Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation)

Health Research Internships

 

Location: Various cities in Brazil

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: Up to 20

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) is a research and development institution in science and technology in health, linked to the Ministry of Health of Brazil, and aims to promote health and social development, generate, and disseminate scientific and technological knowledge. Our mission is to produce, disseminate and share knowledge and technologies aimed at the strengthening and consolidation of the Unified Health System (SUS) and contribute to the promotion of health and quality of life of the population and to the reduction of social inequalities and the national dynamics of innovation, with the defense of the right to health and full citizenship as central values.

Fiocruz is involved in 10 states of Brazil. Besides the institutes based in Rio de Janeiro, Fiocruz has units in the Northeast, North, Southeast and South of Brazil. Altogether, there are 16 scientific and technical units, focused on teaching, research, innovation, assistance, technological development, and extension in the health sector. There is also an office in Mozambique, and in the beginning of 2020, we inaugurated a laboratory in the new Brazilian Antarctic Station.

There are eleven (11) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Mechanisms of Neuroinflammation

About: Our research is focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation upon infectious or toxic insults. More specifically we are interested in understanding how a protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii affects the microvasculature in the brain and in the retina of mice, and how this in turn affects neural homeostasis. Additionally, we are interested in studying how environmental contaminants can affect mammalian cells, focusing on neural progenitor cells.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern would be involved in performing immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry assays, followed by analyses at the fluorescence microscope and morphometric analyses; RNA and protein extraction, RT-PCR, western blotting assays.

The activities will be done at the Laboratory of Structural Biology, in the Manguinhos campus of Fiocruz. Some procedures and analyses may be done in the imaging facility at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.

Qualifications: Background in biochemistry, cellular biology, immunology is desirable. Previous laboratory experience is also preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Leishmaniasis

About: The leishmaniasis research laboratory at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute develops various research projects aimed at understanding aspects of the parasite, protozoa of the genus Leishmania, which contributes to the clinical outcome and to the parasite's adaptation to different ecological settings. We investigate the role of a viral endosymbiont, Leishmania RNA Virus, in the pathogenesis of cutaneous leishmaniasis as well as biological and evolutionary aspects of the Leishmania-LRV relationship. Some of our projects are carried out in the Amazon region, in the state of Rondônia, with a close relationship with cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. To improve disease diagnosis, we are dedicated to validating molecular assays developed by our group. In addition to research projects, we serve as a reference laboratory for the Pan American Health Organization, responsible for training and performance assessments in the diagnosis of leishmaniases, resolution of suspected and unconfirmed cases in different endemic areas, and specific identification and genotyping of the etiological agent of leishmaniases in different geographic regions of the Americas. The Laboratory is responsible for curating the Leishmania Collection at Fiocruz and offers various training programs, including aspects related to the management and quality control of microbiological collections. The Collection's holdings are widely used in various research projects developed by the laboratory, including taxonomy, systematics, evolution, and identification of parasite resistance markers to different drugs, among others.

Intern Responsibilities: The proposed activities include: (i) isolation and cultivation of Leishmania spp, (ii) training in parasitological and molecular diagnosis of leishmaniasis, with involvement in a project aiming to develop a molecular diagnostic kit based on qPCR to detect and quantify parasites in patients' lesions; (iii) obtaining and analyzing sequences of different genes for Leishmania identification; (iv) in vitro assays to determine the susceptibility of various parasites to different drugs; (v) in vitro assays to assess the role of the viral endosymbiont LRV in Leishmania species that harbor these viruses.

Qualifications: No mandatory qualifications required.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #3– Trypanosomatid Infection in Wild Mammals

About: Our work investigates the trypanosomatid infection in blood and/or tissues of wild mammals. The research includes parasitological, serological, and molecular assays. Phylogenetic analysis of the trypanosomatid species identified is also included.

Intern Responsibilities: The internship involves parasitological diagnosis through blood smears and axenic cultures, serology (IFAT, ELISA and POC-tests), DNA extraction, PCR, Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.

Qualifications: The candidate must be interested in studying trypanosomatids in wild fauna and at least curiosity of the One Health approach.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #4 – Leprosy Laboratory

About: Our focus involves the study of the pathogenesis of mycobacterial diseases, with emphasis in leprosy and pulmonary diseases caused nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will participate in the activities of Leprosy Laboratory and Souza Araújo Outpatient clinic, a leprosy reference center of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Among some activities the intern will be trained in bacilloscopy, staining techniques and histopathological diagnosis, follow-up cases in the clinic, laboratory database, diagnosis of mycobacterial diseases, clinical research in Leprosy and translational research in leprosy and other diseases caused by mycobacteria.

Qualifications: There are no mandatory qualifications.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #5 - Fatty Liver Disease

About: Fatty liver disease (FLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, characterized by abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. As FLD progresses, the liver becomes increasingly fibrotic and dysfunctional and can progress to steatohepatitis, decompensated cirrhosis, death, and/or the need for liver transplantation, complications that are associated with many health problems and have significant individual, economic, family, and societal implications. Despite its high prevalence, especially in Brazil and other Latin American countries, FLD needs greater focus on several fronts, including increased investment in research and development, as well as the promotion of public policies that together can impact the control and treatment of this disease. Despite several studies focusing on the physiopathology of FLD, in the search for new therapeutic targets, FLD still lacks pharmacological treatments. Thus, there is still a long way to go and many gaps to fill, justifying the need for new studies aimed at increasing the knowledge of factors and triggers that contribute to the progression of FLD and through which cellular, physiological, and molecular mechanisms this occurs. The aim of this project is therefore to investigate the factors/hits, such as cholesterol, involved in the pathogenesis of the disease and its complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in order to propose new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of FLD on global public health.

Intern Responsibilities: Evaluate the role of cholesterol in the progression of FLD to more severe disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and associated microcirculatory changes, via modulation of AGE-RAGE axis. Propose modulation of the AGE /ALE- RAGE (and other receptors of AGE) pathway as a central axis in the development and progression of FLD and HCC.

Qualifications: It is preferred that the intern have basic or advanced knowledge of immunology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. The intern should have great interest in learning and performing bench experiments.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #6 - Clinical Research in Infectious Diseases

About: This project will involve training in clinical research in infectious diseases at Fiocruz’s Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI), including supporting clinical and laboratorial diagnosis and treatment; research; and teaching.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will provide assistance, perform research, and conduct training at some the following laboratories and outpatient clinic at INI, depending on interest:

• Outpatient Clinic in HIV
• Outpatient Clinic in Chagas Disease Hospital
• Outpatient Clinic in Leishmaniasis/otolaryngology
• Outpatient Clinic in Paracoccidioidomycosis
• Outpatient Clinic in Tuberculosis
• Laboratory of Clinical Research and Surveillance in Leishmanioses
• Outpatient Clinic in Infectious Dermatology
• Laboratory of Clinical Research in Acute Febrile Diseases
• Laboratory of Parasitology
• Pathology Service

Qualifications: It is preferred that the intern have skills in biology, a basic knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish language, and is interested in becoming a physician in the future.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #7 – Analysis of Food Products Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

About: This project carries out many different types of food product analysis using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, from structure elucidation over mixture analysis to quality control.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will prepare samples, acquire and interpret the data, and finalize with setting up a presentation of the results. Most activities will be carried out at the NMR laboratory in Fiocruz’s Manguinhos campus in Rio de Janeiro. The final presentation of the results will occur at a conference located in the city of Foz do Iguaçu.

Qualifications: The intern must have basic chemistry knowledge regarding small molecules.

Note: This internship takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #8 – Oil Disasters and Health Impacts

About: The Health, Environment and Work Laboratory (LASAT) at Fiocruz Pernambuco has almost 30 years of experience in developing research and training processes on the themes of Health, Environment and Work, guided by theories of complexity and ecosystem approaches to health and determination. social health sector with activities aimed at both the SUS and the communities in the study territory affected by large projects.

Over the last 10 years, LASAT has focused its work on four major themes: the impacts on health and the environment resulting from the implementation of economic development projects, focusing on territories impacted by the oil production chain in the territory of influence of the Suape port region; in the semi-arid northeast with the works on the Transposition of the São Francisco River (Pernambuco, Paraíba, Ceará, Bahia); in the discussion of the use of pesticides both in agriculture and in public health to control vectors, such as those that transmit dengue or zika; in the different dimensions resulting from the Zika Virus epidemic, such as the repercussions on the lives of families, especially women who are mothers of children with Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome; and the impacts of wind energy production on the dimensions of life and health, particularly in the rural region of Pernambuco.

LASAT also supports the Unified Health System in the organization and evaluation of policies, programs and services for health promotion and surveillance (environmental, occupational, sanitary, and epidemiological), from a network perspective, in addition to the training of human resources in the field of health promotion, worker health and environmental health.

With the oil spill disaster at the end of 2019, we held discussions with different sectors about the problems faced, which structured a Fiocruz action plan structured in research, training, and monitoring.

Based on this plan, we carried out the research “Oil disaster and health of water people”, from the theoretical-methodological perspective of the Ecosystem Approach to Health (AES), the Social Reproduction of Health and the perspective of the Social Determination of Health. In other words, it had a diagnosis, intervention, and training aspect.

For the diagnosis, quantitative and qualitative data triangulation methods were used, such as an epidemiological survey with a sample of 1312 fishermen from Pernambuco, cartography, qualitative interviews, focus groups, etc. For intervention, workshops, care, and health promotion actions were structured, structuring a proposal for a health program for water people to be implemented in the municipality of Cabo. For training, 03 courses were held aimed at communities and health professionals, production of booklets, video (the sea that lives in me), in addition to scientific publications (05 articles published, 07 submitted, 06 technical-technological products, 3 chapters of books in press, 03 TCC, 06 defended dissertations, 03 in progress, 04 doctoral theses in progress).

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Participation in theoretical-methodological meetings
• Field research activities
• Data systematization
• Participation in classes
• Contribution to the group's scientific production

Qualifications: It is important to be able to communicate in Spanish or Portuguese, as few people on the team speak English, and research activities will be carried out with Portuguese speakers. The intern should have interest in working in an interdisciplinary way with professionals and undergraduate and postgraduate students from different areas. It is required for the intern to have basic computer skills, know how to use tools for producing texts and spreadsheets, be proactive and enjoy working in groups.

Note: This internship takes place in the city of Recife, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #9 – Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine

About: Fiocruz's National Observatory of Traditional, Integrative and Complementary Health Knowledge and Practices (ObservaPICS) articulates and generates knowledge to strengthen Traditional Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) in Brazil, the Americas, and the Caribbean. In 2021 and 2022, as a partner of PAHO/WHO, the ObservaPICS developed research on TCIM from 36 countries in the region, by document analysis and listening to strategic actors. The results revealed a wide range of potential areas of exchange between nations, from regulations, norms, and financing opportunities to interventions offered to people in health services, as well as data and knowledge. Also, in collaboration with the TCIM Americas Network, ObservaPICS produced other content, such as webinars, e-books and videos with experiences report related to TCIM.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Support qualitative and quantitative analyzes in databases
• Support and conduct interviews
• Participate in international meetings

Qualifications: It is required that the intern have:

• Knowledge of qualitative and/or quantitative analysis methodologies and software
• Interest in studying public health systems
• Interest in studying indigenous peoples

Note: This internship takes place in the city of Recife, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #10 – Epidemiological Analysis of Inequality in the Distribution of Diseases in Brazil

About: In our research group, we work with epidemiology (disease distribution on the population, temporal, spatial and individual approaches and its ramifications; knowledge transmutation for government institutes; technology generation); We also work with political analysis and health evaluation. We have solo projects, but we also have groups of researchers and students that work together.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Epidemiological studies, including distribution of diseases according to time, people, and place; determinants of health/unequal distribution of diseases - considering that Brazil is a country with social inequalities; types of epidemiological studies; emerging and re-emerging diseases
• Data processing and analysis
• Participation in the preparation of scientific articles
• Participation in the development of public policies
• Monitoring epidemiology classes

Qualifications: It is preferred that the intern is familiar with Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.

Note: This internship takes place in the city of Recife, Brazil.

 

FOCUS AREA #11 – Genetic Factors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

About: This project works with exome sequencing for identification of host genetic factors in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Intern Responsibilities: Separation of biological samples, aliquoting, DNA/RNA extraction, collection of biological samples, execution of basic molecular biology techniques (PCR, electrophoresis gel, sequencing).

Qualifications: The intern needs to be communicative and have skills for working in groups, have knowledge of medical genetics and molecular biology, as well as willingness to do work that requires concentration and handling biological samples.

Note: This internship takes place in the city of Recife, Brazil.

 

Website: portal.fiocruz.br/en

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Fiocruz Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Joshua Cigoianu ’26 - Research into Parasitic Diseases and Development of Prevention Programs Critical to (Video Presentation)

Hunter Engel ’24 - The Viral Hepatitis Ambulatory (Video Presentation)

Maya Jairam ’24 - Mitigating Hansen’s Disease: A Quantitative Analysis of Cases in Brazil and A Scientific Analysis of Prognostic Tests for Contacts (Video Presentation)

Seth Kahn ’25 - The Effect of Toxoplasma Gondii on Soleus Muscle Capillary Development (Video Presentation)

Emmanuel Mhrous ’25 - Machine Learning for Protein-Protein Binding Affinity Prediction (Video Presentation)

Julia Nguyen ’24 – Exploring Infectious Diseases in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Video Presentation)

George Tidmore ’26 - Investigating Leishmaniasis Infection: A Molecular and Clinical Approach (Video Presentation)

Isaac Yi ’24 – The effects of purinergic signaling modulators on the survival of Klebsiella Pneumoniae (KPATCC-70063) (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Alaina Chiriyankandath Joby ’24 - Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Brazil (Video Presentation)

Johnson Lin ’25 - Public Health during the Anthropocene: A Survey of Brasil's Unified Health Care System (Video Presentation)

Nhuquynh Nguyen ’23 - Determinants of Healthcare Inequalities in Brazil: A Qualitative Approach (Video Presentation)

Joan Perez ’23 - Maternity and Perinatal Health in Brazil: Understanding the Struggles that Women and Children Face when Diagnosed with Chronic/Infectious Diseases (Video Presentation)

Safiya Topiwala ’24 - Leprosy Research in Rio de Janeiro: A Molecular Approach (Video Presentation)

Tiffany Tsai ’25 - Prevailing Socioeconomic Conditions: Contextualizing Disparities in Healthcare in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Video Presentation)

Michelle Wang ’23 - Assessing the Intersection of Health Outcomes and Disaster and Risk Management (Video Presentation)

 

International Care Ministries

Community-Based Health Impact Assessment

 

Location: Manila, Philippines

Duration: 8-12 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: International Care Ministries (ICM) is a non-governmental organization that has been serving households facing ultra-poverty in the Philippines since 1992. In partnership with community leaders from thousands of low-income communities, ICM delivers programs that transform the lives of more than 100,000 individuals each year. These multidisciplinary interventions address values, health and livelihood for households in ultra-poverty, and seek to instill hope through tangible help and support. ICM is a Christian faith-based non-governmental organization; however, interns may be from any background and the analytical work is secular.
 

Intern Responsibilities: Interns will partner with the ICM Research and Health Services Teams to develop a research strategy that either analyzes survey and operational data collected from community-based health interventions or collects novel data from patients to better understand intervention design and acceptance. They can use statistical and epidemiological methods to understand the outcomes of these interventions or qualitative methods to collect patient experiences and insight. Interns may also have the opportunity to participate in health program design efforts. If the internship is in-person it may be recommended for interns to travel to project sites on islands in central Philippines to interview stakeholders and collect data.

The student will be given an opportunity to work with a real dataset collected through an intervention that is currently running in the Philippines. The households receiving the interventions live in extreme poverty; therefore, the student will also get an understanding of the challenges associated with working in these contexts. As the interventions will continue to run, the outcomes of analyses could be utilized to benefit future protocols and delivery strategies.

Past projects also include assessing food insecurity and nutrition management practices of ICM graduated households; preparing frameworks for the revision of ICM’s primary health education curriculum (including qualitative assessment of feasibility and effectiveness in the field); regional epidemic mapping of health needs to assess the applicability of ICM’s health training; assisting in development and revision of current health intervention protocols; and analysis and evaluation of ICM’s overall data collection systems. Additional responsibilities may include writing or assistance with other program activities. The intern will be expected to complete work independently, but will have weekly meetings with a supervisor.

 

Qualifications: Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, and experience with R, Stata, or Python (strongly preferred).  Familiarity with public health issues.

 

Website: www.caremin.com

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past ICM Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Ella Villacorta ’26 - Food Insecurity in the Philippines: Analyzing Food Consumption Data Across Five Ultra Poor Communities in the Philippines (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Nicabec Casido '22 - Working to Improve Healthcare Equity: Learning from the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout and the Risk Factors of IFDs in the Philippines (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Sandra Yang '22 - Assessing Health Intervention Technology and Effectiveness of Early Childhood Education in Ultra-Poor Communities in the Philippines (Video Presentation)

Alaina Joby ’24 - Transforming Ultrapoor Communities in the Philippines: A Qualitative Approach (Video Presentation)

Summer 2020

Abigail Drummond '22 - Health is Wealth: COVID-19 Testing, Healthcare Access, and Inequality in the Philippines and Southeast Asia (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Maricar Almeda '22 - Barriers to Maternal Care Access in Resource Limited Areas in the Philippines

Annika Kruse '20 - A Follow-up on Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Treated with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food in Rural Philippines

Summer 2018

Mitashee Das '20 - Maternal Care Access in Resource-Limited Settings in the Philippines

University of Malaya

Health Research Internship

 

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1-2

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: University of Malaya (UM), Malaysia's oldest university, is situated on a 922-acre campus in the southwest of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. UM is committed to advancing knowledge and learning through quality research and education for the nation and for humanity.

The intern will work in the Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University of Malaya under the direction of Dr. Lee-Ling Lim, focusing on the epidemiology of diabetes and complications among adults in Malaysia. The study aims to examine the control of cardiometabolic risk factors and to describe clinical characteristics and patterns of medication use among people with type 2 diabetes in Malaysia. Cross-sectional data collection will be conducted at 13 endocrinologist-led diabetes centers nationwide in 2023.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will contribute to the TARGET-T2D study through data cleaning, analysis and reporting (such as abstract submission/presentation and potentially manuscript writing).

Qualifications: Applicants should have skills in Microsoft Excel, statistical analysis software (at least a basic level of SPSS or similar app) and academic writing.

 

Website: https://medicine.um.edu.my/medicine-department

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past University of Malaya Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Yubi Mamiya ’26 - Type 2 Diabetes Treatment and Treatment Outcomes by Race, Sex, and Disease Onset (Video Presentation)

Tinney Mak ’25 - Sex Differences in Baseline Risk Factors, Treatment, and Progress: an Analysis of T2 Diabetes in Malaysia (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Andrew Hsu ’25 - Cardiometabolic Risk Factor Control and Treatment Among Type II Diabetes Patients Across Greater Kuala Lumpur (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Nathan Shin ’24 - Psychosocial Impacts among Type 2 Diabetes Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Video Presentation)

Sarah Yashar-Gershman ’21 - A Scoping Review: What Power and Agency Do Women Maintain in the HIV Disclosure Conversation? (Video Presentation)

Summer 2020

Kamila Radjabova '21 - Consistent Condom Usage Among Intimate Partners of HIV Positive Men Who Inject Drugs

Zhejiang University

Disease Research and Lab Internships

 

Location: Hangzhou, China

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 4

Stipend: All airfare, housing, visa expenses, and onsite food provided free of charge, plus $1,000 cash stipend

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: Zhejiang University is a university in the eastern China city of Hangzhou, about one hour by train east southwest of Shanghai.  Founded in 1897, it is one of China's oldest, most selective and most prestigious institutions of higher education.  The city of Hangzhou is known for its natural beauty and is home to the West Lake UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Please note that there are three (3) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Lab of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

About: This lab conducts research on the molecular mechanism underlying stomach cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in China.

Intern Responsibilities: Interns will acquire basic laboratory skills and will assist with studies on gastric cancer. They will begin by learning bio-information analysis, which they will use to search for genes differentially expressed in gastric cancer tissues compared with their corresponding noncancerous tissues. Next the interns may participate in cloning one mRNA or long non-coding RNA. Then they will study basic cellular functions of the target gene and submit a written survey report, with research tasks to include literature review, experiments, data analysis and attending a weekly lab seminar. At the close of the internship students will visit Zhejiang University School of Medicine’s Department of Gastroenterology to learn the clinical features of stomach cancers.

Qualifications: Applicants should have basic knowledge and lab skills in molecular biology. No Chinese language skills are required. The internship will last for 8-10 weeks, with start and end dates to be determined.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Chronic Disease Research Institute, Zhejiang University School of Public Health

About: The Chronic Disease Research Institute (CDRI) at Zhejiang University School of Public Health is committed to conducting high-quality research on the prevention and treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other related chronic diseases. Currently, CDRI primarily aims to develop research on obesity and related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc. Research at CDRI spans across many disciplines, including molecular biology, basic medicine, clinical medicine, epidemiology, health economics, biomedical engineering, nutrition and sports science research, etc. CDRI has also developed five research bases to support its research study.

Intern Responsibilities: Following lab orientation and basic field survey methods training, interns will design their own summer research projects related to chronic diseases studies. They will collect data in the practice base (Lanxi Cohort Research Base or Chronic Disease Intervention Base at Hangzhou Ziyang Community) under the guidance of a Ph.D. student, review the relevant literature, analyze their data, present their results and submit a written survey report.

Qualifications: Applicants should be able to communicate in Chinese, and those who have a basic knowledge of health or biology are strongly preferred. The internship will last for 8-10 weeks, with start and end dates to be determined.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #3 – State Key Lab of Infectious Diseases, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

About: Zhejiang University School of Medicine’s 1st Affiliated Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in China, serving more than 100,000 inpatients and 3,500,000 outpatients annually. Its Department of Infectious Diseases and State key Lab of Infectious Diseases rank first in China for infectious disease research and treatment.

Intern Responsibilities: Interns at 1st Affiliated Hospital will learn about clinical research with a focus on infectious diseases. They are also encouraged to design their own surveys and collect clinical data under the guidance of a Ph.D. student; this may connect to research topics for their junior papers and senior theses. The internship will include research on the basic mechanism of hepatitis or liver cancer in the State key Lab of Infectious Diseases, as well as visits to the Department of Infectious Diseases and the Liver transplantation Center.

Qualifications: Applicants who have a basic knowledge of medicine or biology are preferred. For projects involving surveys, applicants should be able to communicate in Chinese. The internship will last for 8-10 weeks, with start and end dates to be determined.

 

 

Website:  https://www.zju.edu.cn/english/

 

View Internship Summary Posters from Past Zhejiang Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2019

Alison Chang '20 - Health and Honesty in Hangzhou

Xuefei Gao '22 - PseudouridineSynthase mRNA and Protein Expression Levels in Gastric Cancer

Jasmine Lu '21 - Health and Honesty in Hangzhou

Summer 2018

Leslie Chan '20 - Potential Role of Heyl in Gastric Cancer Progression

Young Sheng '19 - Sleep Quality's Relationship with Obesity Sarcopenia: Sarcopenic Obesity among Chinese Women

Summer 2017

Natalia Roszkowska '20 - Tumour Suppressor GEN: Protein Level Expression Effects on Metastasis

Jessica Sheng '19 - Relationship Between Nicotine Dependence and Fat Distribution

Young Sheng '19 - The Cost Burden of MDR-Infections in Chinese Hospitals

Lydia Zhong '20 - Lentivirus-mediated Knockdown of ERK3 Inhibits Migration of Gastric Cancer Cells

One Health Trust

Vaccine & Antimicrobial Resistance Research

 

Location: Bangalore, India

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 3

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: At One Health Trust (OHT), we believe that answers to the world’s most critical questions lie between disciplines. Accordingly, our researchers employ a range of expertise—from economics, epidemiology, disease modeling, and risk analysis to clinical and veterinary medicine, geographic information systems, and statistics—to conduct actionable, policy-oriented research. Our projects address major global health challenges, including Covid-19, antimicrobial resistance, hospital infections, tuberculosis, malaria, pandemic preparedness and response, vaccines, medical oxygen shortages, and noncommunicable diseases.

OHT has offices in Washington, D.C., and Bangalore, India, with researchers based in North America, Africa, and Asia. Our projects lead to policy recommendations and scientific studies published in leading journals. We are experienced in addressing country-specific and regional issues as well as global challenges. Our research is renowned for innovative approaches to design and analysis, and we communicate our work to diverse stakeholders. 

Please note that there are three (3) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 - Women’s Health and Antimicrobial Resistance

About: Gendered cultural and social norms drive public health issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence (GBV) etc. and impact incidence of NCDs, infectious disease and mental health, especially in low and middle income countries like India. These issues are further compounded due to women’s relatively lower levels of education, low participation in the workforce and limited health information/networks.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a rapidly emerging global public health threat, which disproportionately impacts women. This disproportionate burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on women is due to both demand and supply-side factors. Some demand-side factors which increase women’s vulnerability to AMR are biological factors, women’s nature and type of employment, excessive home-based care work and limited access to healthcare (WHO, 2018). On the supply-side, gender differences in antibiotic prescription by doctors due to lack of training and gender-bias increase women’s antibiotic usage (AMU) (Bertakis, 2009; Eggermont et al., 2018).

Through this project, we will generate journal articles and policy reports, that contribute to building evidence on women’s health and work in developing countries. We are exploring two primary research questions:

1. Gender Norms and Women's Non-Maternal Health: Our second area of interest centers on understanding how gender norms impact women's economic, social, and health outcomes beyond motherhood.
2. Labor Force Participation and Productivity Determinants: Our first area of interest involves investigating the factors influencing labor force participation and worker productivity, particularly in developing countries. We are examining variables such as climate change and mental health.

Intern Responsibilities:  The intern will be closely supervised. This project involves the following activities:

• Synthesizing data on infectious disease burden, antimicrobial resistance from databases, reports, and scientific literature.
• Providing research support through creation of data visualizations and annotated literature reviews.
• Providing help in writing reports and the development of slide decks as communication material.

Qualifications: For the successful implementation of the project, the candidate is required to have the

following qualifications:

• Familiarity with basic epidemiology and statistics
• Familiarity with working on large-scale datasets is an asset.
• Ability to conduct quantitative analyses using statistical packages, preferably in R or
• Stata.
• Experience in reading and understanding social science and health literature is an asset.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Ability to work independently.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Research Policy Engagement: The Value of Vaccines to Mitigate AMR

About: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat with a significant health and economic burden worldwide. In 2019, an estimated 4.95 million deaths were associated with, and 1.27 million deaths were attributable to bacterial drug-resistant infections globally. Immunization is a critical health intervention that saves countless lives every year. Beyond infection prevention, vaccines' less acknowledged but valuable impact lies in their ability to mitigate AMR and address its driving factors. By preventing infections, vaccines limit the transmission and emergence of susceptible and drug-resistant strains. Furthermore, they lower the risk of secondary infections and reduce the need for antimicrobial use. This project comprises analytical, policy engagement, and dissemination activities to expand the knowledge base on the beneficial impact of vaccines in reducing AMR in country-specific contexts.

Intern Responsibilities:  The position involves researching and synthesizing data on infectious disease burden, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine coverage from databases, reports, and scientific literature. In addition, it may involve the writing of policy briefs and presentations.

Qualifications: Familiarity with basic epidemiology and/or biology and experience reading the scientific and social science literature is an asset, as are good writing skills and the ability to work independently.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #3 - One Health Surveillance Tools

About: To effectively prevent and control spread of zoonotic diseases, it requires a One Health approach that involves collaboration across sectors responsible for human health, animal health (both domestic and wildlife) and the environment, as well as other partners. An effective disease surveillance system is essential to detecting disease outbreaks in emergency settings before they spread, cost lives, and become difficult to control. As the innovations in information and communication technologies (ICT), particularly in digital technologies, have the potential to significantly improve the diagnostics, surveillance, forecasting, outbreak detection and response towards management of infectious diseases, achieving this objective in the current digital and information-rich era requires robust integration across various data sources. Furthermore, it is important to understand the range and types of digital technologies available, as well as contextual insights such as disease and geographical areas of application, when attempting to develop IT systems to deliver public health functions.

For successful implementation and sustenance of the One Health approach, longitudinal monitoring and evaluation of human, animal, and environmental health using digital technologies is critical. The technologies should ensure robust surveillance through effective data capturing, interoperability between different systems, and an enhanced capacity for rapid analysis of health trends. Currently, the One Health Trust researchers are spearheading the creation of a novel One Health surveillance system in Chikkaballapur, India where the data collection for surveillance in the area will expand from human demographics to include animal and environmental health monitoring.

This project will involve development and maybe piloting of an easy-to-use and sustainable Microsoft Excel-based tool for One Health surveillance in an Indian district to support data-backed decision-making and informed policy decisions.

Intern Responsibilities:  The intern will be closely supervised. This project involves the following activities:

• Literature review of existing disease surveillance data systems and one health approach
• Field visits, writing of reports and the development of slide decks as communication material
• Development and piloting (maybe) of the Microsoft Excel-based tool

Qualifications: For the successful implementation of the project, the candidate is required to have the

following qualifications:

• Familiarity with basic epidemiology and statistics
• Microsoft Excel skills, preferably advanced level
• Experience reading the scientific and social science literature are an asset
• Good analytical, writing and presentation skills, and ability to work independently
• Language skills - English mandatory; knowledge of Hindi or Kannada would be an asset but not required

 

Website: onehealthtrust.org

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past One Health Trust (formerly CDDEP) Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Umar Aulia ’24 - Design, Development, and Implementation of a National Medical Oxygen Grid Platform (Video Presentation)

Elliot Lee ’26 - Utilizing Health Economic Modeling and Translational Action to Demonstrate Vaccine Effectiveness for Institutions Combating AMR (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

India Behl ’24 - Bacteria Knows No Border: Antimicrobial Resistance Across Africa (Video Presentation)

Srista Tripathi ’25 – Fighting Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance and Misinformation (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Varun Devraj ’23 - An Unseen and Deadly Fungal Infection: Documenting the Global Burden of Mucormycosis with a Systematic Literature Review (Video Presentation)

Sameed Sayeed ’23 – CDDEP Research Internship (Video Presentation)

Summer 2020

Chirag Kumar '23 - One Step Ahead: Predicting Antimicrobial Resistance from Geographic Variables in India (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Daniel Liu '21 - The End of Modern Medicine: The Rise of Antimicrobial Resistance

Summer 2018

Nell McKenna '20 - The Rising Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance: A Look into Effects of Primary Care, Medical Standards, and Antibiotic Consumption

 

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Vietnam

Antibiotic Resistance and Mathematical Modelling Internships

 

Location: Various cities in Vietnam

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 4

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) is a large-scale clinical and public health research unit, with offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam, Jakarta in Indonesia and Kathmandu in Nepal. OUCRU aims to have a positive and significant impact on global health and, in particular, the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. OUCRU's key areas of research are: dengue fever; malaria; tuberculosis; influenza; enterics; HIV and HIV coinfection; central nervous system infections; animal health and zoonoses; pharmacology; and statistics, bioinformatics, modeling, and mapping.

There are three (3) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Dengue Surveillance Data Cleaning and Analysis

About: Dengue Advanced Readiness Tools (DART) is a multifaceted dengue outbreak forecasting system. It is an ongoing project by OUCRU’s Dengue and Mathematical Modelling groups and is funded by the Wellcome Trust. The project is supported by an international multidisciplinary team. DART aims to provide high-resolution dengue forecasting over different time scales, including real-time. This forecast information will be disseminated through a web application that is available both on desktop and mobile devices. Stakeholders include the general public, local policy makers, clinicians, health practitioners, and interested research scientists.

As part of the project, we work closely with the Ho Chi Minh City CDC (“HCDC”) that, among others, provides dengue surveillance data. Such data requires a lot of cleaning and preprocessing before being used for analyses and modelling. For this focus area, we aim to create a data cleaning pipeline written in the programming language R to clean the raw surveillance data efficiently. This pipeline should be reusable for new data, and “modular” to accommodate future changes within it.

Intern Responsibilities:

• Identify problems with the raw data received from HCDC, e.g. data format, column formats, missing values, mismatched categories.
• Develop data cleaning methods for each problem identified from the step above.
• Link all these data cleaning methods together into a modular and reusable pipeline.
• Perform data cleaning with the pipeline developed.
• Perform preliminary data analyses on cleaned dengue incidence data.
• Further data mining or data analyses activities are possible, depends on internship candidate.

Learning opportunities include:

• Data science, especially data cleaning and data analysis processes.
• Applying the programming language R to infectious disease research.
• Working with disease surveillance data.
• Join DART project weekly local team meeting and monthly international team meeting with University of Oxford faculties.
• Learn about dengue virus and infectious disease modelling (if time permits).

Qualifications:

• Familiarity with the programming language R, or alternately, familiarity with other data science programming languages, e.g. Python, in which case R then be taught over the course of the internship.

 

Note: This internship will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Hospital Catchment Area Estimating Methods: a Scoping Review

About: Catchment area is the geographic area and population from which an organization attracts visitors. In the context of hospitals, it pertains to the geographical boundaries and demographic characteristics of the population from which the hospital draws its patients. This knowledge is essential for understanding patients' behavior, assessing and enhancing a hospital's impact, as well as determining the potential need for additional hospitals in the area. Several methods exist for calculating catchment areas, primarily differing in the required data and the statistical or mathematical techniques employed. The skills used for estimating hospital catchment are transferable to the industrial world, such as helping businesses strategically plan new store locations or comparing their catchment areas to those of competitors.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will join a team with two research assistants to conduct a hospital catchment area review from start to finish. During this experience, the intern will acquire valuable skills, including formulating research questions, constructing effective search terms, and conducting searches on databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct. Additionally, the intern will actively engage in the process of screening abstracts, screening full-text articles, and extracting the methods and formulas used for estimating hospital catchment areas. If time permits, the intern will have the opportunity to apply and compare the reviewed methods using a dataset from a hospital in Southern Vietnam. The intern may contribute to manuscript writing and publishing the findings on scientific journals.

Learning opportunities include:

• Learn essential stages of conducting a literature review.
• Acquire skills in computing hospital catchment areas, a valuable skill applicable in both academic and industrial contexts.
• Learn data analysis using the R programming language.
• Gain hands-on experience in applying methods reported in existing literature to real-world data.
• Have the opportunity for co-authorship when the scoping review is published.

Qualifications:

• A background or interest in public health, biomedical, computer science, biostatistics or mathematics.
• Enthusiasm for data science, biostatistics, or mathematical modelling.
• Preferred experience in conducting scoping/systematic reviews.

 

Note: This internship will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #3 - Epidemiological Studies and Interventions to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

About: OUCRU is currently conducting population-based studies in northern Vietnam to understand antibiotic use and AMR in healthcare settings, communities, farms and the environment. The OUCRU team is implementing a full system intervention across hospital, primary healthcare, community and farm settings, to optimize the use of antibiotics and reduce environmental transmission. They are also exploring the association between climate and AMR, through systematic reviews and big data analysis.

Intern Responsibilities: Interns may be involved with literature review, writing, and/or data analysis, depending on their skills and interests. There may be opportunities to work with microbiology data and observe lab work.

Qualifications: Required skills include the ability to review and critically appraise literature. Data analysis skills are desirable but not essential.

 

Note: This internship will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam. Interns will be based at one of the two offices in Hanoi, but there may be opportunities to visit project sites in Nam Dinh Province.

 

Website: www.oucru.org

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past OUCRU Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Yejin Bann ’25 - Access and Uptake of COVID: 19 Vaccines in Nepal, Vietnam, and Indonesia (Video Presentation)

Thia Bian ’25 - Themes of Justice in National Approaches to Antimicrobial Resistance (Video Presentation)

Anaika Mehra ’24 - Counteracting the Resistance Epidemic in Vietnam: A Machine Learning Approach (Video Presentation)

Jin Schofield ’26 - Determinants of Patient Outcomes of Blood Infections at the National Hospital of Tropical Disease (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Brad Luo ’23 - A Systematic Review of Gene Mutations Mediating Antimicrobial Resistance (Video Presentation)

Christian Pollard ’23 - Point-Gene Mutations and Antimicrobial Resistance (Video Presentation)

Andrew Tran ’23 - Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam: Towards Community-Based Interventions and Systematic Review (Video Presentation)

Isaac Yi ’24 - The Global Landscape of Antimicrobial Resistance in The Environment (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Sofiya Yusina ’22 – Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam (Video Presentation)

Olivia Chen ’22 – Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on communities in Nepal, Indonesia, and Vietnam

Summer 2020

Taishi Nakase '21 - Temporospatial Model of Measles Epidemics in Vietnam (Video Presentation)

Megan Tang '22 - Factors of Antibiotic Resistance in Vietnam: Prescribing in Primary Healthcare​ (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Jaeyoon Cha '21 - Analysis of 546 M. tuberculosis Genomes from the Indian Subcontinent

Mary DeVellis '21 - Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam: A Qualitative Approach

Arielle Lawson '20 and Nikita Nangia '20 - Vaccine Non-specific Effects: A Solution to the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

Sarah Perkins '21 - Incidence Estimation for Uncertain Events

Summer 2018

Dylan Kim '21 - Child Vaccination Indicators in Developing Countries

Katherine Park '19 - Health Policies Regarding Antimicrobial Resistance in Developing and Developed Countries

Tiffany Pham '20 - Mapping of Resistance Data for Non-Malarial Febrile Illness in South East Asia

Tianyi Wang '19 - Care-Seeking and Antibiotic Use Over Time in Children Under 5 in Vietnam

Summer 2017

Crystal Wang '18 - Post-Viral Burden of Dengue in Vietnam

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Nepal

Antibiotic Resistance Internships

 

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Nepal aims to have a positive and significant impact on global health and, in particular, the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. OUCRU's key areas of research are: dengue fever; malaria; tuberculosis; influenza; enterics; HIV and HIV coinfection; central nervous system infections; animal health and zoonoses; pharmacology; and statistics, bioinformatics, modeling, and mapping. The mission of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Nepal is to build a strong critical mass of young clinicians and scientists who can help build the scientific and clinical future regionally and globally.

There are two (2) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – RECOVERY Trial

About: The RECOVERY trial is an international multi-center adaptive randomized controlled trial platform which aims to identify treatments that improve survival from COVID-19, influenza and community-acquired pneumonia among hospitalized patients. Since the RECOVERY trial began in 2020, it has identified several life-saving treatments for COVID-19, and shown that other widely used treatments were ineffective. In contrast, the treatment of hospitalized patients with pneumonia caused by influenza or bacterial infection has progressed little in the last 20 years and there is substantial uncertainty and disagreement about optimal treatment of these patients. The study plans to assess effects of multiple different treatments (including re-purposed and novel drugs) on major outcomes in pneumonia.

Intern Responsibilities:

• Ethical submission of the trial to local ethics and Institutional Review Boards with support of the Clinical trial Unit’s (CTU) team.
• Coordinate with the hospital team for timely completion of follow up forms and ensure adequate availability of study medication on site
• Source data verification of participants enrolled in the study
• Support the study team to set up new sites for the study

Qualifications: An intern with a public health background is preferred.

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Clinical Trials Unit and Quality Assurance

About: To ensure that research is conducted to the highest standards and remains internationally leading, we work to develop research methods, management and understanding of ethical issues in clinical research. We currently manage 12 studies, and since our establishment in 2017, we have grown to have the expertise and capacity to deliver high-quality clinical research. Our Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) continuously aims to increase the research capacity of OUCRU and to enhance the quality of OUCRU clinical trials through monitoring and coordinating. We ensure adherence to local and international regulatory requirements and the principles of Good Clinical Practice. Our work includes building the human resources, facilities, oversight and administrative systems necessary for conducting an ever-growing number of clinical trials. We work together with our partner CTUs in Vietnam and Indonesia.

The CTU is committed to bringing a broader scope to our more technical work. To that end, we are doing qualitative research in emerging issues in research methodology and ethics which are important to Nepal.

As a member of the Global Health Bioethics Network (GHBN), we have collaborated on multi-site studies exploring stakeholder perceptions of sharing research data.

We are also conducting independent studies on issues we encounter daily in informed consent, compensation and perceptions of research. We aim to inform local policy development by providing evidence-based recommendations for locally relevant issues.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern responsibilities will include the following:

Governance Role:

• Work with the trial staff for each new study to ensure the protocol and procedures comply with the applicable local and international regulatory standards.
• Assist with the creation, submission and tracking of regulatory and ethical applications for clinical research to relevant local and international bodies.
• Perform a risk analysis for new studies. Use the results of this analysis to write a monitoring plan.
• Work with study coordinator to conduct monitoring visits to verify compliance of study conduct with the required guidelines and study plans.
• Quality assurance and monitoring of ongoing clinical trials.
• Assist in maintaining regulatory filing of essential documents for each study in accordance with the principles of Good Clinical Practice.
• Support the implementation of study documents archive system in line with the CTU standard operating procedure.
• Prepare applications to ethics and regulatory review bodies.

Research Operation:

• Coordinate logistical, training (protocol, GCP) and reporting tasks in the studies.
• Contribute to development of Research SOPs and form
• Organize, conduct and follow-up site initiation visits, routine monitoring and close out visits as per relevant study plan.
• Manage logistical aspects for study set up and implementation (e.g. ethical approvals, import permits, purchasing, IT systems).
• Ensure data is entered accurately and completely by frequent data tracking.
• Oversee data cleaning in preparation for analysis. Verify that data entered on the CRFs is complete and consistent with patient clinical notes, known as source data/document verification
• Assist/observe drug management like temperature monitoring, packaging, storage, shipment etc.
• Use of automation in documentation: introduction of study line.
• Observe and assist in daily activities in various research OPD in different hospital/sites.

Qualifications: Required and preferred qualifications for a student intern are below.

Required qualifications:

• Academic interest and major in medicine, science, public health or a related field
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• High level of organizational and record keeping skills
• Good English speaking and reading skills

Preferred qualifications:

• In depth understanding of ICH-GCP
• Familiar with computer systems particularly MS office, electronic data capture and project management systems
• Experience of working in a Medical Research Institution

 

Website: www.oucru.org

 

New Internships for 2024; no past Princeton interns.

 

University of Sunderland

Reducing Social Isolation through the Arts and Community-Based Approaches

 

Location: Sunderland, England

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: Internships at the Helen McArdle Nursing and Care Institute, based in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Faculty of Healthcare Sciences at the University of Sunderland, focus on social prescribing, described as a range of non-clinical interventions designed to support health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.  There is established evidence on the positive impact of social prescribing for both service users and the health care system.  Our internships are in collaboration with the Institute’s external partners who deliver a range of social prescribing interventions across Sunderland. The Institute is home to the Sunderland Social Prescribing Research and Knowledge Exchange Centre, which aims to collect evidence of the effectiveness and impact of social prescribing in Sunderland and contribute to delivery of our Healthy City Plan 2020-2030.

The internships are within the external organizations, with protected time in the Institute and mentoring by our team of academics to enhance the Sunderland experience. Upon arrival at Sunderland, the intern will take part in a comprehensive induction program to learn more about the history of Sunderland, health inequalities, our University and Institute and our partnership model of working across the City. Following this, interns will commence their internships in their respective organizations, but there will be synergy across the internships and opportunities for the interns to work collaboratively. 

Please note that there are two (2) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Increasing Digital Inclusion in Marginalized Populations in Sunderland

About: The cost of living crisis has widened existing health inequalities in the UK, especially in areas of socioeconomic deprivation.  Sunderland City Council is developing a digital inclusion strategy to increase digital connectivity across the City and empower residents to become more digitally literate.

As part of this ongoing work, there is a need to ensure equity to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to take part, and that we are reaching each community and resident to ensure inclusion.

Intern Responsibilities: This project will be undertaken with a range of community-based activities to measure who is taking part in the digital inclusion strategy, who isn’t and why, and to understand why and how people are participating and the health impacts. This will involve surveys, focus groups and interviews, along with data analysis and supporting the writing up of findings. The intern would be based in Sunderland, working between the Council, the University and in community settings, with supervision.

Qualifications: The ideal intern would have mixed methods research expertise, an understanding of health inequalities and have experience working with hard to reach populations.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Veterans in Crisis Sunderland (VICS)

About: Veterans in Crisis Sunderland (VICS) is the city’s only charity dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of veterans and their families. VICS takes a peer-support approach in its offer of wellbeing.  Veterans are known to suffer from higher than average levels of poor wellbeing, and the transition and settlement into civilian life is not always straightforward.

VICS offer a range of services specific to the needs of their client base which include fitness, arts and wellbeing, social prescribing, training and financial advice to name a few.  Many of the VICS activities focus on reducing social isolation, empowering people to take an active role in their wellbeing and harnessing their valued experiences and expertise in a civilian setting.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern post will focus on supporting the day to day activities of VICS, working collaboratively with VICS employees and volunteers, along with some evaluation work around the interventions carried out, and to understand peoples’ experiences of taking part in these.

Qualifications: The intern should have a keen interest in understanding and supporting veterans and their families, have experience of working with underserved communities and an understanding of health inequities.

 

 

Website: www.sunderland.ac.uk and veteransincrisis.co.uk

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Sunderland Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Melvi Agolli ’25 - Beyond Medication: Social Prescribing, A Holistic Approach to Healthcare (Video Presentation)

Jenna Elliott ’25 - The True Value of Community Support: An Observational Analysis of England’s Social Prescription System (Video Presentation)

Bethany Villa ’26 - Social Prescribing in England: an Investigation of Its Impact on Health, Well-Being, and Social Welfare (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Naomi Frim-Abrams ’23 - The Role of Community Arts Organizations in Health and Wellbeing: Sunderland, England (Video Presentation)

William Koloc ’25 - Social Prescribing in Sunderland: A Holistic Approach to Health and Wellbeing (Video Presentation)

April Yoo ’24 - Combatting Social Isolation with Veterans in Crisis (VICS)! (Video Presentation)

Telethon Kids Institute

Research Internships

 

Location: Various cities in Australia

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: Up to 13

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Telethon Kids Institute (TKI) is a research organization that brings together communities, researchers, practitioners, policy makers and funders, who share a vision to improve the health and wellbeing of children through excellence in research.  TKI’s research focus areas include aboriginal health; brain and behavior; chronic and severe diseases; and early environment.

There are ten (10) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – The Flourishing Child: Targeted Tools for West Australian Parents

About: The ORIGINS Project is a decade-long collaborative initiative between the Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) and the Telethon Kids Institute (TKI) to establish a Western Australian (WA) birth cohort of 10,000 families, enrolled during pregnancy. It is currently funded to follow up participating children and their families to five years of age. Comprehensive data and biological samples are collected from participants at up to 15 different timepoints, from the first antenatal clinic visit. This information is collected to study the origins of non-communicable disease and the health and wellbeing development of children and family in the first years of life.

The ORIGINS team is a diverse and highly passionate team with backgrounds and experience in psychology, public health, health promotion, biological sciences, data linkage & management, project management, pediatrics and nursing. In addition to the supervisors listed above the student will have the opportunity to spend time and work alongside several members of the ORIGINS team and assist with the day-to-day running of the project, including observing face-to-face clinic appointments with ORIGINS families.

Intern Responsibilities: Children’s health and wellbeing is often described in terms of dysregulation and reducing adverse exposures. However, promoting positive protective and buffering factors is as important and more cost-effective. The concept of “flourishing” encapsulates a holistic, person-centered perspective on mental, physical and cognitive development. The proposed project will focus on factors that allow a child to flourish.

The work proposed within this grant application will build on this formative research carried out by the research team. Specifically, we will undertake a scoping exercise to find, adapt and test a flourishing screening tool in the local context. If there is time, we will also seek to determine the range of early years interventions available and utilized by young families, in particular those that promote positive and protective factors.

The specific objectives that will achieve this goal will include:

• A review of existing screening tools and domains relating to flourishing in childhood
• Development of a screening tool with key domains for flourishing
• An audit and gap analysis of support programs and interventions within a defined geographical region
• Analysis of data collected through the screening tool and evaluations of the screening tool

Qualifications: No required qualifications.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Assisted Reproduction and Perinatal and Early Childhood Outcomes

About: The ORIGINS Project is a decade-long collaborative initiative between the Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) and the Telethon Kids Institute (TKI) to establish a Western Australian (WA) birth cohort of 10,000 families, enrolled during pregnancy. It is currently funded to follow up participating children and their families to five years of age. Comprehensive data and biological samples are collected from participants at up to 15 different timepoints, from the first antenatal clinic visit. This information is collected to study the origins of non-communicable disease and the health and wellbeing development of children and family in the first years of life.

The ORIGINS team is a diverse and highly passionate team with backgrounds and experience in psychology, public health, health promotion, biological sciences, data linkage & management, project management, pediatrics and nursing. In addition to the supervisors listed above the student will have the opportunity to spend time and work alongside several members of the ORIGINS team and assist with the day-to-day running of the project, including observing face-to-face clinic appointments with ORIGINS families.

Intern Responsibilities: Subfertility is defined as failure to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. An Australian study found that subfertility affects approximately one in six Australian couples at some stage in their reproductive life. In many cases subfertility can be successfully treated with medical or surgical techniques or lifestyle changes.  Medical treatments used to assist sub fertile women to become pregnant include Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); as well as less invasive treatments in which only sperm are handled (intrauterine or artificial insemination - IUI) or procedures in which a woman is given drugs only to stimulate oocyte production (ovulation induction - OI). These treatments are commonly referred to as non-IVF ART. The use of medical treatment to aid conception is increasing worldwide, influenced by a growing trend towards delayed childbearing and an increasing prevalence of obesity.

ART conception has been associated with several adverse perinatal outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birthweight and birth defects. However, subfertile women who conceive naturally also have increased risks of adverse pregnancy and perinatal outcomes such as antepartum haemorrhage, preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, caesarean delivery, low birth weight and perinatal death. This study aims to examine the perinatal and early childhood outcomes of children conceived via assisted reproduction or to those who are subfertile.

The intern will conduct a literature review, and then examine data collected via ORIGINS, to compare the outcomes of children conceived by a fertile mother/couple compared to those born to a subfertile mother/couple or via assisted reproduction. The intern can then assist with manuscript write up and publication.

Qualifications: Ideally the student will be a third-year undergraduate or greater. The intern will need to have some statistical background. If the intern would like to conduct their own statistical analyses, they will need to be familiar with a chosen statistical program (R, Stata or SPSS are available). There is the opportunity to complete professional development courses related to these skills.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #3 – Clinical Trial and Health Promotion Intervention for Children with Chronic Otitis Media with Effusion

About: The Ear Health team's aim is to understand the causes of otitis media (OM, middle ear infection) and hearing loss in children, identify the extent of the problem and design and evaluate interventions to reduce the burden of the disease and its consequences and inform policy.

Our Ear Health team is a multidisciplinary group involved in epidemiological studies, qualitative research, data linkage, pathogenesis and clinical trials. An integral linkage for our team is the Aboriginal Community Advisory Group which guides the team in working in a culturally-sensitive manner and provides direction to ensure the program is relevant and appropriate for their communities.   We aim to reduce the prevalence of chronic otitis media and hearing loss in Aboriginal children and improve developmental and educational outcomes.

We are part of the national Centre of Research Excellence in Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children whose mission is to close the gap in educational and social disadvantage associated with the high prevalence of OM and hearing loss in Australian Indigenous children.

Intern Responsibilities: Persistent otitis media with effusion (OME, also known as ‘glue ear’) affects up to 1 in 4 children in Western Australia by 3 years of age. The high prevalence of OME means that this condition is one of the most common reasons for referral to the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) and Audiology departments. The high volume of referrals results in a significant waiting time for initial assessment and treatment. The primary treatment for persistent OME is ventilation tube insertion (VTI) surgery, often known as grommets. There are approximately 2,700 VTI surgeries conducted in WA public hospitals every year, at an estimated cost to the health service of $13.7 million per annum.

While the prevalence of OME is high, we know that some children will experience spontaneous resolution of OME (i.e. return to having an intact and well-functioning eardrum), and therefore not require VTI surgery. Currently, we do not know how many children could be expected to experience spontaneous resolution of OME on PCH waiting lists. A simple, low-cost, family-led health promotion intervention has been developed to help improve resolution of OME without surgical intervention. Known as the ‘Blow, Breathe, Cough’ program, or ‘BBC’, it encourages children to breathe deeply, blow their nose and cough to clear secretions from the lungs and nose, and practice good hand hygiene. As the lungs and nose are commonly hosts for the same bacteria that cause OME, it is plausible that this intervention could improve resolution rates for OME. However, despite being promoted in a number of Aboriginal ear health services, the BBC program has never been investigated with a clinical trial to examine its effectiveness.

This project will use a two-arm, randomized-controlled parallel group design to examine i) the effectiveness of the BBC program in resolving OME, and ii) the spontaneous resolution of children with OME on the PCH ENT waiting list and for children participating the community-based Djaalinj Waakinj Ear Health Program. 

Interns will work with the study team to undertake this clinical trial. This may include all aspects of conducting the trial, including patient recruitment, assistance with clinical assessments for participants and data entry and management.

Qualifications: An interest in child health and wellbeing. Openness and willingness to engage with and learn from Aboriginal cultural perspectives towards child health and development.  Basic knowledge of REDcap would be beneficial, but is not essential.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #4 – Skin Health Team

About: The Skin Health team is a multidisciplinary team whose projects span a wide research portfolio of basic science to translational projects. The Skin Health team sits within the Strep A and Rhematic Heart Disease team and the Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases at the Telethon Kids Institute.

Intern Responsibilities: The Skin Health and ARF Prevention team is working towards preventing skin infections, with the added scope of prevention of Strep A transmission from person to person in order to prevent acute rheumatic fever (ARF).

The intern will contribute to the Australasian congenital Cytomegalovirus Registry (ACMVR) by assisting with data collection, patient coordination, and governance processes. The intern may also contribute to the Staphylococcus aureus Network ultrasOund for diagnOsis of endovascular disease in Pediatrics and Youth (SNOOPY) study in terms of study logistics, consumer engagement and trial management.

Qualifications: Interest in staphylococcus aureus, clinical trials, or pediatric health is preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #5 – Identifying Impacts of a Changing Climate on Child Health Outcomes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

About: The Future Child Health team investigates the impacts of a changing climate on all aspects of child health. We aim to identify which climate variables are affecting which child health outcomes in which regions throughout Western Australia, Australia and globally. Knowing what is happening is the first step in developing effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to improve the health of children.

In 2021, the World Health Organization declared that climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. It has been estimated that children under the age of five bear 88% of this burden, based on disability-adjusted life years lost because of climate change. Currently, the literature is fragmented and insufficient to plan protective strategies. Furthermore, our recent literature review identified that only 4% of studies regarding climate change and child health are from low or lower-middle income countries, yet the children living in these countries are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our team investigates multiple climate and health variables using geospatial modelling, and plans to assess climate impacts on child health globally in low- and middle-income countries.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be working with health and climate datasets to complete geospatial analysis and manuscript writing.

Qualifications: Qualifications in public health, epidemiology, statistics, biostatistics or a health-related field are preferred. Prior knowledge and application of statistical methods is desirable.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #6 – Move to Improve

About: This project is a partnership between the Child and Adolescent Health Service and Telethon Kids Institute. At Telethon Kids, the project sits under the Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team. The Early Neurodevelopment and Mental Health team is focused on preventing childhood mental illness and optimizing children’s development and wellbeing in the first years of their life. We are interested in understanding and identifying the factors that contribute to difficulties in mental health and development, as well as developing cost-effective prevention and early intervention approaches for addressing developmental needs and promoting resilience.

Chronic disease affects approximately 20% of Australian children and adolescents. Intervening to improve physical and mental health in this sizeable vulnerable population is long overdue to reduce the individual, family, and health system burden of childhood chronic disease. Modern care for chronic disease has a heavy focus on pharmacological and medical therapy but there is a gap in the knowledge of how best to prescribe exercise as an adjunctive therapy. The “Move to Improve” program aims to deliver excellence in healthcare for children with chronic disease. This Australian first research program will provide evidence on how to best incorporate exercise into routine clinical care for these children. We aim to co-design this approach with children and families, and work with them to understand the most appropriate ways to evaluate outcomes from the Move to Improve program.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will support the ongoing research on Move to Improve, a program that will provide evidence on how best to incorporate physical activity into routine clinical care for children with chronic health conditions.

The Intern will be required to support research processes, administration, and communication within the Move to Improve project team. The intern may be asked to support literature reviews, data collection, transcription, developing resources for families, designing posters and communications, and other research-related tasks.

Qualifications: The intern will ideally have a background in psychology or sport sciences. The intern will need to be competent with basic software such as Microsoft Office. Experience with SPSS, Nvivo, and Canva are desirable, but the team can support learning of new programs.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #7 – Joint Mapping of Childhood Disease Burden and Health Service Access Using Spatial Confirmatory Factor Analysis

About: The Geospatial Health and Development team uses advanced statistical methodologies to solve technical challenges in the mapping of disease burden and the targeting of interventions to communities at need.  Previous work by the team has focused on geospatial malaria risk modelling using parasite prevalence survey data combined with travel time-based models of health service accessibility. 

Intern Responsibilities: In this project we will explore statistical methods for adding survey data on health facility quality and satisfaction into this picture.  The work will require the intern to become familiar with the analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys datasets and geographical (raster & vector) datasets in the R programming language, as well as to study and apply a confirmatory factor analysis algorithm.  

Qualifications: Due to the technical nature of this project, the intern will need some prior experience in at least one programming language (ideally R; alternatively: Python, c/c++, java, etc) and some mathematical background (at least: matrices and linear algebra; introductory statistics; integration and differentiation).

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #8 – Reassessing Surveillance Priorities for Mosquito Vectors for Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Australia

About: The Infectious Disease Ecology and Modelling group combines mathematical and statistical modelling, ecology, and public health to address malaria and other infectious and vector-borne diseases. The team uses modelling and maps to measure the risk posed by some of the world’s most important and neglected diseases – including malaria, Japanese Encephalitis Virus, and Covid-19 – and provide rapid modelling analyses to policy makers.

Intern Responsibilities: The team has recently been working on a project led by University of Melbourne to map risk of transmission of Japanese Encephalitis in Australia following an unprecedented southern expansion over the summary of 2021/2022.  The Intern would need to become familiar with the intent and effect of our analytical workflows coded in R, and accumulated geographic datasets (rasters and vectors representing environment, and the location of disease vectors and hosts), and then modify and adapt those to either: test the sensitivity of our modelled outcomes (maps) to choices about the treatment of vector surveillance data (more data restricted to binomial representation, or less data with mosquito species abundances), or, examine the effect of potential redistributions of surveillance resources for improved detection of the pathogen in space and time (an optimization problem). 

Qualifications: An interest in statistical inference and prior familiarity with the R programming language is strongly desirable, though high-level familiarity with other programming languages (such as Python, C++) and a willingness to adapt may suffice.  Prior familiarity with geospatial models of habitat suitability (also known as environmental niche and species distribution models) would help the candidate to make a strong start.

Note: This internship takes place in Melbourne, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #9 – Investigating the Effect of Case Ascertainment in the Estimation of Effective Reproduction Number of Infectious Diseases

About: Our team focuses on developing model-based, data-informed research methods to guide public health decision-making on infectious diseases.

Recent experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that monitoring the trend in infectious disease transmission is an important task for public health management. One key epidemiological parameter informing the trend in disease transmission is the effective reproduction number, or R_eff. R_eff is a time-varying quantity describing the number of new infections generated by one existing infection at a given time in a population. R_eff is often modelled from disease case count data. However, not every infection becomes reported as a case in public health systems --- this process is known as case ascertainment. An imperfect and time-varying case ascertainment rate is a major challenge to infectious disease surveillance, because it affects how accurately one can estimate R_eff based on case data. This challenge motivates us to investigate how incorporating case ascertainment in a case-data-based R_eff model affects the model’s estimation of R_eff.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern's work will require them to familiarize themselves with an existing R_eff model, understand its epidemiological and mathematical principles, and be able to interact with the implementation of the model in the R code environment and generate outputs. The intern will design a simulation study where they will simulate case ascertainment rate inputs for the R_eff model, and analyse the model outputs to assess the effect of ascertainment on R_eff estimates.

Qualifications: The intern must have basic familiarity with the scientific method and statistics. Basic knowledge of the R programming language is strongly desired, knowledge with Bayesian inference is also desired.

Note: This internship takes place in Melbourne, Australia.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #10 – Children and Adolescents Experiencing Food Insecurity: An international Policy Review

About: The Early Years Systems Evidence (EYSE) team is focused on investigating how children’s life chances are shaped by their experiences and environments from pregnancy through to their school years, and how this differs across the contexts in which children are raised. We have a view of the early year’s system, the actors in the system and challenges faced by the system. The EYSE team conducts work in partnership with governments and service providers that is aligned to our areas of expertise, including: child development, child and adolescent wellbeing, learning support in school, and supports for parents and families around child health and development.

Adequate nutrition is a fundamental human right. Internationally, a variety of interventions and policies have been implemented to support children and adolescents experiencing food insecurity, with the common goal of promoting health and development outcomes. Examples include free or subsidized school breakfast and lunch programs, as well as various community food relief offerings. Such programs represent considerable financial investment from government and non-government organizations, and there is limited research exploring subsequent outcomes. This project seeks to conduct a review of child and adolescent food relief policies and programs to understand their characteristics, investment/resourcing, and coverage across high-income countries such as Australia and the United States. Findings will be synthesized, highlighting gaps and novel strategies for support with the aim of informing next steps for food relief research and practice for children and young people in Australia.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Conduct a desktop review of food relief policies and associated interventions and investments targeting children and adolescents in high-income countries
• Synthesize project findings including identifying gaps in supports
• Provide verbal updates on project progress to supervisors
• Drafting project output (e.g. report) and research translation materials (e.g. infographic)
• Present final project findings to EYSE team upon completion of project
• Contribute to drafting academic journal article on project topic

Qualifications: 

• Experience in child health/education/development preferred
• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing evidence preferred
• Experience with policy analysis preferred

Note: This internship takes place in Adelaide, Australia.

 

Website: www.telethonkids.org.au

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Telethon Kids Institute Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Yonatan Ambrosio ’24 - Dads and Development: Exploring the Role of Fathers in Promoting the Health and Development of their Children (Video Presentation)

Tiffany Deane ’24 - Malaria Risk in Ghana: Data Visualization and Interactive Mapping (Video Presentation)

Samuel Lee ’24 - Seeing, Treating, and Preventing Skin Infections: An Aboriginal Health Project (Video Presentation)

Steve Lopez ’24 - Promoting Early Self-Regulation (Video Presentation)

Gia Musselwhite ’25 - Modelling Sample Bias in Mosquito Vector Occurrence Data Within Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda (Video Presentation)

Zoe Mermin ’25 - Promoting Early Self-Regulation (Video Presentation)

Joyce Mo ’24 - Environmental Correlates of Urban Childhood Asthma (Video Presentation)

Sean Park ’24 - An End to Malaria: The Impact of Community Health Worker Scale-Up in Burkina Faso (Video Presentation)

Charles Yu ’26 - Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors on Urban Childhood Asthma (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Tiffany Cao ’24 - Adapting clinical research to different cultures: A case study for Aboriginal children (Video Presentation)

Carlos Cortez ’24 - Developing a Cure for HGG: The Deadliest and Most Aggressive Form of Brain Cancer (Video Presentation)

Elena Montgomery ’23 – Blow, Breathe, Cough (BBC): A Telehealth-facilitated Randomized-controlled Trial Utilizing a Health Promotion Intervention to Resolve Otitis Media with Effusion for Children on Specialist Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Waiting Lists (Video Presentation)

Tia Rozario ’23 - Breakfast Skipping and Academic Outcomes (Video Presentation)

Katelyn Ryu ’24 - Developing a Predictive Algorithm for Identifying Infants at Risk of Intellectual Disability (Video Presentation)

Christine Shin ’25 - Viral Respiratory Diseases HMPV in Western Australia (Video Presentation)

Emily Trieu ’23 - TKI: Child Home Learning Environment and sibling influence on child development (Video Presentation)

Anagam Udebiuwa ’23 - Rats and Radiosensitization: A Deep Dive Into Radiosensitizing Agents in the Treatment of Pediatric Brain Cancer (Video Presentation)

Kennedy Walls ’24 - Visualizing the Burden of Impetigo and Scabies in Remote Aboriginal Communities (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Cindy Cheng ’23 - Exclusionary Discipline and Mental Health of Children and Adolescents (Video Presentation)

Nathalie Rodilosso ’22 - Early Childhood Education Quality & Children’s Development in Lao PDR

Summer 2019

Coco Chou '20 - Missing Piece Surveillance Study

David Cordoba '20 - Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes in Western Australia

Jocelyn Galindo '21 - The Measurement of Adequate Housing Conditions in Aboriginal Households Living in Urban Settings

Rachel Kim '20 - Quality of Life and Child Intellectual Disability

Lucy Wang '21 - SToP Trial: Assessing Impetigo and Scabies in Remote Aboriginal Communities

Summer 2018

Ellen Anshelevich '19 - Developing an Effective Community Care Program for Skin Infections in Aboriginal Communities

Andy Zheng '20 - Evaluating and Supporting Suicide Prevention: Addressing Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Summer 2017

Patrick Dinh '18 - Racism & Skin Disease in Aboriginal Communities in the Western Desert

Aaron Gurayah '18 - Beat CF: Overview of an Adaptive Clinical Trial in Respiratory Medicine

Danielle Victoriano '19 - AusVaxSafety: Descriptive Analysis for Zostavax

 

Department of Health, South Africa Western Cape Province

Internships in Emergency and Clinical Services Support

 

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Duration: 10 weeks

Number of Positions: 3

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The South African Western Cape Government creates laws for and provides services to the people of the Western Cape.  The Western Cape Government works closely with the national government and municipalities in the Western Cape to ensure that the citizens of the province have access to the services, facilities, and information they need. They are committed to delivering an open opportunity society for all.

Please note that there are three (3) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Health Policy Development, Adaption, and Implementation Support

About: The Service Priorities Coordination (SPC) Directorate is one of six directorates in the Chief Directorate Emergency and Clinical Services Support (ECSS). The unit is responsible to develop, translate and mainstream key policy priority health programs and interventions in the Western Cape health system. As an SPC directorate we follow a life course approach to health and wellness.

The scope of the subunits in the directorate is outlined below:

• Clinical Policy and Governance
  • Facilitate the development of clinical policy, guidelines, tools, and governance evaluation. Unit to cover all clinical areas across the life course in response to the burden of disease
• Early Life Course (ELC)
  • Facilitate the development of guidelines and frameworks to strengthen early life-course services across the province. This includes the newborn, perinatal period (first 1000 days), children and adolescents. Lead on Maternal, Child (including EPI & Immunization), Women’s Health and Nutrition, HPV program, Youth and Adolescent Health
• Late (Adult) Life Course (LLC)
  • Facilitate the development of guidelines and frameworks to strengthen adult services across the province. This includes early adults, late adults, and the elderly.
  • Lead on HIV, AIDS, TB, NCD, Mental Health, Care of the elderly, Rehabilitation, Palliative Care
• Disease outbreak and Communicable Disease Control
  • To ensure effective containment and control of communicable diseases and to investigate and coordinate provincial responses to disease outbreaks, including disease surveillance & outbreak response
• Wellness
  • To promote healthy lifestyles across multiple settings in both public and private organizations.
  • Unit to integrate aspects of Health Promotion, Western Cape on Wellness and Social Mobilization. Covering all health program elements across the life course
• Provincial Support
  • To coordinate planning, business plans, and reporting the service-related special and conditional grants for priority services funding to the Western Cape.
  • HIV, TB, and Covid-19 vaccination

Intern Responsibilities: The directorate focus is on priority areas such as HIV, TB, mental health, violence prevention, maternal and child health, women’s health and wellness. The intern can add substantive value to carry out literature reviews, analyses and draft policy recommendations on our key priority areas that are focused on at the time of placement. The intern will also review psychosocial rehabilitation for clients living with long- term health conditions (HIV and TB, NCDs, Mental Health). They will conduct a desktop review investigating adherence to treatments and identifying factors (social determinants of health) leading to suboptimal outcomes.

Qualifications: Preferred academic experience with broader social sciences, public health, health sciences, epidemiology, and monitoring and evaluation (including impact evaluation).

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Violence Prevention Unit

About: The Violence Prevention Unit (VPU) was established in September 2023. It has two main components, which will evolve and adapt as its approach is rolled out and lessons emerge from implementation.

Firstly, it coordinates and supports the implementation of area-based teams, established in 18 high-crime areas in the Province. Area-based teams (ABTs) bring together government officials across different mandates and community representatives with the aim to collectively address local drivers of violence. Safety Promotion Coordinators have been appointed to coordinate and regularly convene ABTs with the aim to break silos. Their immediate focus will include relationship-building, community engagement, presenting and discussing local data on drivers of crime and violence, and advocating for intersectoral collaboration.

Secondly, the Violence Prevention Unit enables evidence-informed approaches to violence prevention in the Western Cape Government. It uses the WHO Nurturing Care Framework of Remember-Strengthen-Add to inform this approach. Its focus is on identifying and connecting services that are already available in high crime areas and learn from existing evidence-informed programs contributing to violence reduction. It will build a strong monitoring, evaluation and learning framework for ABTs.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on analyzing intersectoral collaboration efforts in high-crime areas in the Western Cape, as well as building an evidence-informed approach to violence prevention in the Western Cape. Activities that may be assigned to the intern include:

• Capturing learnings from VPU activities
• Conducting research on existing or emerging evidence of what works to reduce violence in the Western Cape context
• Designing, testing or evaluating new or adapted violence prevention interventions in high-crime areas, using a public health approach
• Analyzing data to understand crime and violence trends in the Western Cape

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in the field of Sociology/Public Policy/Global Health
• Analytical skills
• Policy review and policy analysis
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Strong writing skills
• Stakeholder management skills

 

 

FOCUS AREA #3 – Clinical Service Improvement

About: The Directorate for Clinical Service Improvement (CSI) considers the entire pipeline that delivers value to people in terms of serving their health and wellness needs. We use novel and conventional approached to identify high “return on investment” opportunities and challenges. We then work with service teams to first make it possible for them (experimentation), and then make it possible for everyone (structural integration). As part of the Western Cape Government, we are committed to Healthcare Justice: Access to Quality for Everyone.

Available clinician-time is an important determinant of service capacity in any healthcare system. Analysis confirms a general lack of clinician facing administrative support in our system. This results in clinicians carrying a significant burden of replaceable administrative tasks that interfere with clinical work and governance work and reduces staff satisfaction and wellness.

We ran successful experiments that showed how using medical secretary interns as clinician facing admin support is a highly cost-effective way of increasing clinician time, improving clinician wellness and improving service offerings and design.

In November 2023 we will embark on a series of replications and expansions over 18 months to test the model in a variety of settings with the aim of eventual full system integration. Summer 2024 will coincide with an intended mid-project review.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will take lead on the mid-project review. Anticipated tasks include:

• Review, analysis and reporting on project data and metrics up to that date
• Interviews with project actors to develop a fuller understanding of their experience, lessons learned, pain points and opportunities
  • CFAS interns; Clinical teams; Related managers
• Review of the current project guides and documentation, including:
  • Placement agreements; job descriptions; best practice guides; M&E forms etc.
• Cost impact analysis
• Considering the information above, produce:
  • A mid-project report
  • Recommendations for project adjustments
  • Reviewed and improved project guides and documentation

Qualifications:

• Excellent speaking, reading and writing in English
• Skills and competencies relevant to the activities outlined above (i.e. project review; monitoring, evaluation, and  data wrangling; interview and survey skills; cost effectiveness analysis; document analysis; and project design).

 

 

Website: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Western Cape Province Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Viktoria Cambas ’24 - Violence Prevention: A Public Health Approach (Video Presentation)

Bella Moscoe ’24 - Gender- Affirming Healthcare in the Western Cape of South Africa and the Potential Influence of Other Middle-Income Countries (Video Presentation)

 

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI)

Health Research Internships

 

Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance.

Assistive technology (AT) is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services. Specific examples include eyeglasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, and prostheses, and the service delivery systems that supply these products. The 2022 Global Report on AT reveals that more than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products. Yet nearly one billion of them are denied access, particularly in LMICs, where access can be as low as 3% of the need for these life-changing products. The AT sector faces multiple barriers both in supply of appropriate, affordable, and quality products and in demand for these products by users, service providers, and national health systems.

Intern Responsibilities: CHAI is supporting the Department of Health at the national, provincial and district level in strengthening their service delivery platforms for improving access to Assistive Technology. Key areas of technical support include but are not limited to; identification of children and adults needing AT; and (2) provision of appropriate, affordable, and quality products. The placement will be based in Pretoria, South Africa with limited travel to focus provinces, and will report to the Manager of the AT Team. He/she is expected to provide technical support in one or more of the following:

1. Support the development of data-driven analyses and report to inform strategy and evidence-based decisions for the implementation of AT interventions.
2. Monitor the availability and distribution of assistive products in the country. 
3. Support CHAI’s role to coordinate AT technical working groups (TWG), which may include drafting presentations, agendas, and knowledge-sharing to ensure sustainability and reinforce government ownership.

Qualifications: Candidates should have an interest in public health or health economics.

 

Website:  https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/

 

View Internship Summary Poster and Video from Past CHAI Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Charlie McWeeny ’25 - Working Towards Zero Supporting Malaria Elimination in South Africa (Video Presentation)

Hareton Song ’26 - HIV Prevention, COVID/Cholera, and medical AI Development in South Africa (Video Presentation)

Kiara Marie Wassoodew ’25 - HIV Prevention in South Africa: A Bottom-Up Approach to Integrated HIV Prevention Services (Video Presentation)

Princeton Madagascar One Health Research Initiative

 

Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar

Duration: 9 weeks (with 1-2 weeks of remote prep)

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: All airfare, housing, visa expenses, and onsite food provided free of charge, plus $1,000 cash stipend

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

Faculty Supervisor: Benjamin Rice, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Lecturer in Public and International Affairs

About: Per the CDC, One Health has “the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.” In Madagascar, we aim to collect and analyze infectious disease data from human and wildlife hosts to better understand drivers of poor health outcomes.

Please note that there are two (2) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Malaria and Climate Change: Madagascar as a Case Study

About: Since 2014, Princeton researchers Jessica Metcalf and Benjamin Rice have been studying malaria in Madagascar. Concerningly, malaria infection rates have increased in recent years and coincided with several major extreme weather events. In the Indian Ocean, these hurricane-equivalent storms are called tropical cyclones and they cause widespread disruption when they hit the island. We are interested in studying the linkage between climate and malaria, in particular focusing on how disruptive events, such as storms, can damage public health activities aimed at reducing malaria. The student will assist with analyzing existing data, building models, collecting new data, and will develop and independent research question to further explore climate-malaria interactions. Intern activities during the summer are expected to include fieldwork in Madagascar, computational work, and participating in trainings with Malagasy collaborators.

Intern Responsibilities:

• The intern will collaborate with Dr. Rice and a research team to clean, visualize, and present data on malaria infection
• The intern will integrate climate and extreme weather event data into a disease surveillance database to investigate associations
• The intern will develop new lines of inquiry in a direction of the intern’s choosing, including, but not limited to, investigating human mobility before/after storms, simulating the deployment of new interventions as a disaster response, or comparing Madagascar to other climate-disaster vulnerable geographies

Qualifications: Experience with data cleaning and coding in R preferred but not required, (a desire to learn is required). Interest in epidemiology, disease ecology, and/or public health required. Availability and ability to travel to Madagascar for 7-9 weeks over the summer required.

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Wildlife Pathogens and Zoonotic Disease Risk in Northeast Madagascar: Lemur and/or Chameleon and/or Frog Parasites

About: In collaboration with Professor Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, a former Princeton EEB researcher, we will investigate the pathogens infecting wildlife, and potentially humans, at the human-wildlife interface near a protected area in northeast Madagascar. Nonhuman primates, of which Madagascar contains 100+ species of lemur, are known to be infected with malaria, toxoplasmosis, and other pathogens that may pose a risk to nearby human communities. More distantly related, but equally interesting, reptiles (e.g., Madagascar’s amazing chameleons), and amphibians (e.g., Madagascar’s Mantella frogs that ‘mimic’ the famous poison dart frogs of the Americas) are hypothesized to have a rich diversity of pathogens that are evolutionarily related to those that infect humans. A better understanding the evolution and ecology of these parasites in a biodiversity hotspot will give us a better understanding of pathogen biology in general and may allow new approaches to fighting human illnesses. Fun fact: Madagascar alone has about half of all chameleon species known in the world (including the largest and smallest! See this link).

We seek a summer intern who will extend existing preliminary research into new directions, selecting the pathogen group or host group most interesting to them, and pushing forward to collect new data, analyze existing DNA sequence data, or building towards new sampling strategies. Intentionally, this is left open for exploration (though structure will be provided from regular contact and guidance with internship supervisors)

Intern Responsibilities:

• The intern will collaborate with Dr. Rice, Dr. Fidisoa Rasambainarivo, and a vet team in Madagascar to explore wildlife pathogens near Betampona Reserve in NE Madagascar.
• The intern will participate in a combination of four activities:
  • (1) Field work: e.g., assisting wildlife vets with animal capture and sampling
  • (2) Lab work: screening samples for the presence of pathogens
  • (3) Computational work (analyzing sequence data, mapping host movement, etc.)
  • (4) Research and logistic support: Developing new protocols, collaborating with Malagasy researchers to launch new permits, etc.

Qualifications: Experience with ecology and evolutionary biology coursework and public health topics suggested. Availability and ability to travel to Madagascar for 7-9 weeks over the summer required.

 

Website: https://chw.princeton.edu/people/benjamin-rice

 

View Internship Summary Poster and Video from Past Princeton Student Intern:

Summer 2022

Libby Blazes ’24 – Tracking Malaria Hotspots in Madagascar: One Health Research Initiative (Video Presentation)

Fatima Diallo ’25 – Malaria in Madagascar: A One Health Approach

NYC Health + Hospitals

System-wide Special Pathogens Program

Emergency Management & Planning Internships

 

Location: New York City, New York

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: NYC Health + Hospitals Emergency Management provides the strategic and operational framework and resources to protect our patients, visitors, staff, communities and infrastructure from natural, technological, and intentional incidents through the mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and recover from them.

Central Office Emergency Management ensures the uninterrupted functionality of system-wide operations. Communication, coordination, and collaboration are the building blocks for our comprehensive and systematic approach for managing emergency situations of any magnitude. Our all hazards methodology employs mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies to ensure the viability of our sites and provide unparalleled support for all clinical and patient care activities.

 

Intern Responsibilities: This is an opportunity for a highly motivated individual to contribute to NYC Health + Hospitals’ systemwide, emergency management-centric approach to special pathogens preparedness and response activities and assist on 1) a local, city scale with the System Special Pathogens Program; 2) national scale with the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center [NETEC]; and 4) international scale with the Institute for Diseases and Disaster Management.

The Special Pathogens Project Intern, reporting to and working with the System-wide Special Pathogens Senior and Associate Directors, will provide support for the following:

• Support system-wide Ebola and Special Pathogens preparedness activities and ensure all program requirements are fully met, including conduct of annual exercises and training.
• Assist in developing protocols, procedures and processes related to special pathogens and address system-wide Ebola and Special Pathogens preparedness needs.
• Assist with designing and carrying out healthcare preparedness initiatives related to special pathogens and other communicable disease risks, e.g. trainings, etc.
• Provide program management and administrative support, carrying out tasks such as organizing documentation, following-up with appropriate healthcare partners and vendors, setting up and maintaining tracking sheets for preparedness activities, contract deliverable submission; maintain clear and frequent communications and follow- up with facility representatives as needed.
• Carry out administrative oversight for meeting/exercise coordination, calendaring, meeting handouts, presentation materials and other event logistics (e.g., arranging for venue).
• Provide program management and administrative support from an ‘all-hazards’ approach to emergency management related activities.
• Assist in developing HSEEP-content for NETEC for special pathogens exercises and drills.
• Assist in conducting presentations and site-visits on HSEEP-complaint exercise templates for NETEC.
• Assist in coordinating NETEC site visits with exercises and assist with providing exercise technical assistance.
• Assist with all exercise-related technical assistance for NETEC including planning/logistical coordination of HHS ASPR Tranquil series.

 

Qualifications: 

• Previous experience working in fields related to public health, global health, emergency preparedness and response, planning and exercise, data analysis or infectious disease control and prevention is highly desirable.
• Pro-active and self-motivated individual with ability to work in teams, a highly dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders and timelines.
• Majoring in public or global health, or related field
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to research information and prepare reports and other correspondence.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word and Excel.
• Reliable, outgoing, and able to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Ambitious, motivated, and enthusiastic.

 

Website: www.nychealthandhospitals.org

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past NYC Health + Hospitals Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Joshua Coan ’24 and Ayanava Ganguly ’25 - From Flock to Flu Pandemic: Key Takeaways from NYC Health + Hospitals’ HPAI Preparedness (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Britley Jones ‘23 and Tsion Yared ‘24 - 2022 Monkeypox Outbreak: Evaluating NYC H+H Healthcare Facilities’ Readiness and Response (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Saorise Bodnar ’22 and Sarah Brown ’23 - Preparedness Matters: Healthcare Systems and Special Pathogens

Summer 2020

Brigitte Harbers '22 and Maddie Winter '22 - Containing COVID-19: Evaluating NYC Public Hospitals’ Screening and Isolation Procedures for Potential COVID-19 Patients (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Sanjana Duggirala '21 and Katya Vera '20 - Measles Secret Shopper

Howard University

Improving Health of Asthmatic Children in Public Housing

 

Location: Washington, D.C.

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: Asthma is a leading cause of illness and hospitalizations among children.  This project focuses on children living in public housing units in the District of Columbia, where one in six residents suffer from asthma and asthma is the leading chronic health condition in the DC public and charter school population.  Healthy Home programs have been proposed as one possible way to address this health crisis.  Such programs seek to identify physical asthma triggers in public housing such as mold or cockroaches and to teach residents, property managers, and management had to eliminate them. 

Intern Responsibilities: Potential tasks include survey data collection, data cleaning, data analysis, and preliminary report/manuscript writing. Student interns will be working with the Howard University team, including current Howard University students.

There will also be needs for community engagement, including participating in community events related with public housing and asthma health disparities, advocating for support for families in public housing, and providing asthma health information for the community.

The summer intern will be based at Howard University and will work in collaboration with co-investigators, research assistants, the nonprofit Breathe DC, and the two Principal Investigators: Professor Janet Currie of Princeton University and Meirong Liu of the Howard University School of Social Work.

Qualifications: Previous experience with conducting survey work or with analyzing survey data preferred.

 

Website: https://breathedc.org/ and https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi

 

View Internship Summary Poster and Video from Past Howard University Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Dharmil Bhavsar ’26 - A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Asthma Triggers in the District of Columbia’s Public Housing (Video Presentation)

Irene Park ’26 - Improving the Health of Urban Minority Asthmatic Children in Public Housing (Video Presentation)

La Clínica del Pueblo

Health Equity Internships

 

Location: Washington, D.C.

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: Since 1983, La Clínica del Pueblo has been addressing the distinct health needs of the Washington, DC community through comprehensive primary medical care with wrap-around services across the life spectrum; mental health and substance use treatment; medical interpretation and language access advocacy; community health, including health education and safe spaces; and advocacy strategies to increase inclusion and health equity for Latino immigrants.

Intern Responsibilities: This project aims to gather information about pressing non-medical health-related social needs for the Latino Immigrant community in the Washington Metropolitan area through a Participatory Rapid Appraisal. Unmet social needs can significantly contribute to poor health outcomes, so it's important for health centers like La Clínica del Pueblo to regularly monitor the factors affecting the health of the community they serve. By systematically collecting data on social needs, La Clínica del Pueblo can better prepare to design interventions to address those needs.

Intern responsibilities will include the following:

• Conducting a literature review
• Supporting qualitative data analysis
• Developing geospatial analyses for the data collection

Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include the following:

• Fluency in Spanish
• Prior participatory research experience
• Qualitative data analysis experience
• The ability to search and find relevant academic sources, such as articles, books, and scholarly databases

 

Website:  https://www.lcdp.org/

 

New Internships for 2024; no past Princeton interns.

Texas Tech University, Nutrition and Metabolic Health Initiative

Nutrition and Metabolic Health Internships

 

Location: Lubbock, Texas

Duration: 8 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Nutrition and Metabolic Health Initiative (NMHI) is a clinical research facility housed within the Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences at Texas Tech University, Lubbock Texas. The mission of NMHI is to provide state-of-the-art facilities and operational infrastructure to train the next generations of healthcare providers and scientists in nutrition, obesity and nutritional aspects of metabolic diseases while fulfilling the fundamental mission(s) of Texas Tech University (TTU); Research, Education, and Community Outreach. The overarching goal is to improve the health of adults, children and the communities in which they live.

• Research: TTU’s internationally recognized clinical / translational scientists leverage the NMHI facility to continue to expand Texas Tech Department of Nutritional Sciences’ already substantial international research presence. This is achieved through groundbreaking scientific innovation and discovery. NMHI also offers the clinical / translational research facility and expertise to assist a range of scientists across many disciplines in the broader Texas Tech Community.
• Education: NMHI provides a home to train future generations of clinical / translational scientists and healthcare providers via hands on training and educational experiences. NMHI offers the most scientifically advanced training and education in treating obesity and nutritional / lifestyle factors related to metabolic diseases. Trainees include TTU undergraduate and graduate students from many disciplines and also faculty and healthcare providers both in the TTU system and in the Lubbock community. 
• Clinical Programs - Community Outreach & Engagement: NMHI is home to clinical programs and community outreach programs to improve the health of the Lubbock community and surrounding regions. NMHI offers comprehensive assessments of nutritional status, metabolic health and overall lifestyle-related health. At the facility, people are provided state-of-the-science obesity treatment, nutritional counselling, body composition and metabolic testing, and health coaching. NMHI also offers educational outreach to the local community via the “Request a Speaker program” and “High School Experience” among others.

 

Intern Responsibilities: The internship is an immersive and varied experience. It will vary each year in terms of the specific projects that students will be involved in. Experiences available fall into four broad categories that every student experiences:

• Research at NMHI. NMHI provides training, direct shadowing and or research assistant experience for students on any number of clinical trials that are taking place ongoing at NMHI. Students are trained on the use of the facilities and equipment related to conducting research protocols. NMHI has plenty of data available for individual projects also.
• NMHI Student Providers play an integral role in the day-to-day operations of NMHI. Students learn via hands on experience what it takes to build and maintain a vibrant clinical research facility. They assist with every aspect of NMHI daily operations (administrative and clinical).
• Community Outreach and Engagement. NMHI is engaged in ongoing community outreach and engagement to serve the local community. Attendance at health fairs, developing educational and social media outreach and external speaking engagements with your NMHI mentor are possible. NMHI also has a summer High School Experience where undergraduate and graduate students work as instructors and mentors for visiting high school students.
• External Rotations. The intern will be given the opportunity to have experiences with clinical and research collaborators outside of NMHI. This may vary year by year. Past examples include Mechanical Engineering (3D Food Printing), TTU Nutritional Sciences Basic Science Labs, TTU-HSC Department of Internal Medicine, and Lubbock Gastroenterology.

NMHI takes pride in empowering students to work independently where appropriate and also values individual direct supervision and student training activities. NMHI employs a tiered mentoring approach that engages undergraduate and graduate students along with faculty in a shared mentoring experience.

Dr. Martin Binks is the Director of NMHI and will serve as primary mentor for the student interns. However, their educational experience will involve interacting with all TTU graduate and undergraduate students, the medical and administrative staff, and all NMHI faculty.

 

Qualifications: The successful applicant will have a strong work ethic, be highly motivated and inquisitive and have an interest in learning more about research and clinical care related to nutrition, behavioral health and medical comorbidities related to lifestyle associated diseases (e.g. diabetes, obesity). NMHI also offers experiences in overall health promotion and health coaching.  English speaking is required. Ability to work independently is valued.

 

Website:  www.NMHI.ttu.edu

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Texas Tech NMHI Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Tiffany Tsai ’25 - Nutritional and Metabolic Wellness: A Multidisciplinary Exploration in Medicine, Psychology, Engineering, and Research (Video Presentation)

Trenton Health Team

Health Data Analytics Internship

 

Location: Trenton, New Jersey (Successful candidates will work primarily remotely but will be asked to go into the office one day per week.)

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: Trenton Health Team (THT) is an innovative multi-sector partnership dedicated to the health and well-being of the greater Trenton community. Nationally-recognized for results achieved over more than a decade of work, the collaborative is an innovative partnership among St. Francis Medical Center, Capital Health, Henry J. Austin Health Center, the City of Trenton Department of Health and Human Services, and more than 100 community organizations.

The Analytics and Insights team partners with both internal THT stakeholders and external community partners to provide analytics, statistical modeling, machine learning, and business intelligence to support tactical and strategic decision making to drive health equity. The team works with a variety of data, both public and clinical data, to support our work.

The research project will entail data driven exploration related to a public health related topic for the Trenton/Mercer County community. The topic may pertain to clinical outcomes, Social Determinant of Health Drivers, or both.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Analyze data that generates actionable insights and drives organizational decision making
• Work with staff across THT to define, measure, and track key metrics that inform organizational planning and future programming
• Identify and incorporate novel public and proprietary data sources that can help inform and/or measure THT’s work
• Carry out data documentation processes so that all staff can benefit from data and evaluation efforts
• Adhere to THT’s privacy requirements and ensure the appropriate handling of sensitive information

Qualifications:

Required qualification include:

• Demonstrated experience in analyzing data, including descriptive statistics, in either professional or classroom settings
• Enrollment in an undergraduate program with a quantitative focus, having completed at least two full years of study
• Familiarity with using languages such as R, Python, or SQL, to work with data
• Strong attention to detail

Preferred qualifications include:

• Strong writing, communication and data-driven storytelling skills
• Experience with tools for Geographic Information Systems, such as ArcGIS
• Familiarity with electronic health record and medical claims data

 

Website: https://trentonhealthteam.org/

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Trenton Health Team Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Nathan Shin ’24 - Safer Childbirth Cities: Perinatal Risk Assessment (Video Presentation)

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence

Research Internships

 

Location: Remote (Successful candidates may have the opportunity to work in the office a few days per week if they are local to New Brunswick, New Jersey.)

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 8

Stipend: $4,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: As New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI) – designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s team of internationally recognized physicians and researchers is driven by a singular focus and mission, to help individuals fight cancer. Through the transformation of laboratory discoveries into clinical practice, we target cancer with precision medicine, immunotherapy and clinical trials and provide the most advanced, comprehensive, and compassionate world-class cancer care to adults and children. This mission is being accomplished in partnership with RWJBarnabas Health. Rutgers Cancer Institute physicians and scientists work side by side to make sure the most sophisticated treatments are delivered to our patients quickly and safely - the future of cancer treatments today.

Please note that there are five (5) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or ones you would like to be considered for.

 

FOCUS AREA #1 – Cancer Health Equity Research Protocols

About: Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, we are looking for two interns to assist with the recruitment of participants and data management for various Cancer Health Equity research protocols.

The intern will assist with patient recruitment and data management for a study focused on reducing the burden of lung cancer among people with a history of heavy smoking, particularly for underserved populations, by supporting high-quality decision making about lung cancer screening and tobacco control. The intern will also assist with capturing and documenting information from electronic medical records and will gain experience working with the participant management software called REDCap.

Another study that the intern will assist with focuses on how we can increase genetic education and genetic testing for hereditary cancer risk among Black cancer survivors. The primary aim is to test the effectiveness of a chatbot intervention (also called relational agent, or RA) vs. enhanced usual care (EUC) on engagement in genetic education and requests for genetic testing.

Intern Responsibilities:  The intern will gain experience with human subjects research, have direct patient interaction, work on assisting with data management, collect qualitative and quantitative data, work closely with the investigative team, conduct project management, and may be required to work on-site to assist with recruitment and other study related tasks as needed. The intern will make valuable contributions to research projects that will improve cancer health equity. The intern will work closely with the Program Director and Principal Research Associate.

Qualifications: Previous experience with patients is preferred but not required.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Social Determinants of Health, Lifestyle Patterns, and Breast Cancer Survivorship: An Epidemiological Investigation

About: The goal of this research program is to integrate multidisciplinary components into cancer epidemiology research to advance our understanding of cancer etiology and prevention, survivorship and survival, and cancer health disparities.

The overall goal of this project is to elucidate the multilevel associations between social determinants of health (SDoH), lifestyle patterns, and inflammation, as well as their impact on mortality and patient-reported outcomes after breast cancer diagnosis among African American/Black women enrolled in the Women’s Circle of Health Follow-Up Study (WCHFS), a population-based longitudinal study of Black breast cancer survivors in New Jersey.

Intern Responsibilities:  Opportunities for involvement in literature review, data analysis, results preparation, and/or presentation and manuscript preparation.

Qualifications: Demonstrated academic excellence. Strong motivation in cancer research and epidemiological research. Statistics and the use of statistical software will be part of the training once the intern starts, so interns are expected to have the motivation to learn.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #3 – Geographic Patterns of Access to Breast and Cervical Cancer Health Care Services in Botswana

About: In many countries, rural populations experience socioeconomic vulnerabilities and multiple barriers to accessing cancer services.  These barriers suggest that rural patients delay care seeking longer than urban patients, leading to a higher prevalence of late stage disease among rural patients presenting to hospitals. Improving referral networks and targeting early detection interventions could reduce stage at diagnosis and improve outcomes in these populations.

Breast and cervical cancers are among the most common cancers diagnosed in Botswana, an upper middle-income country in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite successes in health and education, and long periods of political stability and economic growth, Botswana faces challenges in expanding access to comprehensive cancer and non-communicable disease care. In addition, Botswana’s unique geography poses distinct challenges to its health system in reaching rural populations.

Interns will support faculty in compiling data sources to support research activities to guide evidence-based policies for breast and cervical cancer screening and early detection in Botswana. Data sources will include, but not be limited by: geographic databases (administrative census, health facility locations, land cover, elevation, road networks), epidemiologic databases (cohort and case-control studies), surveillance databases (health facility reports of patient visits, cancer registries), and health systems databases (staff, equipment, budgets, and medicine usage), as well as a literature review of studies examining geography and health care systems in Botswana (Pubmed). At the end of the internship, the intern will produce a report summarizing the existing data sources, highlighting gaps, and support faculty with preparing a summary of recommended research activities.

Intern Responsibilities:  The intern will be tasked with assembling a list of data sources that researchers can use to design studies of interventions to facilitate earlier entry into care for breast and cervical cancer among rural populations in Botswana. Under the supervision of Rutgers faculty, the intern will conduct literature searches for cancer outcomes data, health systems data, and geographic data that can be used by researchers in Botswana and at Rutgers to guide research studies funded by federal and non-federal sources to test different strategies for early detection. The intern will produce a report at the end of the internship summarizing the different data sources, data elements, and potential uses for cancer epidemiologic research in Botswana.

Qualifications: Strong writing and communication skills required, as evidenced through writing samples and courses in writing, language and literature. Demonstrated interest in cancer prevention and early detection, as shown in application letter or prior experience/coursework. Interest in biological sciences/medicine a plus, as demonstrated through coursework or prior experience. Programming or statistics training a plus but not required.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #4 – Behavioral Science Project

About: The position in the Manne lab may involve work on multiple cancer prevention and support studies. The intern will gain insight into the research process for NCI-funded research projects related to cancer prevention, education and support.

Intern Responsibilities:  Opportunities for learning and shadowing in participant recruitment and tracking, data entry/cleaning/management, online intervention engagement tracking, cancer survivorship outreach and initiatives available.

Qualifications: Experience/interest in quantitative and qualitative research methods. Interest in cancer prevention, participant interaction, telehealth and/or e-health and social media intervention delivery is a plus.

 

 

FOCUS AREA #5 – Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Evaluation (TIME)

About: The research is led by Jon-Patrick Allem. Beyond the impact of Dr. Allem’s science on scientific discourse, he is committed to using his science to impact public health. In this case it involves advocating for policies that protect children and adolescents from harmful media exposures and exacting punishments for companies that harm children through their unfair marketing practices. Because companies fight such policies, this type of advocacy necessarily involves the judiciary system, working with attorneys at the state and local level to develop, pass and enforce restrictions, and enact punishments. By working in this way, Dr. Allem aims to apply his research in ways to protect the health of large numbers of children.

Dr. Allem is the principal investigator for the California Tobacco Control Program's Tobacco Industry Monitoring Evaluation (TIME). The main goal of the project is to inform comprehensive tobacco control policy efforts by monitoring core tobacco industry practices related to electronic cigarettes and other new and emerging non-combustible nicotine products, and little cigars and cigarillos in three core tobacco industry practices: advertising and marketing on social media platforms, direct marketing, and underage online sales.

Intern Responsibilities:  Perform a content analysis on image-based and/or audio-visual based data. Read papers relevant to the study. Help interpret findings. Attend meetings.

Qualifications: An interest in public health, or communications is preferred. General interest in social science, or marketing or child development is ideal.

 

 

Websites: www.cinj.org and www.cinj.org/outreach/center-cancer-health-equity.

 

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past CINJ Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Ashley Abramson ’25 - Practitioner Poster: Cancer Research and Methodologies (Video Presentation)

Sofia Sepulveda Pizarro ’26 - Young Melanoma: Facebook and Family: Analyzing Engagement with Content Related to Melanoma on Facebook (Video Presentation)

Sarina Sheth ’26 - Improving Cancer Treatment & Preventative Care: Health Outcomes Research at CINJ (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Beianka Tomlinson ’24 - The CATALYST Project (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Sean Crites ’22 - PINPOINTING the Path to Equitable Cancer Care (Video Presentation)

Yodahe Gebreegziabher ’22 - PINPOINT Project: Interventional Approach in Reducing Disparities in Cancer Care (Video Presentation)

Minji Park ’22 - Empowered Survivor: Developing an Online Platform for Oral Cancer Survivors with CINJ (Video Presentation)

Summer 2020 

Zoya Gauhar '22 - Efficacy & Safety of DNMT1 inhibitors in MEN1 Mouse model: Creating a Draft Medical Manuscript (Video Presentation)

Christina Moon '22 - Interning at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

Shayla Murray '21 - The Effects of Exon 14 Skipping in Lung Cancer Patients (Video Presentation)

Mayowa Oke '22 - The Geography of Cancer: An Analysis of Cancer Risk Factors in the State of NJ (Video Presentation)

Quinn Rademaker '22 - Utilizing Technology: How Web-based Intervention Influences Health (Video Presentation)

Grace Simmons '22 - Project iCare: Fighting Disparities in Cancer Treatment through Technology (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Kristen Pagliai '20 - From Pilot to Publication: The Lifecycle of Cancer Prevention Research

Sophia Peifer '21 - The Availability of JUUL Flavored Products near Rutgers Campus

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Technical Advice and Partnership Internship

 

Location: Remote

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1-2

Stipend: $4,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

 

About: The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria as epidemics.  As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than $4 billion a year to support programs in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by diseases, we challenge barriers and embrace innovation.

The Global Fund will host remote internships to support the Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) Team which is part of the Technical Advice and Partnership (TAP) Department.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will support a scope of work in the following areas that are key focus for the RSSH team:

• Laboratory Systems Strengthening (LSS): analyze investments in laboratory systems strengthening from Grant Cycle 7 (GC7) grants and Covid-19 Funding Mechanism. The analysis will look into investment classification, trends of investments for various types of commodities/equipment/soft activities, with an emphasis on investments for Laboratory Information Systems (LIS);
• Laboratory Governance: analyze organizational structure of Ministries of Health to assess the positioning of Laboratory Directorates within the overall hierarchy of divisions/units, in relation to National Public Health Laboratories, Reference Laboratories, Disease Programs (for HIV, TB, malaria, and Epidemic-prone diseases) and the units responsible for managing procurement, supply chain, infrastructure/equipment. The analysis should include assessment of the initiative to establish National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs), and ongoing reflections about the role and membership of CCMs (Country Coordination Mechanisms) for oversight of Global Fund investments, and required shifts in order to strengthen RSSH and Pandemic Preparedness workstreams. 

The interns will be integrated in the day-to-day work of the Laboratory Systems Strengthening sub-team and will interact with other members of the RSSH/PPR team in the Global Fund Secretariat. As the health systems strengthening is a cross-cutting topic, the interns will have to liaise with other departments of the Global Fund Secretariat to accomplish their work. In addition, the interns will participate in a series of curated “virtual coffees” with leading experts in the field of global health to both learn more about specific technical topics, as well as hear about their professional journeys.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with high quality control, resourcefulness, maturity, clear verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work independently. The interns must have strong analytical skills.  For the LSS thematic, the intern should have a strong interest in data science and analysis of numbers; for the governance thematic, the intern should have interests in institutional development and political science as it relates to global health and laboratory systems.

 

Website: www.theglobalfund.org/en

 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Global Fund Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Emmie Pickerill ’25 - Human Resources for Health: Strategic Review of Application Feedback (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Ishita Batra, MPA ’23 - Furthering Equity in Health Systems

Karla Perez-Gazca ’23 - Health Care Waste Management: Funding Sustainable Systems for Health (Video Presentation)

Summer 2021

Kennedy Walls ’24 - One Step Ahead: A Microanalysis to Cast Foresight into New Funding Model 4 (Video Presentation)

Summer 2020

Naomi Shifrin '22 - The Impact of Cash Transfers on HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (Video Presentation)