ARIANA VAIDA
Cell and Molecular Biology (B.S.), Class of 2026
Greetings! My name is Ariana Vaida. I am a second-year studying Molecular Biology and Global Health in pursuit of becoming a Physician Scientist. I am fascinated by the development and prevention of chronic and infectious diseases; I am currently advancing my research skills by working under Dr. Sean Piwarski at the Duke Cancer Institute examining the biochemical responses of African-American prostate cancer patients, and leading my own research project on HIV latency at Johns Hopkins Medical School. My commitment to medicine is largely rooted in my past experiences witnessing the intersectional effects of food deserts, generational poverty, and access to education on human health. As someone who is local to Durham, I look forward to opening the conversation of social determinants of health in our community and applying what I’ve learned in the classroom and lab hands-on to the needs of underserved families through Help Desk.
