Our 2026 Summer interns at Akagera Medicines:
Charles-Sebastian Farmer
Hello! My name is Charles-Sebastien Farmer, and I am a rising freshman at NYU, majoring in Cinema Studies. I'm passionate about using film as a vehicle for social justice advocacy and creating authentic representation of underrepresented communities.
This summer at Akagera Medicines, I created an educational video using animation and motion design to explain their precision drug delivery system and its impact on TB treatment. Through this internship, I learned that global health innovation isn't just about science—it's about storytelling and accessibility. Working with world-class scientists and leaders showed me that African-owned solutions to global health challenges are essential.
This experience allowed me to see firsthand the work my father, Paul Farmer, was passionate about—finding solutions for underserved communities. Furthermore, it reinforced my belief that breakthrough work happens when we combine innovation with authentic storytelling. I'm grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Akagera's mission.
"The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world." — Dr. Paul Farmer
Sameera Azam Nooristani
My name is Sameera Azam Nooristani, and I am an Afghan Nuristani student and an incoming freshman at St. Michael’s College, where I will be pursuing a pre-med track. I recently graduated from Vermont Academy.
I come from Nuristan, a province with no hospital and, to this day, no female doctors. I lost my grandfather because there was no hospital nearby to treat him in time. He had to be taken to another province for medical care, but he did not survive the journey. He is not the only one—countless others in Nuristan have lost their lives to illnesses and injuries that could have been treated with access to proper healthcare.
That experience shaped my purpose. I am committed to studying medicine so that one day I can return home and build a hospital in Nuristan, ensuring that no family has to experience the same loss mine did.
This summer, I had the honor of interning at Akagera Medicines, where I worked alongside scientists and researchers. During my internship, I learned about mRNA-LNP technology, laboratory research, experimental design, data analysis, and the process of writing papers. This experience helped prepare me for a career in medicine and research while bringing me one step closer to my dream of improving healthcare in underserved communities.
“I carry my grandfather’s memory into every classroom, every lab, and every step toward becoming a doctor—so that no one else in Nuristan has to lose someone the way we lost him.” - Sameera
Ange Diane Umutoni
Hello! My name is Ange Diane Umutoni, and I am a rising junior at Tufts University majoring in Chemical and Biological Engineering. I am passionate about developing and contributing to innovative solutions that improve healthcare, particularly in underserved and developing communities around the world. This summer, I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute to that mission through my internship with Akagera Medicine.
As an intern, I will be working alongside scientists as they explore and optimize various factors that influence the effectiveness of mRNA-LNP therapeutics. I am eager to deepen my understanding of this cutting-edge technology and its potential to transform global health by making treatments more effective, accessible, and affordable. I believe advances in mRNA-LNP technology have the potential to be truly life-changing, and I am thrilled to be part of a team working to bring these innovations closer to the people who need them most.
“Dreams don't work unless you do”- John C. Maxwell.
Oda Mahirwe
My name is Oda Mahirwe, a Rwandan-born and raised rising junior at Amherst College. I am driven by a passion for addressing one of the fundamental challenges of global health, which Paul Farmer describes in Reimagining Global Health as achieving “a just and equitable distribution of the risk of suffering and of the tools to lessen it.”
As an aspiring physician-scientist, I hope to contribute to advancing health equity through research, innovation, and service to underserved communities. This summer, I am honored to pursue that mission as an intern at Akagera Medicines Inc. In this role, I review clinical trial data, track market dynamics, and monitor industry developments to support Akagera Medicines' mission of serving as a leading voice within the African biotech diaspora.
I am excited to be part of Akagera Medicines' commitment to creating a lasting impact for communities that have historically been underserved.
"Equity in health is not a luxury. It is a human right." ~ Agnes Binagwaho
Khujusta Bahar Naiemy
My name is Khujusta Bahar Naiemy, and I’m currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in biology & biotechnology with a pre-med focus at Endicott College. I’m a peer tutor for organic chemistry and biology, and I’m active in a variety of clubs, including Model UN and Book Club. I’m also working on an independent research project with my professor at Endicott College on DNA damage and the influence of Sea3 on this pathway. In 2024, I also had the opportunity to join a summer research program at the University of Global Health and Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda.
“I was born and raised curious, always questioning 'why'; it’s a privilege not everyone has, as many are thought to accept their fate rather than shape it.”
I’m thrilled to be an intern here at Akagera Medicine, where science and innovation intersect to improve and save lives. Throughout my internship, I will expand my knowledge of public health by analyzing and reading “Reimagining Global Health” by Paul Farmer, improve my lab skills by working alongside incredible scientists as they examine factors that influence the development of new or more efficient vaccines, mostly in mRNA-LNP technology, and present my understanding and findings on the RSV indication.
"If access to health care is considered a human right, who is considered human enough to have that right?" Paul Farmer
The 2025 summer intern at Akagera Medicine: “Rwanda’s bright star”
Ineza Mizero Ines Kevine
My name is Ineza Mizero Ines Kevine, and I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Middlebury College. My internship at Akagera Medicines has pushed me beyond my comfort zone and allowed me to gain valuable knowledge both within and beyond my field of study. I worked on different projects and embraced unique opportunities, represented the company at the Rwanda Convention 2025, and engaged with brilliant scientists at the office, whose insights and passion deeply inspired me. I am truly grateful for this experience, as the lessons I learned are unlike those that can be taught in a classroom. Akagera Medicines is committed to transforming Africa and beyond. Akagera’s mission and dedication motivates me to pursue my passions with resilience despite challenges.
*Ineza was featured in the Rwanda Girls Initiative: “This past summer, I interned at Akagera Medicines. They are a biotech company that develops nanoparticle formulations for antibacterial drugs, and mRNA vaccines, which became an education in curiosity, confidence, and purpose. Diving into the company's business model drew me into the numbers and strategy behind each decision, pushing me to use my analytical skills in new ways and appreciate the business side of innovation. The most transformative moment was proposing, and ultimately leading Akagera’s participation as an exhibitor at the Rwanda convention, 2025. Seeing Rwandans light up as they learned about the work being done for their country was unforgettable”.
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” ~ Nelson Mandela.
The 2024 Interns at Akagera Medicine: “Global SISTERHOOD of the Brightest Light”
“These four women will be among those who will lead institutions, start companies, write books, and find practical solutions to the challenges that face the Majority World.”
Sodaba Faizi
My name is Sodaba Faizi. I am a student from northeast Afghanistan at Middlebury College. I major in Environmental Justice with minor in Global Health and Arabic. I am interning with AKAGERA Medicines in the summer 2024 to engage in global health initiatives that align with my commitment to health equity for the Majority World. I know the pain of being denied health and basic rights as an Afghan woman.
“I am here to work on behalf of every girl in Afghanistan who cannot pursue her dreams, so that tomorrow Afghanistan is not a source of ‘darkness, ignorance, and illiteracy.’”
TANIYA NOORI
My name is Taniya Noori, and I am from Kabul, Afghanistan. I study International and Global Studies with a focus on the Middle East, North Africa, and Arabic at Middlebury College. I founded the Afghan Tutoring Network, which provides online classes for Afghan girls—a project about which I am passionate. I am grateful for the opportunity to intern at Akagera Medicine and learn and improve my research and communciation skills from successful scientists and executives.
“I plan to use this knowledge to initiate a project to promote healthcare in my community.”
PATRICIA HALLIDAY
My name is Patricia Halliday. I am a 2024 summer intern at Akagera Medicines and a rising junior at Harvard College. I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in government. I participate in a variety of student organizations, including Harvard Financial Analysts, Women in Business, and the Harvard Undergraduate Venture Capital Group. I had the privilege to hold a number of leadership positions during my academic career and hope to draw on these experiences, and together with my exposure to economics, commerce, and government - make an impact on the world.
“The world faces momentous challenges. The solutions require collaboration between market-driven innovators and leaders in the government and NGO sectors. Akagera Medicines and its partners combine all of these participants under a single roof.”
NABILA NOORI
I am Nabila Noori and a junior at Middlebury College from Afghanistan. I major in Psychology and minor in Arabic. I gained valuable professional experience as a manager at DREAM where I fostered teamwork and creativity among AmeriCorps members. I am doing an internship at Akagera Medicines to expand my knowledge in biotech strategies focused on “global health equity”, especially in underserved regions like Rwanda and my home country. My job at Akagera is to do research on the unmet needs of HIV patients in poor nations.
“A girl who chooses to think for herself is a force like none other on Earth.She is a member of a global sisterhood of the brightest light.” Shabana Basij-Rasikh