soma Weiss Student Research Day 2027
Tuesday, March 16, 2027
4:00-6:30 pm
TMEC Atrium
Current HMS Students
- Visit the Soma Weiss Day student participation page to submit your work for presentation on Soma Weiss Day (HarvardKey required)
- Explore the Harvard Catalyst Writing and Communications Center for resources on writing manuscripts, preparing scientific talks, and designing effective posters
Student Poster Prizes
Prizes are awarded each year for the best student posters and are recognized at the annual event.
2026 Recipients
Elizabeth D. Hay Prize for Basic Science Research
Recipient: John Kincaid – “Systematic characterization of radiation-induced secondary malignancies in mice”
Judah Folkman Prize for Clinical/Translational Science Research
Recipient: Grace Kromm – “Resting-state functional brain network alterations and cognitive-behavioral associations in young children with autism and language impairment, Down syndrome, and Fragile X syndrome”
Runner Up: Jeffrey Prince – “The association between liver metastases and PD-1 inhibitor therapy outcomes in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma”
Charles Janeway Prize for International Research or Service
Recipients:
- Jaeyoon Cha – “Impact of a hospital-based palliative care service on cancer patients and caregivers in Rwanda”
- Ammar Dharani – “Adaptation of a scale to assess breast and cervical cancer stigma in Rwandan healthcare workers”
Leon Eisenberg Prize for Medicine in Society Research
Recipient: Twisha Bhardwaj – “Examining shifting landscapes of disease definition and language use in the Alzheimer’s specialty clinic”
Martin Prince Award for Student Innovation
Recipients:
- Eric Strand – “SONAR: Auditory information as a modality for enhanced radiologic analysis”
- Jerry Zhang – “From $30,000 to $50: Reimagining negative pressure wound therapy for low-resource health systems”
Medical Students Share Joy, Meaning of Mentored Scholarly Projects
“It’s a culmination of the wonderful work they’ve put in over months or years,” said Altaf Saadi, faculty director of scholarly engagement at HMS. “For some of them, their mentors and lab members are here to celebrate their research, and their peers get to hear about what they’ve been working on.”