On January 15, 2018, the world lost Dr. Mathilde Krim, a woman who changed the life of every person who has ever worked in HIV research. Variously remembered as a humanitarian, a socialite, a philanthropist, and a political activist, Dr. Krim was first and foremost a scientist. We highlight her pioneering research in fetal sex determination, as well as her activism during the unfolding AIDS epidemic, which culminated in the co-founding of amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. Finally, we provide an analysis of the award named in honor of her inspirational leadership, the Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Basic Biomedical Research, which aims to catapult the careers of exceptional, early-stage researchers in the HIV/AIDS field. We follow applicants through the two-tier application process and dissect what defines a successful applicant at each stage. Through the Krim Fellowships, we hope to ensure that a new generation of HIV scientists can realize amfAR's goal of ending the AIDS epidemic.