Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation)

Health Research Internships

Location: Various cities in Brazil

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: Up to 5

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 four (4) 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 – International Health Regulation on Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCD) and International Health Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

About: The Center for Studies on Bioethics and Diplomacy in Health (Nethis) promotes reflection on the confluence of three scientific and professional fields: bioethics, diplomacy, and public health. Its interdisciplinary conception reflects the progressive importance of health in the scenario of international relations guided by bioethical values.

We offer 2 Research project positions: 1) One designed for the project "International Regulation of Risk Factors Associated with Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCD)” which analyzes international public policies for the regulation of products associated with risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, pesticides and ultra- processed foods). 2) The other, for the project “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Health Systems in the Public sector” which promotes reflections, debates, and investigations aimed at the systematization, formulation, and dissemination of strategies and instruments for ethical safeguards and guarantees of equity in mechanisms and processes that adopt resources based on artificial intelligence (AI). The regulation of the public power and innovations in the field of health are considered.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved with the following activities:

Project International Regulation of Risk Factors Associated with Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCD):

• Mapping and analysis of national public policies for regulation of products (alcohol, tobacco, agrochemicals and ultra-processed food) associated with NCD in USA.
• Verification and analysis of the dynamics in the internalization of multilateral international agreements on regulation of the above-mentioned products in USA´s policies as well as the ongoing law conflicts regarding regulatory technical actors.

Project  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Health Systems in the Public Sector:

• Reviewing and comparing public implementation of AI-driven systems applied to health.
• Scanning new methodologies to test the suitability and real-world effects of health AI applications.
• Analysis of legal instruments for government use in the design and tendering of AI for health.
• Comparisons with US law regarding use of data processing for health systems (privacy; code of ethics; algorithms and inequalities in health applications).

Qualifications: Pursing a bachelor’s degree in public health, law, international relations or related fields. Knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Brasília, Distrito Federal.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Plasmodium Vivax Malaria Immune Response

About: As a contribution to current efforts on P.vivax vaccine development, we have devoted great effort to characterize the protective immune response against lead blood stage vaccine candidate, such as the Duffy binding protein (DBPII), in populations living in the Amazon rainforest. Given the increasing evidence of P. vivax infections associated with severe and fatal disease, we have also concentrated interests on the identification of sensitive and reliable markers for vivax severity. The approach includes investigating components of the coagulation-inflammation cascade as a cofactor for malaria morbidity. Researchers in our group work on the bench, in the field, or both.

The greatest challenges for the control/elimination of P. vivax are associated with the complexity of the biology of this parasite, which leads to subpatent, persistent and non-diagnostic infections. In this context, the project includes: (i) identifying immunological mechanisms associated with asymptomatic status as well as (ii) mechanisms associated with clinical protection (serological and cellular assays with plasmas and PBMC from malaria-exposed individuals)).

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on and participate in Serological assays, including ELISA with recombinant proteins; cellular assays (including flow cytometry assays and elispot), PCR assays (malaria diagnosis).

Qualifications: Background and interest in immunology and parasitology preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. 

FOCUS AREA #3 – Phylogenetics of Genes and Proteins from Parasites Causing Neglected Diseases

About: This research team applies phylogenetics to study genes and proteins from different parasites (Leishmania, Plasmodium, Schistosoma, Trypanosoma, etc.) that are the causative agents of important neglected diseases (leishmaniases, malaria, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, etc.). Our multidisciplinary projects involve experimental (molecular biology) and computational (bioinformatics) approaches.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will perform computational studies (database searches, sequence alignment, phylogenetic reconstruction, etc.). Additionally, the intern will prepare reports and present seminars in our research group and Institution. 

Qualifications: Background in biological sciences, health sciences, or computational sciences a must. Previous experience with phylogenetics is preferred but not required. The intern should have scientific reading and reporting experience, time management skills, excellent communication (oral and writing) skills, and teamwork in a multidisciplinary setting.

Note: This internship takes place in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. 

FOCUS AREA #4 – Prisma Project: Training in Good Professional Practices in Comprehensive, Inclusive and Affirmative Health for the LGBTQIAP+ Population

About: This project is aligned with the need for inclusion and affirmation of gender diversity, expressions and relationships (DGER) in comprehensive health care for the LGBTQIAP+ population in the SUS. The aim is to develop knowledge, practices and attitudes aligned with health and well-being, in the areas of comprehensive care, connected with sexual health, sexual rights and sexual pleasure, with a focus on cultural competence, to reduce prejudice and discrimination in primary care, through a training program. It includes the development of three studies, with a mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology. The main products will be the training course in the MOOC model and a manual on health in DGER.

The research aims to use participatory methodologies, using dialogic mediation strategies as a pedagogical resource (Grassi, 2010). The participatory methodology aims to increase the reflexivity of participants, enhancing the use of formal/institutional knowledge in conjunction with local knowledge in order to provoke changes (Nelson and Wright, 1995, p. 51), adapting the objectives of the proposal to the profiles of the subjects, based on their expectations and trajectories.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved with literature review, meeting monitoring, and field observation.

Qualifications: Interest in social sciences and knowledge of gender and sexuality concepts. Good communication skills and literature revision experience preferred.

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

Website: portal.fiocruz.br/en

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

Summer 2024

Mell Aguiar ’27 – The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation: A Window into Research within Socialized Healthcare Systems

Devin Cheeks ’25 – Empowering Communities: Navigating Brazil’s Health System (Video Presentation)

Fatima Diallo ’25 – Social Inequity in Brazil: An Epidemiological Approach

Katherine Monroe ’27 – NMR Spectroscopy for Structure Elucidation of Pharmaceuticals and Cooking Oils (Video Presentation)

Harry Poulose ’26 – Effects of Physical Training on Adipose Tissue of C57BL/6 Mice with Type 2 Diabetes (Video Presentation)

Arjun Prasad ’26 – Molecular Biomarkers as a Differential Diagnosis of Leprosy Neuropathy (Video Presentation)

Laura Sabrosa ’27 – Beyond the Parasite: Leishmaniasis RNA Virus 1 Transmittance and Disease Aggravation (Video Presentation)

Cole Strupp ’26 – Bridging the Bedside & the Bench: A Unified Approach Against Neglected Tropical Disease (Video Presentation)

Naisha Sylvestre ’25 – Bit by the Kissing Bug: A Deep Dive into Genus Trypanosoma (Video Presentation)

Tiffany Zhong ’25 – Acquired Toxoplasma gondii Infection Alters Mouse Retinal Vasculature (Video Presentation)

Summer 2023

Joshua Cigoianu ’26 - Research into Parasitic Diseases and Development of Prevention Programs (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 Federation of 

Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Health Research Internships

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 3

Stipend: $8,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of IFRC is "to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world." IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during, and after disasters, health emergencies, and other crises. The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

IFRC is led by its Secretary-General and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It also has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the Americas, as well as cluster and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster, and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. The Secretariat provides support, guidance and thought leadership to all National Societies on many core areas, which reflect the expertise and services delivered. It is also involved in emergency surge deployments, to strengthen operations during crises.

One of these areas is health, which is represented in the work of the Secretariat’s Health & Care Department (HCD). The HCD provides guidance and support on key thematic areas, including Public and Clinical Health in Emergencies, Waster Systems Strengthening and Digital Health Solutions.

Our emergency health work focuses on supporting Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to:

• Prepare for and respond to the health consequences of disasters and crises, including epidemics and pandemics
• Build and maintain community-level capacity in effective prevention, detection and response to infectious disease outbreaks
• Respond to mental health and psychosocial needs during emergencies

During large-scale disasters that require international assistance, the IFRC, along with several partner National Societies, can immediately deploy health personnel and equipment to support the local response in disaster-affected countries.

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 – Digital Solutions and Data for Health

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be working as part of the Digital Solutions and Data for Health unit, within the HCD, to design a data analysis dashboard which enables the various HCD units to query internally collected data on various health activities, services and outcomes (including type and location of health facilities, provision of NCD, Mental Health and Ageing services), as well as identifying reliable sources of data that would enable the identification of health risks and needs in countries where the RCRC Movement operates health facilities (e.g. climate, infrastructure, disease trends, health regulation). The outcome of this work should help HCD and Operations teams to identify key resources and gaps in the context of emergencies, in order to forecast logistical needs.

The intern will be expected to work independently but will have regular touch-in points with a supervisor for guidance or direction, and to reach out to relevant teams which hold relevant data and information management tools.

Qualifications: Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools, including in-depth knowledge of data analysis programming languages (R, Python), GIS, use of Artificial Intelligence for data querying and analysis, and PowerBI.  Good written and verbal communication skills and familiarity with public health issues. Knowledge of other official RCRC languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian) is an asset.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Public Health in Emergencies

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be working as part of the Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies Team, within the HCD to:

• Assist in collecting, analyzing and sharing epidemiological data to support real-time understanding and evidence-based decision-making in outbreaks response.
• Support operational calls, meetings and task force meetings for health emergencies and for the emergency health technical working group (public health stream).
• Support strengthening and sustaining information sharing, intra-team dialogue and dissemination of stories and useful documents from the field.
• Support the development of Public Health in Emergencies tools and trainings.

Qualifications: Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, proficiency in epidemiological data analysis and visualization tools.  Good written and verbal communication skills and familiarity with public health issues. Background education and experience in public health, epidemiology or similar. Hhumanitarian interest or experience a strong asset.

FOCUS AREA #3 – Clinical Care in Emergencies

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be working as part of the Clinical Care and Public Health in Emergencies Team, within the HCD to:

• Assist in the review, development and timely submission of reports, case studies, success stories, videos, PowerPoint presentations for internal and external stakeholders for the promotion of IFRC and NS Emergency work.
• Support operational calls, meetings and task force meetings for health emergencies and for the emergency health technical working group (clinical stream).
• Support strengthening and sustaining information sharing, intra-team dialogue and dissemination of stories and useful documents from the field.
• Support the development of Health Emergencies tools and trainings.

Qualifications: Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, experience or demonstrated interest in clinical care in emergencies.  Good written and verbal communication skills. Background education and experience in nursing, medicine, disaster management, or equivalent. Humanitarian interest or experience a strong asset.

Website: https://www.ifrc.org/

New Internships for 2025; no past Princeton interns.

The Kids Research Institute Australia

Research Internships

Location: Perth, Australia

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: The Kids Research Institute Australia (formerly Telethon Kids Institute) 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 six (6) 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 – Mapping the Distribution of Tuberculosis and Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Profiles in Ethiopia

About: The Geospatial and Tuberculosis (GeoTB) research team apply advanced geospatial models to better understand the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) at a local, national, regional, and global scale. Deliverables focus on designing innovative approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public health interventions which help control and ultimately eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in high burden countries.                

Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease. Despite being preventable and curable, it is estimated that 1.3 million people lost their lives to TB in 2022. A significant challenge to overcoming the disease is drug resistance, as drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is harder to diagnose, treat and cure, but is equally as transmissible and infectious as drug susceptible TB (DS-TB). Africa carries a disproportionate burden of TB, and Ethiopia is classified as one of the 30 high TB countries where disease continues to cause significant mortality and suffering. Although the globally endorsed End TB Strategy aims to eliminate TB, results against interim targets are significantly off track.  To try and address the shortfalls in progress, innovative solutions are being sought to inform TB control programs and maximize their efficacy. Spatial analytics are proving increasingly valuable to inform targeted interventions and will be used by this project to identify areas at high-risk of TB infection and to map the geospatial distribution of different drug resistant-TB profiles.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved in data cleaning, data management, data analysis, and manuscript drafting.

Qualifications: Biostatistics (mandatory) and mathematical modelling/epidemiology (preferred).

FOCUS AREA #2 – Enhancing OpenMalaria's User Experience Through AI-assisted Modelling

About: Our team developed and uses OpenMalaria, an individual-based modelling and simulation software designed to study and predict the transmission dynamics of malaria and the potential impact of various intervention strategies. Individual-based models are where individual entities or "agents" (humans, mosquitoes, and parasites) interact with each other and their environment based on a set of rules. This allows for a more detailed simulation of malaria dynamics compared to traditional compartmental models. We use OpenMalaria to understand how different interventions, including malaria vaccines, might affect disease spread. It serves as a valuable tool for researchers and public health officials working to control and eventually eliminate malaria.

OpenMalaria uses XML configuration files that can be complex to create and modify. Users often need to consult extensive documentation to set up their experiments correctly. This project aims to use AI tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), to make it easier for researchers to work with OpenMalaria's configuration system and codebase.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will work on applying AI approaches to improve the OpenMalaria user experience. Main tasks include:

• Training language models on OpenMalaria's XML configuration files and patterns
• Documentation, user guides, and C++ codebase
• Developing tools that can help users generate correct XML configuration files and Stretch goal, answer user questions about OpenMalaria through a chat interface Testing and validating the AI tools' outputs, documenting the development process
• Expected deliverables include AI tools to help generate OpenMalaria configuration files (XML), documentation of the development process, and (stretch goal) AI tools (chat interface) to answer user questions about OpenMalaria

Qualifications: Must be a fluent English speaker with good programming skills in Python (or R), and an ability to solve technical problems. Experience with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.) is preferred. Experience with C++ and a background in natural language processing is preferred but not required. 

FOCUS AREA #3 –Research Software Engineering: Optimizing Malaria Vaccine Impact Through High-performance Computing and Pipeline Development

About: Our team developed and uses OpenMalaria, an individual-based modelling and simulation software designed to study and predict the transmission dynamics of malaria and the potential impact of various intervention strategies. Individual-based models are where individual entities or "agents" (humans, mosquitoes, and parasites) interact with each other and their environment based on a set of rules. This allows for a more detailed simulation of malaria dynamics compared to traditional compartmental models. We use OpenMalaria to understand how different interventions, including malaria vaccines, might affect disease spread. It serves as a valuable tool for researchers and public health officials working to control and eventually eliminate malaria.

OpenMalaria is a complex simulation software that presents significant usability challenges for researchers without extensive computational backgrounds. There is typically a steep learning curve for the average user. Currently, typical users use basic R and Python workflows for their analysis. This internship project aims to improve these workflows to make them more efficient, reproducible, and user-friendly. In other words, the intern will learn how to implement best practice research software engineering principles to improve existing pipelines.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will help improve our analysis pipelines and work with high-performance computing resources. Main tasks include: 

• Improve existing R analysis pipelines (or creating new ones in Python if preferred)
• Running and optimizing workflows on the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
• Finding ways to make computations run faster through better code organization
• Writing clear documentation, Using GitHub for version control and Working with other researchers to understand their needs and improve the tools

Qualifications: Must be a fluent English speaker with good programming skills in Python (or R), and an ability to solve technical problems. Some experience with version control (like Git) and some understanding of computer architecture is preferred. Some C++ programming experience, familiarity with using the command line and interest in scientific computing and public health is preferred but not required.

FOCUS AREA #4 –Uncovering How 'Rheumatogenic' Strep A Strains Trigger Acute Rheumatic Fever: Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Vaccine Development  

About: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen, causing over 775 million infections and 600,000 deaths worldwide. Underlying this disease burden is the common GAS infection of the tonsils known as “Strep throat”, which often results in healthcare visits and antibiotic prescriptions, and can lead to severe complications such as blood infections, “flesh-eating disease”, and chronic conditions such as rheumatic heart disease. This burden is particularly high among vulnerable and marginalised groups, including children and impoverished and Indigenous populations. Our group aims to discover and characterise the precise molecular events that take place during Strep throat infections including how they are able to trigger acute rhematic fever. We use a variety of techniques in our research, including genetic screens, targeted mutagenesis, and tissue culture and biochemical assays. 

Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) is an adverse immune response to Strep A infection. ARF can lead to damage to the heart valves known as Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). It has long been known that not all GAS infections will result in ARF episodes, even in high-risk individuals. Using carefully recruited cohorts of ARF patients and related controls, we are working with an international team of investigators to understand ARF pathogenesis, vaccine safety and to develop a biomarker for diagnosis of ARF. We are also trying to better understand the mechanisms involved in how Strep A infection is able to trigger acute rheumatic fever. Some strains of Strep A are more likely to cause ARF than others and are known as ‘rheumatogenic’ strains. We aim to document the specific strains found in ARF patients in the literature and determine the attack rate of ARF based of the specific strain to identify any clear rheumatogenic patterns. Additionally, we plan to review past ARF outbreaks to see which Strep A strains were involved, further assessing their potential to cause ARF. This research will help us select specific Strep A strains for laboratory experiments to model ARF pathogenesis. By identifying 'rheumatogenic' strains, we aim to determine the factors that make them more likely to trigger ARF, which would lead to a better understanding of the disease and aid in vaccine development.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be asked to complete a systematic review on strains of Strep A that are able to cause ARF. Specifically, they will search the literature for research in which GAS has been isolated from ARF patients. The intern will also look at major outbreaks of Strep A that are associated with outbreaks of ARF.  The student could also complete some basic bioinformatics to determine if specific virulence factors are associated with ‘rheumatogenic’ strains.

Qualifications: English competency is required.

FOCUS AREA #5 –Gateway to Allergy Prevention: Promoting an Immunomodulatory Breastmilk Profile with Maternal Prebiotic Supplementation

About: Our research center is dedicated to advancing research in immunology, breastfeeding, and infant health (LRF CIBF). We focus on understanding the complex interactions between maternal diet, breast milk composition, and infant health outcomes, particularly allergic diseases. Our mission is to develop evidence-based strategies to improve breastfeeding practices and child health worldwide.

Globally, food allergy is a growing concern for children and their families. In Western Australia (WA), more than 30% of infants show signs of allergic sensitization before four months of age, highlighting the importance of promoting immune tolerance early in life. Childhood is a critical period for immune imprinting, and human milk (HM) plays a critical role by providing bioactive components that promote immune system development. Prebiotics, non-digestible fibers that stimulate beneficial gut bacteria, have been shown to regulate immune responses both locally (in the gut) and systemically. However, the effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on HM composition remains unclear. We hypothesize that increasing maternal fiber intake through prebiotic supplementation may lead to a more tolerogenic HM profile, potentially reducing the risk of allergic disease in infants.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved in the next phase of some recent research, aiming to further elucidate the role of HM composition in determining infant health outcomes, including allergy prevention. The intern will focus on analyzing clinical data from the SYMBA trial to assess how maternal prebiotic supplementation affects infant health outcomes through the changes in HM composition we have observed. Data Analysis: Analyzing previously collected data from HM samples. Literature review: Review existing literature to support findings and contextualize results within the broader field. Communication: Assist with manuscript preparation, present findings at team meetings and possibly conferences.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree (or working towards) in a relevant field such as nutrition, public health, biomedical science, or related discipline. Proficiency in data analysis software (R, or similar) and familiarity with statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and multivariate analysis. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Team spirit is key.

FOCUS AREA #6 –T1D Scope Evaluate Translate Estimate: SETE 4 Sustainable Knowledge Translation

About: The Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre (JDRF Global Centre of Excellence) aims to improve the lives of young people living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) by accelerating the implementation of evidence-based models of care for children and young people living with T1D.

No review has collated and assessed resources to support effective management for children and young adults living with T1D. Traditionally systematic reviews have proved to be labor intensive and years out of date once finalized. Our project will pioneer an innovative ‘accelerated review’ approach known as the ‘2weekSR’ method. The 2 weekSR method is a systematic review conducted and automated using technology to translate results within a 2-week period (median time is 66 weeks). This project will pilot the 2weekSR method to a scoping review of T1D resources for young people. This project will ensure T1D resources are up-to-the minute, fit for purpose, and provide a template for scalable and sustainable knowledge translation efforts.

Intern Responsibilities: The project activities include using tech enablers to identify and screen Australian resources targeted to a) carers of children with T1D, and b) teens/young adults with T1D within an accelerated and predefined period; determining the quality of resources by assessing indices such as credibility, ease of use, currency, evidence base, and availability; mapping these resources to a diabetes socioecological framework and working with consumers to identify gaps/unmet needs; planning and implementing the integration of quality resources into diabetes education programs and the Perth Children’s Hospital DiabHQ portal - a diabetes patient portal; and estimating the costs associated with resource mapping and gapping beyond the life of the project compared to traditional methods.

Qualifications: The intern will need to have some experience conducting systematic searches and/or reviews. Interns with skills in understanding AI assisted research are preferred.

Website: https://www.thekids.org.au/

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Kids Research Institute Australia (Formerly known as the Telethon Kids Institute) Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2024

Ellie Berman ’25 – Food Insecurity: An International Review of Food Provision for Children (Video Presentation)

Angela Cai ’27 – Causes of Disease: When We Don’t Have the Full Picture (Video Presentation)

Sharv Dave ’25 – Small Lives, Big Threats: Climate Change Impacts on Child Health in sub-Saharan Africa (Video Presentation)

Tara Dsilva ’25 – Understanding Flourishing in Early Childhood (Video Presentation)

Jenna Elliott ’25 – An International Review of Food Insecurity and Provision Policy for Children and Families (Video Presentation)

Seth Kahn ’25 – The Case Ascertainment Rate Dilemma: Using an Infection Inference Model Fitted to Simulated Surveillance Data to Estimate Time-Varying CAR (Video Presentation)

Abigail Kim ’26 – Healthy Skin for All: Closing the Gap on Skin Infections for Aboriginal Health (Video Presentation)

Evan Soper ’27 – Addressing the Effect of Sampling Bias on Predictive Ecological Niche Models (Video Presentation)

Nina Su ’26 – Clinical Trial and Health Promotion Intervention for Children with Otitis Media (Video Presentation)

Tiffany Tsai ’25 – Move to Improve: Integrating Personalized Exercise Programs for Children with Chronic Health Condition (Video Presentation)

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

University of Malaya

Health Research Internship

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $7,000

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 2024

Yejin Bann ’25 – The MeLODY Project: Diabetes in Malaysia (Video Presentation)

Avery Fuller ’26 – Patterns of Health Target Attainment Among Diabetes Patients (Video Presentation)

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

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) Vietnam

Policy Engagement and Mathematical Modelling Internships

Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 3

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 one(s) you would like to be considered for.

FOCUS AREA #1 – Policy Engagement with Policy Stakeholders

About: Since its establishment in 1991, OUCRU Viet Nam has been actively engaging with policy stakeholders as a leading clinical and public health research unit. Over the last 30 years, OUCRU has had many successes, and achieved some remarkable impacts on health policy in Viet Nam and in the region. Between 2019 and 2022, the Policy Engagement team conducted an internal review to explore OUCRU’s existing policy engagement efforts from the researchers’ point of view (more information can be found our website). Since then, we have implemented new strategies and activities to address the identified gaps and facilitate more effective communication and collaboration between OUCRU researchers and policy stakeholders in Vietnam.

The Policy Engagement team are planning to conduct another study to understand the current state of policy engagement initiatives at OUCRU, identify existing challenges and facilitators, and propose relevant recommendations in engaging with policy stakeholders in Vietnam and beyond. The study results will help inform our team’s strategy and direction, and contribute to the development of OUCRU’s policy engagement portfolio.

Intern Responsibilities:

• Explore the total policy engagement efforts that are taking place currently within OUCRU through interviews with researchers
• Understand the Policy Engagement team’s activities to facilitate engagement with policy stakeholders, and explore additional areas of support for researchers
• Analyze transcripts of interviews with researchers using NVivo software to identify current challenges, facilitators, and opportunities for development in the future
• Contribute to OUCRU’s database of policy outputs

Learning Opportunities:

• Research methodology: Gain hands-on experience with qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews and/or focus groups discussions, and data transcription and analysis
• Stakeholder engagement: Practice effective engagement and communication strategies with diverse audiences
• Project management: Gain experience in managing timelines, coordinating meetings, and team collaboration
• Mentorship opportunities: Receive guidance and feedback from experienced researchers and policy engagement practitioners, and gain insight into potential career paths in policy research, public health, or social sciences
• Reporting and presentation: Gain experience in writing reports, presenting findings, and engaging in discussions about policy engagement plans and directions (if time permits).

Qualifications:

• Background in social sciences, sociology, anthropology, or related field
• Some experience in qualitative data collection, data organization, and analysis
• Some experience using qualitative data analysis software (Nvivo)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in cross-cultural settings
• Ability to work with a good degree of autonomy.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Investigating the 2024 Measles Outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City: Lessons for Future Preparedness

About: Measles is the most contagious vaccine-preventable disease, posing a significant public health challenge. In Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), a major measles outbreak began in May 2024, with over 5,000 cases reported so far, and it remains ongoing. In response, a mass vaccination campaign was launched on 31 August 2024, initially targeting children aged 1–5 years before expanding to 1–10 years on 1 October 2024.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) and senior policymakers in the Department of Health are deeply concerned about the outbreak. To address this, HCDC and OUCRU have formed a collaborative team to investigate the epidemiological dynamics of the outbreak, compare it with the 2018–2019 measles outbreak in HCMC, and identify key factors driving transmission.

This project leverages multiple high-quality data sources to understand the outbreak:

• Line list data of measles cases in HCMC to track transmission patterns.
• Vaccination registry data (available since 2017) to assess immunization coverage among children in HCMC.
• Two serum banks containing residual blood samples from hospitals, collected through serial cross-sectional sampling, providing valuable insights into population immunity levels over time.

By analyzing these datasets, this project aims to generate a comprehensive understanding of the outbreak, identifying gaps in immunity, evaluating the impact of vaccination efforts, and drawing comparisons with past outbreaks. Ultimately, the findings will inform public health strategies to enhance HCMC’s preparedness and control measures for future measles outbreaks.

Intern Responsibilities:

• Join the OUCRU-HCDC collaborative team to support the investigation of the 2024-2025 measles outbreak, working closely with epidemiologists and public health officials
• Clean, organize, and analyze outbreak data, ensuring data quality and consistency for epidemiological analysis.
• Develop a reproducible data analysis pipeline that HCDC can apply to future outbreak investigations, improving efficiency and scalability
• Assist in integrating and analyzing multiple data sources, including case line lists, vaccination registry data, and serological survey data
• Prepare reports and summaries of key findings to inform HCDC’s decision-making and policy recommendations
• Present findings and progress updates in regular meetings with HCDC and OUCRU teams
• Document workflows and methodologies, ensuring that analyses can be replicated and maintained by HCDC staff after the internship

Learning Opportunities:

• Direct collaboration, communication and discussion with public health officials and policymakers.
• Hands-on experience in data analysis and visualization using R, working with real-world outbreak data.
• Practical experience with R for data analysis and visualization.
• Exposure to infectious disease epidemiology, including outbreak investigation methods and surveillance strategies.
• Opportunity to develop a reproducible data analysis pipeline, enhancing technical skills in automation and workflow optimization.
• Understanding of public health response mechanisms, including how vaccination campaigns are planned and evaluated during an outbreak
• Development of scientific communication skills, including presenting findings to a multidisciplinary team and translating technical results for policymakers.

Qualifications:

• Background in computer science, information technology, data science, epidemiology, public health, or a related field.
• Familiar with R.
• Experience in data cleaning and preprocessing, particularly working with real-world epidemiological or public health data.
• Ability to write reproducible code and document workflows for future use.
• Basic knowledge of epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance is an advantage.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail

FOCUS AREA #3 – Building an Interactive Public Health Dashboard for Ho Chi Minh City’s Center for Disease Control

About: Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), with a population of 11 million, is the most developed city in Vietnam and a key hub for public health initiatives. The Ho Chi Minh City’s Center for Disease Control (HCDC) is the governmental agency responsible for overseeing all disease control activities in the city. In June 2023, HCDC established Vietnam’s first Department of Surveillance, Warning, Preparedness, and Emergency Response, which is an initiative inspired by the US CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics. This department aims to integrate epidemiological analysis and disease modeling into public health decision-making, striving to reach international standards in outbreak forecasting and emergency preparedness.

OUCRU and HCDC have a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in preventive medicine. As part of this partnership, HCDC is developing an interactive epidemiological dashboard to provide real-time insights into key public health metrics. This dashboard will help public health officials monitor trends, detect early warning signals, and make data-driven decisions in disease prevention and control. This internship offers students a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world public health setting. The candidate will communicate and work directly with public health officials and policymakers to solve real-world infectious disease control problems.

Internship Responsibilities:

• Brainstorm and design data visualization options to effectively present key infectious disease metrics, such as time-varying reproduction numbers, incidence trends, case fatality ratio, outbreak forecasts…
• Develop and refine interactive dashboard components.
• Collaborate with public health officials and policymakers to understand their needs and ensure the dashboard provides actionable insights.
• Support the automation of data pipelines for real-time updates to the dashboard.
• Document technical workflows and methodologies, ensuring reproducibility and usability of the dashboard for future public health applications.
• Present findings and progress updates in meetings with HCDC and OUCRU teams.

Learning Opportunities:

• Direct collaboration and discussion with public health officials and policymakers.
• Hands-on experience in public health data analysis and visualization, working with real-world epidemiological datasets.
• Practical experience with R for data analysis and visualization.
• Understanding of surveillance systems and public health informatics, including how digital tools enhance disease monitoring.
• Potential to contribute to a meaningful public health project, with real-world impact on disease surveillance and outbreak response.

Qualifications:

• Background in computer science, information technology, data science, epidemiology, public health, or a related field.
• Familiar with R, as the epidemiological analyses are conducted in R.
• Experience with data visualization libraries.
• Basic knowledge of epidemiology, infectious disease modeling, or public health data is desirable but not mandatory.

Website: www.oucru.org

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

Summer 2024

Zoe Berman ’25 – Vietnam: Nature-based Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance and Climate Change (Video Presentation)

Ramon Espinoza ’26 – Dengue Rates in HCMC, Vietnam: Cleaning, Analyses, a Forecasting (Video Presentation)

Julian Hough ’27 – Modeling Techniques for Hospital Catchment Areas (Video Presentation)

Isam Mina ’26 – Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam: A Statistical Approach (Video Presentation)

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

Research Internships

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $7,000

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 one(s) you would like to be considered for.

FOCUS AREA #1 – Public Engagement Team

About: The Public Engagement (PE) team at OUCRU Nepal aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the community through education, engagement activities, and participatory methods. We adopt meaningful dialogue and collaboration between researchers and the public, to foster trust, address any research related concerns and dispel any rumors regarding research by promoting awareness and understanding of critical health issues and research as a whole. Our team also conducts social science research to explore the understanding of community perspective and ensure diverse voices are represented in health initiatives. 

Public engagement at OUCRU Nepal is a continuous initiative and not a one-time project. The intern will be involved in all the activities done by the PE team.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be assigned following activities:

• Coding of the ongoing social science research,
• Literature review for the ongoing social science research,
• In coordination with the PE team, the intern will go in the community for various engagement events,
• Assist the PE team in the arrangement of logistics,
• Assist the PE team in the development of educational materials to support the ongoing studies at OUCRU Nepal.

Qualifications: Preference for an intern with a background in public health, anthropology or any social science background who has a qualitative research background and good communication skills.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Microbiology and Molecular Research Lab

About: The OUCRU Nepal Microbiology Laboratory is a newly established facility dedicated to enhancing clinical research capacity and providing high-quality data for research studies on infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In addition to our molecular laboratory work, we are committed to improving and upgrading the microbiology laboratory facilities at our collaborating hospitals within Nepal by introducing and implementing various components of a quality management system.

Our team comprises experienced researchers, microbiologists, and molecular biologists, all bringing diverse expertise to ensure the delivery of high-quality laboratory services and robust research outcomes. Collaboration is fundamental to our approach as we collectively address pressing public health challenges linked to infectious diseases and AMR. By fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork, we aim to deepen our understanding of microbial dynamics and contribute to improved health outcomes through reliable research and data. Collaboration is fundamental to our approach as we collectively address pressing public health challenges linked to infectious diseases and AMR. We actively collaborate with OUCRU sister units in Vietnam and Indonesia, enhancing our research capabilities and knowledge exchange.

OUCRU Nepal is currently conducting several research studies. Below summarizes some studies that offer internship opportunities.

• Characterizing Dengue in Kathmandu, Nepal
  • To identify the circulating serotypes and genotypes of DENV in urban Kathmandu over two years.
• ADaptive ASsessment of TReatments for influenzA (AD ASTRA)
  • A phase 2 multi-center adaptive randomized platform trial to assess antiviral pharmacodynamics in early symptomatic influenza infection 
  • To characterize the determinants of viral clearance in early influenza infection e.g. contribution of baseline serology, influenza type/subtype, prior vaccination, host genetics
• Finding treatments for COVID-19: A phase 2 multi-center adaptive platform trial to assess antiviral pharmacodynamics in early symptomatic COVID-19 (PLATCOV)
  • To characterize the determinants of viral kinetics in early COVID-19 disease

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will first undergo a lab induction, followed by health and safety and biosafety induction. After completing these inductions, the intern will work closely under supervision for the first two weeks to ensure a thorough understanding of laboratory protocols. Following this initial period, the intern will be expected to work more independently, with ongoing support and mentorship available as needed.

The intern will be involved in a range of microbiology and molecular activities, including:

• Receiving and processing samples following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Conducting microbiology culture, identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing.
• Performing molecular work, which may include PCR, whole genome sequencing (WGS).
• Managing samples to ensure proper storage and handling.
• Conducting data analysis related to ongoing research projects.
• Assisting in the preparation of SOPs for laboratory processes.
• Supporting various aspects of lab management to maintain a high-quality research environment.

Qualifications: The mandatory and preferred qualifications are below.

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Experience in biology, particularly in microbiology, molecular biology, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with laboratory techniques in microbiology and molecular biology, including PCR and basic data analysis.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to ensure precise sample management and data integrity. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with whole genome sequencing (WGS) or other advanced molecular techniques.
• Previous involvement in clinical research or laboratory settings.
• Proficiency in English language.
• Basic knowledge of biosafety and health and safety regulations in laboratory environments. 
• Skills in scientific writing, including the ability to contribute to research papers and reports.
• Experience in statistical analysis

Website: www.oucru.org

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

Summer 2024

Maximilian Nguyen, PhD Candidate – Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics in the Management of Common Childhood Illness in Nepal (Video Presentation)

Alyssa Woolley ’26 – Antibiotic Treatment of Typhoid in Nepal (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 faith-based non-governmental Christian organization that works with communities living in extreme poverty, focusing on their values, health, and livelihoods. The organization partners with local community leaders and stakeholders, designing interventions that equip community members with the necessary strategies to instill hope and amplify indigenous capacities for growth.

ICM has worked on several health projects such as highlighting food security and beneficiaries’ nutrition practices, revisions in the organization’s main health curriculum, regional mapping of health needs and patients’ access to quality health care to assess ICM’s health services, and continued development of health intervention protocols. As the intern becomes involved in the project, they will be allowed to handle and work with real datasets collected from the interventions implemented in ICM communities.
 

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be working in collaboration with ICM’s Research team and Health Services Team to analyze existing or new patient data, evaluate existing community health interventions, and/or take part in the implementation of a pilot study. Outcomes derived from these interventions and data analyses may be used for future operational services and research projects. The intern may also be asked to write literature reviews, and reports for knowledge dissemination or assist in project management activities. The nature of the intern’s involvement in the project may also require them to travel to the study site and take part in program implementation.

The intern will be expected to work independently but will have regular touch-in points with a supervisor for guidance or direction. They may also be asked to join alignment meetings with the rest of ICM’s Research Team.

Qualifications: Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, proficiency in MS Excel, and strongly preferred to have experience with R, Stata, or Python.  Good written and verbal communication skills and familiarity with public health issues.

Website: www.caremin.com

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

Summer 2024

Lidet Moges ’26 – Healthcare Access and Equity: A Study of Capacity in the Philippines

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

Mpala Research Centre

Location: Laikipia County, Kenya

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: All airfare, housing, and onsite food provided free of charge, plus $1,500 cash stipend

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

Princeton Supervisor: Hanna Ehrlich, Postdoctoral Associate, Princeton Global Health Program

About: The Mpala Research Centre and Wildlife Foundation (MRC) is located on the Laikipia Plateau in north central Kenya. The facility is operated as a partnership involving Princeton University, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and the National Museums of Kenya. Mpala facilitates and promotes sustainable human-wildlife coexistence through science, education, and outreach.

Laikipia County in Kenya is made up of conservancies for endangered wildlife, private cattle ranches, and public grazing lands used by pastoralist communities. A complex history of land use and change in the region has led to increased pressure for shared resources, including water and grazing vegetation, with important implications for disease transmission between livestock, megafauna (zebras, rhinos, etc.), and humans. Our research investigates cattle as conduits of nematode and vector-borne pathogens at waterholes and surrounding rangelands. The research will determine the prevalence and risk factors for these pathogens in the region, identify anthropogenic drivers of animal movement and disease, and integrate these findings into disease surveillance systems. Our work aims to prioritize local knowledge and vulnerable communities, particularly those experiencing landscapes in transition.

Students will help with questionnaire and survey development, focus group administration, and ethnographic fieldwork. Overarching themes when applying these methods will include a) livestock ownership and care for human livelihoods and b) rhino stewardship for conservation and eco-tourism. All interns will also participate in ecological fieldwork, including animal tracking and vector sampling.

Intern Responsibilities: Intern responsibilities include:

• Fieldwork: Animal tracking and sampling; mosquito and tick trapping; fecal collection and nematode egg counts
• Community work: Interviews and focus groups; community and site mapping 
• Data analysis: Camera trap processing; data cleaning, analysis, and presentation 

Qualifications:

• Exposure to anthropological, ethnographic, and/or participatory research methods, and a critical approach to scientific inquiry, is preferred but not required. 
• Interns are encouraged to incorporate additional background, research interests, and ideas to help shape the directions of this project. 

Websites:https://chw.princeton.edu/people/hanna-ehrlich and https://mpala.org/

View Internship Summary Posters from Past Mpala Research Centre Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Clara Toujas-Bernate ’25 – Making Healthcare Transportable: A Qualitative Reflection (Video Presentation)

Tsion Yared ’24 – Making Healthcare Transportable: A Qualitative Reflection (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Kaleb Boyd ’24 – Understanding the Effect of Environmental Changes on the Human Gut Microbiome: An Analysis of the Turkana in Kenya (Video Presentation) 

Zhudi Pan ’23 – Dams, Nasty Freezers, and Everything in Between: Working with the Turkana Health Genomics Project (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Nourhan Ibrahim ’20 – Secondary School Conservation Biology Education in Laikipia County Kenya

Summer 2018 

Carly Bonnet ‘19 – Medicinal Herb and Clinic Use in Mpala, Kenya

Ayo Foster-McCray ’20 – Health Education and Healthcare Implementation in Rural Kenya

Gabriela Rivera ’20 – Health Education and Mobile Health Outreach

Sebastian Silveira ‘19 – The Importance of Nutrient Availability and Parasitic Risk on the Foraging Behaviors of Grevy’s & Plains Zebra

Summer 2017

Annabel Lee ’20 – LaikipiaRabies Vaccination Campaign

Maria Malik ’19 – Evaluating the Biodiversity of the Local Anopheles Mosquito Population at MPALA through Larval Sampling

Lily Reisinger ‘18 – The Function of Zebra Stripes in Thermoregulation & the Deterrence of Disease-Carrying Biting Flies

Madeleine Sumner ‘20 – Faces of Rural Kenya: A Journey through the Kenyan Public Health System

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, and onsite food provided free of charge, plus $1,000 cash stipend. (Note: Some meals during off/rest days will not be covered. Interns can expect to pay approx. $2-10 per person for those meals, using money from the 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 the human health consequences of environmental disturbances.

Since 2014, Princeton researcher Benjamin Rice (in the lab of Professor Jessica Metcalf) has been studying infectious disease in Madagascar. Concerningly, disease such as malaria have increased in frequency in recent years, coinciding with climatic changes such as more severe weather events. A wide array of pathogens (e.g., malaria, dengue, and others) and public health activities such as vaccination and are thought to be sensitive to climate-driven disruptions. However, research establishing the consequences for local communities and implications for public health strategy remains minimal.

Focusing on Madagascar and other countries bordering the Indian Ocean, we are interested in studying the health impacts of tropical cyclones (equivalent to hurricanes), using multiple approaches:

• Climate and Health: First, through collaboration with climate scientists at the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI), we aim to characterize how climate change will alter the location and timing of extreme weather events. The research team will integrate predictions of the future distribution of tropical cyclones with disease data to highlight areas at greatest risk and suggest interventions to mitigate that risk.
• Epidemiological Modeling: Using data on vaccination coverage, bednet usage, and other indicators of health system functioning, we aim to characterize the extent to which storms interrupt routine public health activities – and quantify the cost in terms of health burden that results. The student will assist with compiling and analyzing existing data, building models, collecting new data, and developing further research questions in partnership with Malagasy collaborators. We plan to start from the basics so while an interest in R coding and modeling is required, no prior experience needed.
• Infectious Disease Surveillance: To complement existing data, we aim to collect new data, focusing on deploying new diagnostics to increase the number of diseases for which data are available from low resource settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria are widely used, providing much needed data, but, to date, this has not been extended to other pathogens such as dengue and zoonotic infections. The recent development of more low-cost tests provides us with an opportunity to pilot an expanded range of diagnostics in Madagascar, in collaboration with scientists working in the One Health field.

Intern Responsibilities:

• The intern will collaborate with Dr. Rice and a research team to clean, visualize, and present data on climate and infectious disease in Madagascar and other countries bordering the Indian Ocean such as Mozambique.
• Within these topic areas, the intern will develop new lines of inquiry in a direction of the intern’s choosing, helping to pilot new approaches and broaden the research scope.
• Interns will participate in fieldwork in Madagascar in a combination of field, lab, and clinical settings.

Qualifications: Experience (or interest) 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.

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

View Internship Summary Poster and Video from Past Madagascar One Health Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2024

Ingrid Nilsson ’26 – Toxoplasmosis in Wild Carnivores: One Health Research Initiative Madagascar (Video Presentation)

Oscair Page ’26 – Madagascar One Health: Wildlife Pathogens and Zoonotic Disease Risk (Video Presentation)

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

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey: Tanzania Project

Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence

Research Internships

Location: Mwanza, Tanzania 

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $6,000

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.

Women’s Cancer Screening, Early Detection, and Timely Diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa

About: The aim of our work is to reduce cancer inequities globally. Our research is focused on global cancer control and implementation science, particularly on the prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancers in low-resource settings. Dr. Friebel, a cancer epidemiologist, and Dr. Kohler, a health services researcher, have been conducting global oncology research for over a decade. Their research collaboration leverages observational, interventional, and qualitative data with the goal of improving early diagnosis and cancer outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our current projects investigate breast and cervical cancer screening uptake and cancer diagnostic and treatment pathways in healthcare settings in both Botswana and Tanzania. We aim to improve access to cancer care in low-resource settings by identifying barriers and facilitators for early detection of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening at the individual-, provider-, and health-care facility-level. We use data-driven approaches, including mixed-method assessments of key stakeholders and health care facility capacity, to tailor evidence-based public health interventions to local contexts.

Intern Responsibilities: Specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Data collection from primary and tertiary care facilities in sub-Saharan Africa;
• Administration of a cross-sectional survey to staff at health care facilities; 
• Assistance with data entry, management, and analysis; 
• Opportunity to present a related abstract and potential co-authorship for a journal article.

Qualifications: 

• Strong personal initiative
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Oral and written communication and problem-solving skills
• Must be fluent in English
• Coursework in global health, public health, and/or epidemiology
• Interest in women’s health and/or cancer
• Preferred prior human subjects research experience and data management

Note: This opportunity will take place in Mwanza, Tanzania. During time abroad, the intern will work closely with local research staff in a hospital and clinic setting and participate in weekly project calls with the US-based P.I.

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

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

Summer 2024 

Adelaide Asante ’25 – Dive into Public Health and Geospatial Analysis

Sonia Cherian ’27 – AI Relational Agents as Public Health Intervention: CATALYST and PROPEL Studies (Video Presentation)

Rachel Edelstein ’26 – Empowering Mentees: Creating the EMERGE Mentorship Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute (Video Presentation)

Jamil Fayad ’26 – Relationship Between Online Alcohol Advertisements and Alcohol Use (Video Presentation)

Amar Gamal Abou-Hussein ’25 – Lifestyle Patterns and Quality of Life in a Cohort of Black Breast Cancer Survivors (Video Presentation)

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 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.

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 – Improving Access to Assistive technology

About: CHAI is supporting the Department of Health at the national, provincial and district level in strengthening their service delivery platforms for improving access to AT. 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 o focus provinces, and will report to the Manager of the AT Team.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern is expected to provide technical support in one or more of the following:

• Data capturing
• Reporting 
• Development of data-driven analyses and reports to inform strategy and evidence-based decisions for the implementation of AT interventions
• Monitor the availability and distribution of assistive products in the country
• 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
• Support the program implementation in any other capacity, as identified by the supervisor

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

FOCUS AREA #2 – Sustainable Health Financing and AI System Implementation

About: The Sustainable Health Financing Team supports the National Department of Health, National Treasury, and multiple Provincial Departments of Health with several advisory and system implementation projects. The team’s mission includes enhancing health financing mechanisms, improving data quality, and supporting efficient healthcare delivery systems.

One new project involves the scoping and implementation of an AI system to improve the quantity and quality of clinical data entered into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems implemented in multiple provinces, initially focusing on the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces. The current challenge is limited and poor-quality clinical information entered into EMR systems, which affects data quality, patient management, and efficiency. This issue stems from manual data entry processes, reliance on handwritten patient files, and non-user-friendly systems. The poor data quality is a barrier to South Africa’s transition to a new provider payment method (DRGs). Leveraging new LLM models and AI systems, particularly OCR translation from scanned files to digital records, the team aims to develop and implement solutions to address these issues and measure the outcomes.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• The intern will support the process by:
• Mapping current data entry and clinical information processes
• Supporting the potential development of the AI application
• Assisting in training relevant users
• Providing input on the user interface design
• Creating a Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework to measure the impact of the implemented solutions

Qualifications: Desired qualifications include:

• Academic background in public health, health informatics, data science, economics, or related fields (preferred)
• Technical proficiency in data analysis and AI systems (preferred)
• Familiarity with health systems and clinical workflows (preferred)
• Strong communication and analytical skills (mandatory)

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

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

Summer 2024

Aakansh Yerpude ’27 - Assistive Technology: Supporting and Optimizing Community-Based Interventions (Video Presentation)

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)

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: 2

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 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 – 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, including the following:

• HIV and TB: Investigating Adherence and Identifying factors leading to Lost-to-Follow-up in Health Care
• Service Package for implementation of Psychosocial Rehabilitation policy guidelines for HIV and TB.
• Wellness strategy: support work done in the development of the strategy
• Child malnutrition: addressing drivers of stunting

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

FOCUS AREA #2 – Primary Health Care Facilities Internship

About: Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities see the vast bulk of clients seeking health services and are located within communities. PHC facilities have vastly differing queue flows and processes to manage clients without appointments. These clients are often subjected to very long waiting times, and often not seen on the day they present if the facility does not have the capacity to see them. This presents obvious adverse implications for patient safety and experience. Furthermore, due in part, to the lack of effective processes to manage unbooked clients, there exists a deep distrust in the health service from patients. This distrust manifests through frequent altercations with clients, and widespread lack of willingness to abide by policies to improve health services.

This work will aim to comprehensively survey the contributory system and incidental factors, with accompanying high quality literature review and rigorous policy analysis. At the end of the internship, using rapid appraisal methods, we would like to have a document with relevant recommendations for decision- makers around unbooked clients and where best to intervene addressing long waiting times, patient dissatisfaction, service pressures and better understand the factors contributing to low trust and how to influence this positively.

Intern Responsibilities: The project will focus on a rapid appraisal with recommendations for decision-makers for unbooked clients attending Primary Health Care facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. The specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Literature review
• Policy analysis of local and international policies around unbooked clients and service design
• In-person interviews with/without focus group discussions with selected individuals
• Develop drafts of the rapid appraisal to supervisor and address comments
• Possibly publish in academic journal if feasible/substantiated

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Basic literature review (mandatory)
• English speaking
• Competent writing ability
• Policy analysis 
• Ability to conduct in-person interviews and focus groups

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

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

Summer 2024 

Laurel Cooke, MPA – A Summer of Challenging Triumphs (Video Presentation)

Gabby English ’26 – Antenatal Smoking in the Western Cape (Video Presentation)

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)

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 is a plus, but training is available.

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 2024

Minna Abdella ’26 – A Qualitative Study on Asthma Triggers among Urban Minority Children in the District of Columbia’s Public Housing (Video Presentation)

Willem Maniago ’27 – Reducing Childhood Asthma in D.C. Public Housing: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Video Presentation)

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)

Trenton Community Street Team

Community-based Health Policy and Violence Prevention Internship

Location: Trenton, New Jersey

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: The Trenton Community Street Team (TCST) is dedicated to fostering safer communities by implementing evidence-based violence interdiction strategies, assisting in unlocking the inner power of Trentonians, and strengthening community relationships. TCST believes that working with youth to reduce violence is vital for the community's overall health and wellness, and focuses on interrupting violence, supporting community healing, and promoting sustainable development through training, advocacy, and partnership. TCST envisions a community-based network of individuals, families, organizations, and service providers that puts the community at the center of violence prevention, treating violence as a public health crisis. TCST is dedicated to fostering positive change and providing a foundation for a safer and more prosperous Trenton.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will assist in enhancing TCST’s community safety initiatives by contributing to research, data analysis, and program development. This project supports the organization’s efforts to evaluate the impact of violence reduction strategies, document best practices, and align programming with broader public health and public safety objectives. Specific activities assigned to the intern include:

• Conduct literature reviews on violence prevention and public health and safety models.
• Collect, clean, and analyze community-level demographic and epidemiological data.
• Draft policy recommendations and program materials for stakeholder presentations.
• Support the development of program monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Assist in coordination/attend community engagement events.

The intern will be based in Trenton, New Jersey, with most activities conducted on-site. Travel within the local community may be required for field visits, community events, or stakeholder meetings.

Qualifications: Desired qualifications include:

• An academic background in public policy, sociology, public health, or related fields (mandatory)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills (mandatory)
• Experience with statistical analysis tools (preferred)
• Interest in violence interdiction, public health, or community development (preferred)

Website: https://www.trentoncommunitystreetteam.org/

New Internship for 2025; no past Princeton interns.

Trenton Health Team

Health Data Analytics Internship

Location: Hybrid - Trenton, New Jersey and Remote (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 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.
• Summarize and present results to stakeholders through slide decks, dashboards, or other visuals.
• Adhere to THT’s privacy requirements and ensure the appropriate handling of sensitive information.

Qualifications: 

Required qualifications 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.
• Ability to work independently - intern will work closely with Senior Data Analyst, but must be self-motivated and able to work independently on projects.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Strong writing, communication and data-driven storytelling skills.
• Experience with data visualization tools, like Tableau.
• 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 2024

Angela Zheng ’26 – Data-Driven Approaches to Health: Leveraging Analytics for Social Impact (Video Presentation)

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: 1

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.

Multiple Cancer Prevention and Support Studies Internship

About: The position in the Manne lab may involve work on multiple cancer prevention and support studies. Under Dr. Manne’s Survivorship Center, the intern will assist with a study focusing on patients with lymphoma.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern may gain experience with human subjects research, online intervention platform development, direct patient interaction, and qualitative interviews. Interns will sit in on interviews with patients or providers and will use Zoom’s transcription feature to transcribe and clean the interview script. The intern will also be able to use the scripts to synthesize information and conduct a thematic analysis on interview responses. In another project, we are utilizing Facebook to conduct a family expansion project for skin cancer prevention. The intern may assist with capturing and documenting information from the participant’s medical provider and will gain experience working with participant management software called DatStat. Training will also be available on research document creation/modifications (consent forms, interview guides, scripts, surveys, etc.) in preparation for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. The intern will work closely with the investigative team, and make valuable contributions to projects that will improve cancer survivor knowledge and support.

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.

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

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

Summer 2024 

Adelaide Asante ’25 – Dive into Public Health and Geospatial Analysis

Sonia Cherian ’27 – AI Relational Agents as Public Health Intervention: CATALYST and PROPEL Studies (Video Presentation)

Rachel Edelstein ’26 – Empowering Mentees: Creating the EMERGE Mentorship Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute (Video Presentation)

Jamil Fayad ’26 – Relationship Between Online Alcohol Advertisements and Alcohol Use (Video Presentation)

Amar Gamal Abou-Hussein ’25 – Lifestyle Patterns and Quality of Life in a Cohort of Black Breast Cancer Survivors (Video Presentation)

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

Goodbye Malaria

Health Research Internships

Location: Remote

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $4,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: Goodbye Malaria - a social benefit organization – is an African-run initiative with the goal of eliminating malaria, a preventable disease that still kills a child every 1 minutes. Founded by concerned African entrepreneurs including Robbie Brozin (Co-Founder of Nando’s), Goodbye Malaria believes our generation can create innovative solutions that ultimately change the way the world sees Africa. The initiative facilitates public-private partnerships, bringing together the private sector, the governments of Mozambique, Eswatini and South Africa as well as The Global Fund whilst supporting and catalyzing on-the-ground malaria elimination programs.

Goodbye Malaria plays a catalytic role within the malaria community, bringing energy, passion, creativity and world-class partners to priority malaria elimination programs in Southern Africa.

Our flagship program is implemented via LSDI2 as the principal recipient of the MOSASWA regional grant. MOSASWA (Mozambique South Africa and Eswatini) is a sub-regional, trilateral, collaborative initiative. The initiative is undertaking a joint goal “to work collaboratively to accelerate from control to pre-elimination in southern Mozambique and accelerate the transition from pre-elimination to elimination of malaria in Eswatini and South-Africa, so as to achieve zero local transmission in Eswatini, South Africa and Maputo province and achieve pre-elimination status in southern Mozambique (Gaza and Inhambane Provinces).

Together with our partners, we are playing a transformational role in assisting in fighting one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Our partnerships have resulted in an acceleration of interventions and innovations to malaria elimination in Southern East Africa.

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 – Monitoring and Evaluation

Intern Responsibilities: Intern responsibilities include:

• Analyzing malaria data related to transmission patterns, intervention outcomes, and regional trends
• Assisting in the development of reports and visualizations to communicate key findings
• Supporting the evaluation of current strategies and identifying areas for improvement
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure data accuracy and consistency 

Qualifications: Qualifications include:

• Ideally the candidate would currently be pursuing a qualification in the following fields: data science, statistics, public health, environmental science, or a related discipline
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proficiency in data analysis tools
• Ability to interpret complex data sets and present insights clearly and concisely
• Interest in global health, ideally in malaria elimination and infectious diseases
• Ability to work both independently and with a diverse team

FOCUS AREA #2 – Funding and Growth Analysis

Intern Responsibilities: Intern responsibilities include:

• Researching and identifying potential funding opportunities including grants, partnerships.
• Contributing to strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening Goodbye Malaria’s funding model

Qualifications: Qualifications include:

• Ideally the candidate would be studying in fields such as Business, finance, development studies or related disciplines.
• Strong research, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Passion for social impact and interest in global health, including malaria elimination
• Ability to work both independently and with a diverse team

Website: https://www.goodbyemalaria.com/

New Internships for 2025; no past Princeton interns.

UNICEF

Health Research Internship

Location: Remote

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $4,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: UNICEF works in the world’s toughest places to reach the most disadvantaged children and adolescents – and to protect the rights of every child, everywhere. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive and fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines, we support child health and nutrition, safe water and sanitation, quality education and skill building, HIV prevention and treatment for mothers and babies, and the protection of children and adolescents from violence and exploitation. Before, during and after humanitarian emergencies, UNICEF is on the ground, bringing lifesaving help and hope to children and families. Non-political and impartial, we are never neutral when it comes to defending children’s rights and safeguarding their lives and futures.

The mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. UNICEF’s equity-focused and people-centered strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also provide a basis to further operationalize UNICEF’s approach.

The Primary Health Care and Health Systems Strengthening (PHC-HSS) Unit in the Health Programme of UNICEF Headquarters is devoted to providing technical leadership to strengthen implementation research (IR) and the use of data for action to ensure that maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (MNCAH) programs are evidence-based and equity-focused. The PHC-HSS unit works closely with UNICEF country and regional offices to translate research into action and impact. The unit also collaborates with implementers, policymakers, research institutions and other implementation partners to ensure the best evidence is available to inform action for children.

The recent launch of the Lusaka Agenda provides momentum to align action across global partners to strengthen health systems for universal health coverage (UHC) based on country-led strategies and plans, a common monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, and a unified budget. This work seeks to support the creation of a systematic, coherent, and coordinated country-owned and responsive approach to measure health system performance towards the achievement of UHC based on the PHC approach. This involves measuring key elements related to the capacities of health systems to: meet people’s needs and preferences; advance equity in access; provide high quality people-centered health care across the life course; be resilient and sustainable; and improve health coverage and financial protection. Strengthening health system performance measurement will also help to identify and inform actions around areas that require improvements and investments and drive accountability.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will analyze data and draft a report based on their findings. The intern will also be expected to participate in remote team meetings to discuss progress and content of the work.

Qualifications: Student must have excellent quantitative analysis and English writing skills.

Website: https://www.unicefusa.org/about

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

Summer 2022 - UNICEF South Africa

Ariza Francisco, MPA ’23 - Zero-dose Children in South Africa: Reaching the Unreached (Video Presentation)

Osama Safeer, MPA ’23 - Good Lessons from Bad Data: The case of Peer Mentors for HIV Positive and Expecting Women in South Africa (Video Presentation)

Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation)

Health Research Internships

Location: Various cities in Brazil

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: Up to 12

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 sixteen (16) 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 – Biotechnology in Human Health: Low-cost Diagnostic Methodologies for Surveillance, Control and Epidemiology of Viruses Responsible for Febrile Syndromes

About: Febrile syndromes are a set of clinical conditions characterized by the presence of fever, often accompanied by other symptoms such as malaise, body aches and, in some cases, changes in the immune system. They can be caused by a variety of infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, in addition to being influenced by environmental and behavioral factors. Correct assessment of a febrile syndrome is crucial, as it can indicate anything from common infections, such as flu and dengue, to more serious diseases, such as meningitis or septicemia. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential for the patient's recovery and for preventing complications, highlighting the importance of epidemiological surveillance and access to healthcare.

Intern Responsibilities: We aim to identify targeted epitopes for constructing specific diagnostic tests or inputs that can act as immunotherapeutics. The intern will be able to become familiar with peptide microarray techniques, construction of chimeric proteins, analytical methods, and techniques used for diagnosis (ELISA, Immunochromatography). All activities will be carried out at the Center for Technological Development in Health's facilities, specifically in the Protein and Peptide Biochemistry Laboratory.

Qualifications: The candidate must be studying Biological or Life Sciences (Biology, Biomedicine, Pharmacy, or related areas). There is no language requirement.

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

FOCUS AREA #2 – Sustainable Development Goals: Clean Water and Sanitation, Economy, Climate Action in 21st Century Brazil

About: Brazil is far from OECD socioeconomic parameters in achieving Sustainable Development Goals targets until 2030. This statement grounds the current proposal Research Topic segmented into three blocks. 1) The country presents one of the greatest inequality indexes in the world, its economy has been based along the three last decades on agrobusiness growth which impacts urban conditions of living as the quality of labor posts is low, the income per capita, research and innovation has stuck, deindustrialization predominates. 2) The above conditions imply in a great urban population concentrated around Metropolitan conglomerates, in many cases occupying risk areas on slopes or swamps no appropriate to implement infrastructure public services and subject to climate disasters. Besides, the resident families do not have purchasing power to pay for the correspondent tariffs. 3) Private companies acting on this market, intermediated by public authorities and legislation recently approved point against the universalization of these services. Our research for the current year and half should deal on the following issues: how to make the Brazilian economy more inclusive; the empowering of favelas and urban communities toward improving quality of life, particularly related to infrastructure conditions; guidelines for public action to prevent disasters related to climate change.

Our team has been working on a set of lines of research that are already advanced and about to be brought together in a book by November this year with a history of Brazilian public policies aimed at basic sanitation and emphasis on recent privatization process, analysis of national data (IBGE, National System of Information on Sanitation – SNIS/Ministry of Cities), effective situation of universalization aimed at favelas and urban communities, also containing data, Preliminaries for the analysis of monitoring and management of disasters collected in the Integrated Disaster Information System (S2iD) – Ministry of Integration and Regional Development.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will carry out documentary and bibliographical research, interviews with public agencies officials in charge of data collection and people that works for organizations that deal with public policies, sanitation and climate change.

Qualifications: Skills in Statistics, notions of cost-benefit in public policies and interest in solutions for mitigating climate emergencies in urban areas. English is sufficient to communicate among researchers and other students at Fiocruz.

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

FOCUS AREA #3 – Gender, Sexuality, and Health Approach to Health Sector in Brazil

About: GENSEX — Center for Studies on Gender, Sexuality, and Health — is a research group certified by CNPq whose mission is to develop studies on gender relations and subjectivities; violence against women and girls; sexual and gender dissent; gender, care and parenting, and health activism with national and international interfaces.

There are two national ongoing projects, funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, on (a) fatherhood and care and (b) analysis of the implementation of the national men's health policy, with which we expect the collaboration of an intern interested in these topics. Both projects include literature review, document analysis, training for health providers in Rio de Janeiro, and interview analysis.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will support a literature review study in English (and, if possible, in Spanish) on men's health, fatherhood, and care. During this period, the intern will attend GENSEX meetings with master’s and PhD students and PPGSCM academic events.

Qualifications: A background or interest in social sciences and health; knowledge of Spanish preferable.

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

FOCUS AREA #4 – Prisma Project: Training in Good Professional Practices in Comprehensive, Inclusive and Affirmative Health for the LGBTQIAP+ Population

About: This project is aligned with the need for inclusion and affirmation of gender diversity, expressions and relationships (DGER) in comprehensive health care for the LGBTQIAP+ population in the SUS. The aim is to develop knowledge, practices and attitudes aligned with health and well-being, in the areas of comprehensive care, connected with sexual health, sexual rights and sexual pleasure, with a focus on cultural competence, to reduce prejudice and discrimination in primary care, through a training program. It includes the development of three studies, with a mixed qualitative-quantitative methodology. The main products will be the training course in the MOOC model and a manual on health in DGER.

The research aims to use participatory methodologies, using dialogic mediation strategies as a pedagogical resource (Grassi, 2010). The participatory methodology aims to increase the reflexivity of participants, enhancing the use of formal/institutional knowledge in conjunction with local knowledge in order to provoke changes (Nelson and Wright, 1995, p. 51), adapting the objectives of the proposal to the profiles of the subjects, based on their expectations and trajectories.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved with literature review, meeting monitoring, and field observation.

Qualifications: Interest in social sciences and knowledge of gender and sexuality concepts. Good communication skills and literature revision experience preferred.

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

FOCUS AREA #5 – Trypanosomatid Infection in Wild Mammals

About: The goal of this research is to study the multiple ecological scenarios associated to the transmission of Trypanosomatid parasites in wild and domestic mammals, and vectors. We will investigate 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 intern will complete 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 #6 – Neuropathology of Toxoplasmosis

About: Our group studies the cellular and molecular pathways involved in how the parasite Toxoplasma gondii affects the central nervous system, focusing on the cerebral cortex and the retina. Our group has experience in evaluating neurovascular and neuroinflammatory events.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding on host-pathogen interaction, inflammatory responses in the CNS, mechanisms of cell death. The intern will receive training in good laboratory practices, cell culture, immunofluorescence and microscopy, RNA extraction, PCR, western blotting and statistical analyses. Moreover, the intern will participate in seminars and scientific discussions.

Qualifications: Basic knowledge of cell biology, neurobiology, immunology is desirable. Previous laboratory is a plus but not a prerequisite.

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

FOCUS AREA #7 – Genetics of Insecticide Resistance in Mosquito Vectors

About: Our laboratory's mission is to develop scientific studies, promote technological innovation, and train individuals in advanced studies in the field of vector insect surveillance and control, with a particular focus on mosquitoes. In addition to conducting basic research in general biology, physiology, and genetics of vector insects, we also provide services for evaluating mosquito control products and strategies, serving as a reference for the Ministry of Health and the industry. We are GLP-certified and currently in the process of accreditation as a WHO collaborating center.

In our laboratory, students have access to a comprehensive collection of genetic material from vector mosquitoes collected across the entire Brazilian territory. Using this material, we map molecular markers related to insecticide resistance, vector competence, and other biological aspects. Laboratory bioassays, semi-field simulations, and open-field trials are employed to determine the susceptibility or resistance of these insects. Additionally, the physiological mechanisms underlying resistance are investigated through genetic and molecular studies.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved in the entire process, starting from receiving biological material in the laboratory, sorting samples, rearing mosquito larvae and adults (maintaining reference and field colonies), conducting insecticide bioassays in the laboratory, to perform molecular biology practices for DNA and RNA extraction, detecting genomic markers, and analyzing gene expression of targets related to insecticide resistance in mosquitoes.

Qualifications: The student needs to be communicative, have the ability to work in a team, and possess some basic practical knowledge in molecular biology techniques, such as pipetting, weighing, and solution preparation.

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

FOCUS AREA #8 – Discovery and Pre-clinical Development of Main Protease Inhibitors as Broad-spectrum Oral Small-molecule Direct-acting Antivirals Targeting Coronaviruses

About: Currently, only two direct-acting oral antivirals (DAOA) are approved by the FDA for the treatment of COVID-19: remdesivir, a RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) inhibitor (Veklury®) and ritonavir- boosted nirmatrelvir, a main protease (Mpro) inhibitor (Paxlovid®). Our group has developed one of the first generative AI models for de novo design and bioactivity prediction of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors using recurrent neural network-based transfer learning. After tailoring the model to generate molecular fragments (MW < 300 Da) with predicted activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, we identified small fragment- like compounds that showed both activity on the Mpro enzyme and cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 with low micromolar potency. Both covalent and non-covalent Mpro inhibitors were identified by this approach. Our goal is to optimize these and other promising chemotypes into robust candidate molecules ready for clinical assays as broad-spectrum DAOA targeting Coronaviruses. Here we report crystallographic data for the protein-ligand complexes of two of the covalent inhibitors identified (Figure 1), as well as other strategies using biophysical screening techniques (e.g. TSA) against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro that have allowed identification of additional chemotypes as starting points for further development as DAOA.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on protein expression and purification, as well as computational and biochemical assays for Mpro inhibitors.

Qualifications: Background in biochemistry mandatory; Interest or background in microbiology, organic chemistry and pharmacology preferred but not required.

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

FOCUS AREA #9 – Understanding the Role of the Parasite in the Epidemiology of Leishmaniases

About: Our laboratory's mission is to conduct research that contributes to the understanding of leishmaniases and to the development of control measures. Our main focus is to assess parasite characteristics that explain the clinical and epidemiological differences in leishmaniases. We are also responsible for the curation of the Fiocruz Leishmania Collection, and as a result, we develop projects on the molecular systematics of Leishmania spp. and create protocols and products that assist in the diagnosis of leishmaniases and the identification of the etiological agent. As a PAHO reference laboratory, we train professionals in the diagnosis of leishmaniases, as well as assist in defining suspected cases and identifying the etiological agent.

The project to be presented to the intern will primarily aim to introduce the tools used for the diagnosis of leishmaniases, ranging from microscopic analyses to the use of molecular tools. In this project, we also aim for the student to be able to perform molecular diagnosis using conventional and quantitative PCR and to determine the parasite load, an important prognostic marker for cutaneous leishmaniasis. The student will develop biochemical and molecular methodologies that allow the identification of the etiological agent of leishmaniases, understanding the differences between the various described species. Considering that some parasites are infected by a viral endosymbiont, molecular methodologies and immunofluorescence microscopy will be used to detect parasites with and without these viruses, which are implicated in the worsening of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Intern Responsibilities: The student will be exposed to molecular methodologies such as conventional PCR, qPCR, and Sanger sequencing, as well as the analysis of the obtained sequences. Parasite and macrophage culture methodologies will also be introduced. Various techniques used in microbiological collections will be performed by the student as well.

Qualifications: No prerequisites required.

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

FOCUS AREA #10 – Emerging Virus Research Internship: Epidemiology and Immune Response

About: This research team focuses on epidemiology and immune response research in the Amazon region, using One Health approaches to understand emerging viruses transmitted by arthropods and rodents.

The intern will be involved in a research project focused on epidemiology and immune response in the Amazon region. The project applies One Health approaches to study the transmission of emerging viruses, such as arboviruses and those transmitted by rodents. The work will include translational research, focusing on the immunopathological aspects of diseases like Malaria, Oropouche, Chikungunya, Mayaro, Zika, and Dengue, as well as contributing to the developing new point-of-care diagnostic methods.

Intern Responsibilities: This internship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research focusing on epidemiology and immune response mechanisms against emerging viruses. Key activities include:

• Field Research: Assist in field expeditions to collect human or animal samples from diverse ecological niches within the Amazon region, including remote areas, to identify potential emerging viruses.
• Data Analysis: Analyze collected samples using advanced molecular biology and serological techniques to identify and characterize viruses.
• Epidemiological Studies: Contribute to epidemiological investigations by analyzing data on virus transmission dynamics, host reservoirs, and potential spillover events in the Amazon ecosystem.
• Immune Response Analysis: Investigate host immune responses to emerging viruses through serological assays, cytokine profiling, and immunohistochemistry techniques.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including virologists, epidemiologists, ecologists, and immunologists to integrate findings and develop comprehensive insights into emerging virus dynamics.

Qualifications: 

• Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology, microbiology, immunology, epidemiology, veterinary, medicine or a related field.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to work effectively in a collaborative research environment.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required; proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese is advantageous.

Note: This internship takes place in Manaus, Amazonas. 

FOCUS AREA #11 – Emerging Arboviruses: A clinical, Epidemiological and Entomological Study

About: The focus of the research group I lead is to investigate clinical, epidemiological, and entomological aspects related to arboviruses (ZIKV, CHIKV, DENV, and ORV) infections. Our goals include: 1) characterizing their clinical presentation and identifying prognostic factors, 2) evaluating diagnostic methods and approaches, 3) understanding their epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and risk factors for infection and virus spread, 4) describing social, environmental, and entomological aspects that determine vector distribution. Our final aim is to guide interventions to improve diagnostics, management, control, and prevention of arboviral diseases.

The research project in which the intern will be involved is based on long-term surveillance for detection of arboviral infections among febrile patients, on community-based and patient-based cohort studies, on environmental and entomological surveys, and on laboratory work that includes serological and molecular diagnostics, test evaluations, and bioinformatics.

Intern Responsibilities: Activities will depend on the intern's background and interests. It should involve routine lab activities (supporting sample processing and testing) or fieldwork (following participants' enrollment in the study and data acquisition or performing entomological surveys). In addition, a small project that the intern can accomplish during the internship will be defined and led by the intern (or co-lead with a partnered local student). The final project result should be a submitted manuscript. This personal project may be based on data analysis of previously collected data, preparation of a review or personal view text, support of a local partnered student work, or even on a small entomological or lab study that can be run as part of a previously IRB-approved large project.

Qualifications: The intern should have independence, proactivity, easy social interaction, self-learning capacity, and eagerness to learn. It is mandatory to respect cultural differences and behaviors, not take risks, and communicate regularly (as will be established) with the mentor and the team. A strong background in one of the following areas is highly desirable: epidemiology and public health; molecular/serological/bioinformatic analysis; sociology or anthropology; field entomology. A background in data analysis and the use of statistical software is also desirable. Experience or training in scientific writing is welcome. Being fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, or another Latin-based language is desirable but not required.

Note: This internship takes place in Salvador, Bahia.

FOCUS AREA #12 – Investigation of Mechanisms Associated with Entry, Establishment, and Dissemination of Leishmania spp: Parasite Involvement in the Development of Different Clinical Forms

About: Leishmania spp. infect various vertebrate hosts, including humans. The World Health Organization classifies leishmaniasis as one of the most important neglected tropical diseases, which is endemic in almost all continents, with an estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases and 30,000 deaths annually. Mechanisms involved in the entry and survival of Leishmania spp. within the host cell, as well as those related to the dissemination of the parasite to different tissues, influence the course of the infection depending on the parasite species. In this ongoing international projects involving teams from Brazil, Canada, and Argentina, the aim is to investigate the initial events of parasite-host cell interaction, such as the formation of the phagocytic cup, biogenesis of the parasitophorous vacuole, activation of the autophagic pathway in macrophages/monocytes infected with L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, or L. infantum, activated signaling pathways in the parasite-host cell interaction, and their role in the parasite's survival and dissemination within the host.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will conduct experiments involving plasmids production, macrophages transfection of genes biosensors for phosphoinositides, Leishmania parasite cultivation, infection of transfected macrophages, confocal observation of transfected and Leishmania-infected macrophages.

Qualifications: Preference for the intern to have some background in cellular and molecular biology, but it is not required.

Note: This internship takes place in Salvador, Bahia.

FOCUS AREA #13 – International Health Regulation on Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCD) and International Health Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

About: The Center for Studies on Bioethics and Diplomacy in Health (Nethis) promotes reflection on the confluence of three scientific and professional fields: bioethics, diplomacy, and public health. Its interdisciplinary conception reflects the progressive importance of health in the scenario of international relations guided by bioethical values.

We offer 2 Research project positions: 1) One designed for the project "International Regulation of Risk Factors Associated with Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCD)” which analyzes international public policies for the regulation of products associated with risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, pesticides and ultra- processed foods). 2) The other, for the project “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Health Systems in the Public sector” which promotes reflections, debates, and investigations aimed at the systematization, formulation, and dissemination of strategies and instruments for ethical safeguards and guarantees of equity in mechanisms and processes that adopt resources based on artificial intelligence (AI). The regulation of the public power and innovations in the field of health are considered.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved with the following activities:

Project International Regulation of Risk Factors Associated with Non-communicable Chronic Diseases (NCD):

• Mapping and analysis of national public policies for regulation of products (alcohol, tobacco, agrochemicals and ultra-processed food) associated with NCD in USA.
• Verification and analysis of the dynamics in the internalization of multilateral international agreements on regulation of the above-mentioned products in USA´s policies as well as the ongoing law conflicts regarding regulatory technical actors.

Project Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Health Systems in the Public Sector:

• Reviewing and comparing public implementation of AI-driven systems applied to health.
• Scanning new methodologies to test the suitability and real-world effects of health AI applications.
• Analysis of legal instruments for government use in the design and tendering of AI for health.
• Comparisons with US law regarding use of data processing for health systems (privacy; code of ethics; algorithms and inequalities in health applications).

Qualifications: Pursing a bachelor’s degree in public health, law, international relations or related fields. Knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Brasília, Distrito Federal.

FOCUS AREA #14 – Plasmodium Vivax Malaria Immune Response

About: As a contribution to current efforts on P.vivax vaccine development, we have devoted great effort to characterize the protective immune response against lead blood stage vaccine candidate, such as the Duffy binding protein (DBPII), in populations living in the Amazon rainforest. Given the increasing evidence of P. vivax infections associated with severe and fatal disease, we have also concentrated interests on the identification of sensitive and reliable markers for vivax severity. The approach includes investigating components of the coagulation-inflammation cascade as a cofactor for malaria morbidity. Researchers in our group work on the bench, in the field, or both.

The greatest challenges for the control/elimination of P. vivax are associated with the complexity of the biology of this parasite, which leads to subpatent, persistent and non-diagnostic infections. In this context, the project includes: (i) identifying immunological mechanisms associated with asymptomatic status as well as (ii) mechanisms associated with clinical protection (serological and cellular assays with plasmas and PBMC from malaria-exposed individuals)).

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on and participate in Serological assays, including ELISA with recombinant proteins; cellular assays (including flow cytometry assays and elispot), PCR assays (malaria diagnosis).

Qualifications: Background and interest in immunology and parasitology preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. 

FOCUS AREA #15 – Phylogenetics of Genes and Proteins from Parasites Causing Neglected Diseases

About: This research team applies phylogenetics to study genes and proteins from different parasites (Leishmania, Plasmodium, Schistosoma, Trypanosoma, etc.) that are the causative agents of important neglected diseases (leishmaniases, malaria, schistosomiasis, Chagas disease, etc.). Our multidisciplinary projects involve experimental (molecular biology) and computational (bioinformatics) approaches.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will perform computational studies (database searches, sequence alignment, phylogenetic reconstruction, etc.). Additionally, the intern will prepare reports and present seminars in our research group and Institution. 

Qualifications: Background in biological sciences, health sciences, or computational sciences a must. Previous experience with phylogenetics is preferred but not required. The intern should have scientific reading and reporting experience, time management skills, excellent communication (oral and writing) skills, and teamwork in a multidisciplinary setting.

Note: This internship takes place in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. 

FOCUS AREA #16 – Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery Towards Infectious Diseases

About: The research group Nanoscience, Biotechnology and Health (NBS) from Fiocruz Pernambuco gathers bright young scholars (interns, MSc/PhD students and postdocs) interested in pharmaceutics, drug delivery and nanomedicine under coordination and guidance of Prof. Fabio Formiga. The group is particularly focused on nanoformulation and nanobiomaterials for infectious diseases and regenerative medicine, applying cutting-edge methods to better understand interaction of nanomaterials with cells, advantages and safety issues of nanopharmaceuticals.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on the following activities:

• Synthesis of drug nanoparticles
• Physicochemical characterization of nanoparticles
• Studies on nanoparticle stability
• Biological assessment of nanoparticles in cell cultures
• The intern must also attend scientific meetings and sessions of research group

Qualifications: Undergraduate or graduate students with background in biology, biotechnology, pharmacy, medicine or chemistry.

Note: This internship takes place in Recife, Pernambuco.

Website: portal.fiocruz.br/en

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

Summer 2024

Mell Aguiar ’27 – The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation: A Window into Research within Socialized Healthcare Systems

Devin Cheeks ’25 – Empowering Communities: Navigating Brazil’s Health System (Video Presentation)

Fatima Diallo ’25 – Social Inequity in Brazil: An Epidemiological Approach

Katherine Monroe ’27 – NMR Spectroscopy for Structure Elucidation of Pharmaceuticals and Cooking Oils (Video Presentation)

Harry Poulose ’26 – Effects of Physical Training on Adipose Tissue of C57BL/6 Mice with Type 2 Diabetes (Video Presentation)

Arjun Prasad ’26 – Molecular Biomarkers as a Differential Diagnosis of Leprosy Neuropathy (Video Presentation)

Laura Sabrosa ’27 – Beyond the Parasite: Leishmaniasis RNA Virus 1 Transmittance and Disease Aggravation (Video Presentation)

Cole Strupp ’26 – Bridging the Bedside & the Bench: A Unified Approach Against Neglected Tropical Disease (Video Presentation)

Naisha Sylvestre ’25 – Bit by the Kissing Bug: A Deep Dive into Genus Trypanosoma (Video Presentation)

Tiffany Zhong ’25 – Acquired Toxoplasma gondii Infection Alters Mouse Retinal Vasculature (Video Presentation)

Summer 2023

Joshua Cigoianu ’26 - Research into Parasitic Diseases and Development of Prevention Programs (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 faith-based non-governmental Christian organization that works with communities living in extreme poverty, focusing on their values, health, and livelihoods. The organization partners with local community leaders and stakeholders, designing interventions that equip community members with the necessary strategies to instill hope and amplify indigenous capacities for growth.

ICM has worked on several health projects such as highlighting food security and beneficiaries’ nutrition practices, revisions in the organization’s main health curriculum, regional mapping of health needs and patients’ access to quality health care to assess ICM’s health services, and continued development of health intervention protocols. As the intern becomes involved in the project, they will be allowed to handle and work with real datasets collected from the interventions implemented in ICM communities.

 

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be working in collaboration with ICM’s Research team and Health Services Team to analyze existing or new patient data, evaluate existing community health interventions, and/or take part in the implementation of a pilot study. Outcomes derived from these interventions and data analyses may be used for future operational services and research projects. The intern may also be asked to write literature reviews, and reports for knowledge dissemination or assist in project management activities. The nature of the intern’s involvement in the project may also require them to travel to the study site and take part in program implementation.

The intern will be expected to work independently but will have regular touch-in points with a supervisor for guidance or direction. They may also be asked to join alignment meetings with the rest of ICM’s Research Team.

Qualifications: Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, strong interpersonal and organizational skills, proficiency in MS Excel, and strongly preferred to have experience with R, Stata, or Python.  Good written and verbal communication skills and familiarity with public health issues.

Website: www.caremin.com

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

Summer 2024

Lidet Moges ’26 – Healthcare Access and Equity: A Study of Capacity in the Philippines

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: 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 2024

Yejin Bann ’25 – The MeLODY Project: Diabetes in Malaysia (Video Presentation)

Avery Fuller ’26 – Patterns of Health Target Attainment Among Diabetes Patients (Video Presentation)

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 seven (7) 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 Preclinical and Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine

About: This research team has been long engaged in the field of molecular cell biology, with the main interest focusing on the regulation of cell cycle and cilia and their functional roles in tumorigenesis and ciliopathies. The areas of focus include:

• Cilia: Cilia are microtubule-based hair-like structures protruding from vertebrate cell surface, which transduce extracellular signals into cellular responses. Disruption of cilia structure or function causes numerous human diseases, termed ciliopathies, including polycystic kidney disease, Bardet-Biedl syndrome, and nephronophthisis.
• Gastric Cancer: Gastric cancer (GC) represents a significant challenge to global health, ranking fifth in cancer incidence and fourth in cancer-related mortality worldwide. Distal metastasis is the leading cause of GC related death.
• NudC: Nuclear distribution gene C (NudC), firstly discovered in Aspergillus flavus, has been reported to take part in cytoplasmic division, cell migration, centrosome duplication and ciliogenesis.

Intern Responsibilities: The aim of this project is:

• To reveal new mechanisms of dynamic regulation of ciliary assembly and depolymerization.
• To find series of molecular targets and signaling pathways closely related to gastric cancer tumorigenesis and distal metastasis.
• To narrate elaborate functional roles of NudC in cellular activities.
• To dig into new systems for precise drug delivery with high efficiency and bioavailability but low toxicity relative to malignancies and ciliopathies.

The interns will experimentally study basic cellular functions of the indicated genes selected by bioinformatic analysis and submit a written survey report, with research tasks to include literature review, experiments, data analysis and attending a weekly lab seminar. The interns will acquire basic laboratory skills concerning cellular and biochemistry biology.

Qualifications: Applicants should have basic knowledge and lab skills in molecular biology. Those who have highly academic enthusiasm are preferentially considered. 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.

FOCUS AREA #4 – Exploring Protein Phase Separation in Cancer and Neuroscience

About: The primary focus of our team lies in studying Protein Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS), a fundamental biological process. Our research explores how LLPS is intricately involved in modulating genes related to both neuronal functions and cancer biology, shedding light on its potential as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. 

The project delves into understanding how LLPS affects gene expression and cellular processes in the context of disease. LLPS has emerged as a key mechanism in the organization of intracellular components without membrane boundaries, and its dysregulation is implicated in several diseases. By focusing on proteins associated with both neuronal development and cancer progression, this research aims to uncover novel mechanisms of disease modulation. This is an interdisciplinary project at the intersection of molecular biology, neurobiology, and oncology, providing students with a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge scientific research.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will engage in the following key activities:

• Learning cloning techniques: Gain hands-on experience in cloning key genes involved in neuronal and cancer pathways to better understand their role in LLPS.
• CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing: Use state-of-the-art CRISPR/Cas9 technology to edit disease-related genes and investigate their role in cellular phase separation and disease mechanisms.
• Modulation of gene condensation properties: Develop innovative methods to modulate the condensation properties of specific genes, with potential applications in altering disease progression, especially in neurodegenerative and oncogenic contexts.

Qualifications: The ideal intern should have a background or interest in molecular biology, biochemistry, or biotechnology. These qualifications are preferred but not mandatory. Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research in neuroscience and cancer biology, coupled with a willingness to learn new techniques, is highly valued.

FOCUS AREA #5 – Therapeutic Potential and Epigenomic Mechanism of Opioid Agonists in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

About: The main research focus of this group is the epigenetic network and the targeted therapy of malignancies, e.g., leukemia. The long-term goal is to apply the new discoveries of basic research into the clinic and develop new anti-tumor targeted therapies through close cooperation with clinical and pharmaceutical departments. Research directions include:

• To investigate the roles and regulatory mechanisms of DNA and/or RNA modifications in malignancies;
• To reveal the regulatory network of epigenomic pathways;
• To screen for small molecule compounds directly or indirectly targeting DNA and/or RNA modifications for cancer therapy. 

The ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins, including TET1, TET2, and TET3, convert 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), resulting in DNA demethylation. Among the TET family members, TET2 is a tumor suppressor. Inactivating mutations of TET2 are frequently found in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other cancers, and are often associated with other mutations predicting poor survival. We recently identified OPA1, an opioid receptor agonist, as a regulator for TET2 expression and a potential candidate drug for AML therapy, either administered alone or in combination with traditional chemotherapies. The above findings were published as a research article in Cell Reports in 2022.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), commonly with poor prognosis, is one of the worldwide major causes of cancer-related mortality. Decreased 5hmC levels have been found in various HCCs as compared with normal controls, and are correlated with more intensive migration of cancer cells. In the mouse HCC model, depletion of TET2 increases tumor size. Therefore, we hypothesize: Activating the expression of TET2 in HCC holds therapeutic potential. We plan to: 1) investigate the effects of the TET2 expression stimulator OPA1 in HCC in vitro; 2) investigate the regulatory mechanisms of OPA1 in HCC; 3) investigate the therapeutic effects of OPA1 in HCC in vivo. Our study will determine the role and epigenetic mechanism of OPA1 in HCC pathogenesis, and develop novel therapies targeting the previously unappreciated opioid receptor/TET2 axis to treat HCC.

Intern Responsibilities: The specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Reference studying and experimental skill training;
• Cell culture and drug treatment of HepG2 cells;
• Detecting TET2 expression level with Q-RT-PCR in drug treated cells; 
• In vivo tumor engrafting, followed with drug treatment with OPA1 or vehicle;
• Animal condition monitoring and tumor size measurement.

The majority of the project activities will be carried out in the P.I.’s lab in the School of Medicine at Zhejiang University. The intern will be closely supervised. The P.I. will provide guidance in reference reading, research plan design, conduction of main experiments, result analysis, and paper writing (optional). A senior researcher will also provide hand-by-hand guidance in all necessary experimental skills, including cell culture, Q-RT-PCR, mouse xenotransplantation, intraperitoneal injection, and tumor-size monitoring. The intern will be encouraged to take part in the group’s weekly lab meeting and paper discussion.

Qualifications: The lab is open to all candidate interns with interest in cancer epigenetics and targeted therapy. The intern is expected to have medical or biological background. The priority will be given to candidates well equipped with cell culture or animal experimental skills. The working language is English or Chinese.

FOCUS AREA #6 – Behavioral Science and Positive Psychological Interventions for Active Aging in County-Level Communities

About: The aging population presents unique challenges, particularly in smaller, county-level communities with limited resources for older adults. In these settings, promoting active aging — helping seniors stay physically and mentally healthy, socially active, and independent — is essential for improving their quality of life. Behavioral science gives us a deeper understanding of how we can encourage older adults to adopt healthier habits, stay engaged in their communities, and take charge of their own health. 

This project combines insights from behavioral science and positive psychological interventions to develop practical, supportive strategies that help promote active aging in these communities, ensuring older adults can lead fulfilling, active lives.

Research areas include:

• Active aging: delayed retirement, promoting physical and mental health in older adults, fostering intergenerational communication and parenting, and smoking cessation.
• Digital health: interventions in the development of digital health tools that facilitate ease of use for older adults to effectively learn and adopt health technologies for independent health management
• Integrated behavioral science theories: combining traditional health education theories with psychological principles and behavioral intervention techniques.
• Health policy: providing policy recommendations for achieving active aging, such as pilot programs for new employment opportunities, effective pension security policies, innovative approaches to developing culturally relevant social psychological services in China, and advocating for positive psychology-based initiatives.

Intern Responsibilities: The specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include: 

• Engage in fieldwork, including interactions with elderly participants
• Participate in data collection and analysis
• Publish research findings in high-impact scientific journals
• Contribute to literature reviews and report writing
• Collaborate with team members on various research projects

Qualifications: An ideal candidate should:

• Have a background in health sciences, psychology, gerontology, or a related field
• Have project experience or basic knowledge in medical or preventative medicine, statistics, or epidemiology
• Have enthusiasm and interest in rigorous scientific research
• Have an open-minded attitude and are eager to learn
• Be willing to travel to remote areas and communicate with older adults
• Have an interest in health education, behavioral science, public administration, positive psychology, cultural psychology, and group psychological techniques
• Be proficient in English
• Basic Mandarin Chinese skills are a plus

FOCUS AREA #7 – Immune Cell Engineering for Cancer Therapy

About: Our research group studies the biochemical and biophysical molecular mechanisms underlying the killing, proliferation and exhaustion of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells; develops novel biosensors and intelligent molecular machines that can sense and actuate cell signaling events in CAR-T cells; and improves current CAR-T cell therapy as well as exploring novel cell-based cancer immunotherapies.

CAR T cells are the equivalent of "giving patients a living drug". CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient’s T cells are changed in the laboratory so they will bind to cancer cells and kill them. so they will attack cancer cells. T cells are taken from a patient’s blood. Then the gene for a special receptor that binds to a certain protein on the patient’s cancer cells is added to the T cells in the laboratory. The special receptor is called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). Large numbers of the CAR T cells are grown in the laboratory and given to the patient by infusion. CAR T-cell therapy is used to treat certain blood cancers, and it is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will explore the concept of adoptive immune cell therapy and gain valuable hands-on experience in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Qualifications: The desired intern is expected to have a good academic record, a passion for biology and a proactive personality. Course or lab experience of cell biology and molecular cloning is preferred but not mandatory. Language preferences include English or Mandarin.

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

View Internship Summary Posters from Past Zhejiang Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2024

Thia Bian ’25 – Early-life Exposure to Famine and Body Composition in Adulthood (Video Presentation)

Mary Kate Cloonan ’26 – High-value Medical Device Pricing Over Product Lifecycle: Evidence from the United States (Video Presentation)

Rohan Kumar ’26 – Exploring Protein X and Associated Gene Products to Identify Their Roles in the Proliferation and Migration of Pancreatic Cancer (Video Presentation)

Connor McCord ’26 – shRNA Silencing of Eight Genes of Interest in Gastric Cancer Cells (Video Presentation)

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: $4,000 (remote) and $6,000 (In-person)

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 - The Role of Pharmacists in Antimicrobial Consumption and Mitigating AMR: A Gendered Perspective

About: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where antibiotic misuse is driven by limited healthcare access. In rural areas, the common availability of over-the-counter antibiotics leads to increased self-medication and overuse, with women facing additional barriers due to gender inequalities in healthcare access and decision making. Addressing AMR in LMICs requires a focus on these intersecting social and gendered factors to effectively combat antibiotic misuse. Gender inequality in health has far-reaching implications, influencing not only healthcare access but also broader resources such as wealth, power, and social support (McDonough & Walters, 2001; Sen & Östlin, 2008). Women, due to their reproductive roles and higher morbidity rates, require more health services than men and are 27% more likely to receive antibiotic prescriptions over their lifetime (Schröder et al., 2016). This disproportionate burden of AMR on women is shaped by both demand-side factors, such as biological vulnerabilities, caregiving responsibilities, and limited healthcare access, and supply-side factors like gender biases in prescribing practices (WHO, 2018; Bertakis, 2009). Women in LMICs, especially in rural areas, are at higher risk due to lower education levels and a lack of awareness about antibiotic misuse (WHO, 2018).

In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), AMR has been identified as a major public health threat by the WHO, responsible for 1.27 million deaths in 2019 (WHO, 2023). Rural areas in LMICs are particularly affected by high antibiotic consumption, driven by inequalities, poverty, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. In these regions, primary health centers and pharmacists are often the first point of contact for healthcare (Chowdhury et al., 2019). The widespread availability of antibiotics over the counter, especially in countries like India, exacerbates self-medication and overuse, further heightening AMR risks (Sharma et al., 2023). Limited access to healthcare facilities due to transportation challenges and poor infrastructure adds to the problem, making it essential to address both gender and systemic inequalities to combat AMR effectively. Through this project, we will try to publish the peer reviewed journal articles and reports, that contribute to evidence building on pharmacists role in AMR.

In this study we are exploring three primary research questions:

1. Analyze gender biases in pharmacists' interactions and prescribing practices – To explore how gender influences pharmacists' decision-making processes in antimicrobial prescribing and their engagement with male and female patients, and how these dynamics impact antimicrobial use and resistance.
2. Assess pharmacists' awareness of AMR and appropriate antimicrobial use – To understand the level of knowledge pharmacists have about antimicrobial resistance and best practices for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS).
3. Examine the role of pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship – To identify the contributions pharmacists can make in regulating access to antimicrobials and promoting their appropriate use

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

• Synthesizing data on 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.

This internship will take place in Bangalore, India.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Research-policy Engagement: The Value of Vaccines to Mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance

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.

The impact of extreme heat on health is well established. However, when designing policies and interventions, it is critical to have an in-depth understanding of who these policies will serve. The ability to adapt to extreme heat varies greatly in India; therefore, it is necessary to map the most vulnerable groups and engage with them to inform the interventions. Migrant workers, elderly living in extreme poverty, and agricultural workers are among the ones who are unable to protect themselves from extreme heat. However, there is a need to identify other groups and summarize and communicate these findings.

Intern Responsibilities: The position involves researching and synthesizing data on public health topics such as infectious disease burden, climate change impacts, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine coverage from databases, reports, and scientific literature.

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

following qualifications:

• Interest in public health research.
• Familiarity with basic epidemiology and/or biology.
• Experience reading scientific and social science literature is an asset, as are good writing skills and the ability to work independently.

This internship will take place in Bangalore, India.

FOCUS AREA #3 - Impacts of Child and Maternal Health Interventions

About: Our team is composed of health economists focused on evaluating the impact of government health interventions and estimating the prospective impact of policies in a range of areas including child and maternal health, fiscal policies for health, and antimicrobial resistance.

This project assesses the effectiveness of public health interventions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a focus on child and maternal health policies. The intern will contribute to research that aims to inform future health policies through data analysis and modeling studies.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will assist with data collection, analysis, and policy evaluation. They will contribute to modeling studies, perform literature reviews, and use statistical software (e.g., STATA, R, Excel) for quantitative analysis and mathematical modeling. Additionally, they will help prepare reports and presentations for policymakers and stakeholders.

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

following qualifications:

• A background in economics, public health, or a related field is preferred. 
• Proficiency in Excel and STATA or R is essential. 
• Experience in data analysis and conducting literature reviews is beneficial.

This internship will be conducted remotely.

Website: onehealthtrust.org

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

Summer 2024

Kaitlyn Greppin ’26 – Nature’s Revenge: Antimicrobial Resistance in India and South-East Asia (Video Presentation)

Brian Mhando ’26 – Gender and Antimicrobial Resistance in India: A study of Chikkaballapur

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: Up to 6

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 six (6) 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 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

FOCUS AREA #4 – Implementation Guide and Reporting of Intensive Care Indicators in Low-middle Income Countries (LMICs)

About: OUCRU is working with a number of intensive care units (ICUs) in Vietnam in capturing near real-time daily data for an international registry platform, called Critical Care in Asia-Africa (CCAA), which has been deployed in more than 15 countries. The goal is to have continual and standardized information for reporting, evaluation, and eventually improvement of critical care. The Vietnam Registry dataset as of October 2024 contains approx. 4000 patients. Focused areas are outcome, ICU-acquired infections, antibiotics usage and antimicrobial resistance etc. that are reported as quality of care indicators defined by international and local guidelines.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will join a team of both clinicians (patient screening and data entry) and data scientists. The main responsibility is creating an implementation guide that comprises indicators' definitions, how these are derived, reference to the CCAA variables, listing common pitfalls in data entry. This guide will serve as documentation for coding and future implementation. Methods are expected to include: literature/guideline review of hospital acquired infection surveillance and other care-quality indicators, discussion with local intensivists, familiarization with the above-mentioned dataset. 

The intern will also have the chance to take on the responsibility of data cleaning and coding for specific care quality indicators. The work is built upon existing code snippets and documentation. The desired outputs are contribution to the following:

• A data package that hosts the above-mentioned dataset, with description and documentation so that it is ready to be shared for analysis.
• An analysis package that contains data cleaning, wrangling, basic reporting, ICU care quality indicators (described in an implementation guide also seeking intern this year). 

Qualifications:

• A background or interest in public health, infectious disease, infection control, intensive care. 
• Required skills include the ability to review and critically appraise literature. 
• Data analysis skills are desirable but not essential.
• Required skills include the ability to code in R programming language or to learn R in a timely manner.
• Statistical data analysis skills are desirable but not essential.

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

FOCUS AREA #5 – Policy Engagement with Policy Stakeholders

About: Since its establishment in 1991, OUCRU Viet Nam has been actively engaging with policy stakeholders as a leading clinical and public health research unit. Over the last 30 years, OUCRU has had many successes, and achieved some remarkable impacts on health policy in Viet Nam and in the region. Between 2019 and 2022, the Policy Engagement team conducted an internal review to explore OUCRU’s existing policy engagement efforts from the researchers’ point of view (more information can be found our website). Since then, we have implemented new strategies and activities to address the identified gaps and facilitate more effective communication and collaboration between OUCRU researchers and policy stakeholders in Vietnam. 

The Policy Engagement team are planning to conduct another study to understand the current state of policy engagement initiatives at OUCRU, identify existing challenges and facilitators, and propose relevant recommendations in engaging with policy stakeholders in Vietnam and beyond. The study results will help inform our team’s strategy and direction, and contribute to the development of OUCRU’s policy engagement portfolio.

Intern Responsibilities:

• Explore the total policy engagement efforts that are taking place currently within OUCRU through interviews with researchers
• Understand the Policy Engagement team’s activities to facilitate engagement with policy stakeholders, and explore additional areas of support for researchers
• Analyze transcripts of interviews with researchers using NVivo software to identify current challenges, facilitators, and opportunities for development in the future
• Contribute to OUCRU’s database of policy outputs

Learning Opportunities:

• Research methodology: Gain hands-on experience with qualitative research methods such as in-depth interviews and/or focus groups discussions, and data transcription and analysis
• Stakeholder engagement: Practice effective engagement and communication strategies with diverse audiences 
• Project management: Gain experience in managing timelines, coordinating meetings, and team collaboration
• Mentorship opportunities: Receive guidance and feedback from experienced researchers and policy engagement practitioners, and gain insight into potential career paths in policy research, public health, or social sciences
• Reporting and presentation: Gain experience in writing reports, presenting findings, and engaging in discussions about policy engagement plans and directions (if time permits).

Qualifications: 

• Background in social sciences, sociology, anthropology, or related field
• Some experience in qualitative data collection, data organization, and analysis
• Some experience using qualitative data analysis software (Nvivo)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in cross-cultural settings
• Ability to work with a good degree of autonomy.

Note: This internship will take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with occasional travel to Ha Noi to conduct interviews.

FOCUS AREA #6 - Epidemiological Studies and Interventions to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

About: The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Hanoi is a small, friendly research group split across two sites – The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and the National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE). The group is involved with a range of research activities, mainly related to infectious diseases, with a particular focus on antibiotic resistance and influenza. It is also largely involved in translating research results into actionable policies, together with the Ministry of Health.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious global public health challenge, with 1.3 million deaths globally attributed to bacterial resistance in 2019. In May 2015, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Action Plan (GAP) on antimicrobial resistance, and countries have followed suit with National Action Plans (NAPs). The five key objectives of Global and National Action Plans focus on improving awareness, strengthening surveillance, infection prevention, optimizing use of antimicrobials, and investing in new medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines. OUCRU Hanoi is currently conducting hospital- and 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 interventions across hospital, primary healthcare, community and farm settings, to optimize the use of antibiotics and reduce environmental transmission. They are also exploring the potential for synergistic approaches to address the triple planetary crisis (climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss) and AMR. Related to this implementation research are questions requiring synthesis of evidence.

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 or modelling skills are desirable.

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 and other provinces.

Website: www.oucru.org 

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

Summer 2024

Zoe Berman ’25 – Vietnam: Nature-based Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance and Climate Change (Video Presentation)

Ramon Espinoza ’26 – Dengue Rates in HCMC, Vietnam: Cleaning, Analyses, a Forecasting (Video Presentation)

Julian Hough ’27 – Modeling Techniques for Hospital Catchment Areas (Video Presentation)

Isam Mina ’26 – Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam: A Statistical Approach (Video Presentation)

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: 3

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

FOCUS AREA #1 – Public Engagement Team

About: The Public Engagement (PE) team at OUCRU Nepal aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the community through education, engagement activities, and participatory methods. We adopt meaningful dialogue and collaboration between researchers and the public, to foster trust, address any research related concerns and dispel any rumors regarding research by promoting awareness and understanding of critical health issues and research as a whole. Our team also conducts social science research to explore the understanding of community perspective and ensure diverse voices are represented in health initiatives. 

Public engagement at OUCRU Nepal is a continuous initiative and not a one-time project. The intern will be involved in all the activities done by the PE team.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be assigned following activities:

• Coding of the ongoing social science research,
• Literature review for the ongoing social science research,
• In coordination with the PE team, the intern will go in the community for various engagement events,
• Assist the PE team in the arrangement of logistics,
• Assist the PE team in the development of educational materials to support the ongoing studies at OUCRU Nepal.

Qualifications: Preference for an intern with a background in public health, anthropology or any social science background who has a qualitative research background and good communication skills.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Clinical Trials Unit

About: OUCRU Nepal’s Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) is dedicated in ensuring that the research we conduct are of highest standards and internationally recognized. We focus on continuously improving the quality of clinical trials by ensuring smooth study operations and ensuring compliance to both local and international regulations, including Good Clinical Practice. Our work includes developing the necessary human resources, facilities, and administrative systems to support clinical trials at our collaborating hospitals. We work closely with our wider CTU network in Vietnam and Indonesia, and currently managing 10 ongoing research studies, with several more in the pipeline. Additionally, the CTU is expanding its work by conducting qualitative research on emerging issues in research methodology and ethics that are relevant to Nepal. As part of the Global Health Bioethics Network (GHBN), we participate in multi-site studies exploring stakeholder perspectives on data sharing and conduct independent research on topics such as informed consent, compensation, and perceptions of research. Our goal is to offer evidence-based recommendations that contribute to shaping local policy on these critical issues.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved in both governance and operational roles within the CTU:

• Assist in maintaining regulatory filing of essential documents for studies in line with Good Clinical Practice.
• Support the implementation of the CTU's document archiving system.
• With the support from Governance lead, prepare and submit applications to ethics and regulatory bodies, while tracking submission deadlines to ensure timely submissions.
• Conduct risk analysis for new studies
• Prepare training materials for studies
• Assist in organizing logistics, training, and reporting for ongoing and new studies
• Contribute to development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and forms for studies
• Support data cleaning efforts and work with the biostatistician to analyze data and prepare preliminary results
• Assist study coordinators in identifying issues and managing essential documents in Study Line, a project portfolio management system
• Observe and provide support in daily operations across different research outpatient departments (OPDs) at various hospitals/sites.

Qualifications: The qualifications for a student intern are below.

• Background or degree in medicine, science, public health or a related field
• Good English speaking and reading skills 
• Competency in using MS Office applications
• Knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines.
• Experience with electronic data capture and project management systems.

FOCUS AREA #3 – Microbiology and Molecular Research Lab

About: The OUCRU Nepal Microbiology Laboratory is a newly established facility dedicated to enhancing clinical research capacity and providing high-quality data for research studies on infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In addition to our molecular laboratory work, we are committed to improving and upgrading the microbiology laboratory facilities at our collaborating hospitals within Nepal by introducing and implementing various components of a quality management system.

Our team comprises experienced researchers, microbiologists, and molecular biologists, all bringing diverse expertise to ensure the delivery of high-quality laboratory services and robust research outcomes. Collaboration is fundamental to our approach as we collectively address pressing public health challenges linked to infectious diseases and AMR. By fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork, we aim to deepen our understanding of microbial dynamics and contribute to improved health outcomes through reliable research and data. Collaboration is fundamental to our approach as we collectively address pressing public health challenges linked to infectious diseases and AMR. We actively collaborate with OUCRU sister units in Vietnam and Indonesia, enhancing our research capabilities and knowledge exchange.

OUCRU Nepal is currently conducting several research studies. Below summarizes some studies that offer internship opportunities.

• Characterizing Dengue in Kathmandu, Nepal
  • To identify the circulating serotypes and genotypes of DENV in urban Kathmandu over two years.
• ADaptive ASsessment of TReatments for influenzA (AD ASTRA)
  • A phase 2 multi-center adaptive randomized platform trial to assess antiviral pharmacodynamics in early symptomatic influenza infection 
  • To characterize the determinants of viral clearance in early influenza infection e.g. contribution of baseline serology, influenza type/subtype, prior vaccination, host genetics
• Finding treatments for COVID-19: A phase 2 multi-center adaptive platform trial to assess antiviral pharmacodynamics in early symptomatic COVID-19 (PLATCOV)
  • To characterize the determinants of viral kinetics in early COVID-19 disease

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will first undergo a lab induction, followed by health and safety and biosafety induction. After completing these inductions, the intern will work closely under supervision for the first two weeks to ensure a thorough understanding of laboratory protocols. Following this initial period, the intern will be expected to work more independently, with ongoing support and mentorship available as needed.

The intern will be involved in a range of microbiology and molecular activities, including:

• Receiving and processing samples following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Conducting microbiology culture, identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing.
• Performing molecular work, which may include PCR, whole genome sequencing (WGS).
• Managing samples to ensure proper storage and handling.
• Conducting data analysis related to ongoing research projects.
• Assisting in the preparation of SOPs for laboratory processes.
• Supporting various aspects of lab management to maintain a high-quality research environment.

Qualifications: The mandatory and preferred qualifications are below.

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Experience in biology, particularly in microbiology, molecular biology, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with laboratory techniques in microbiology and molecular biology, including PCR and basic data analysis.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to ensure precise sample management and data integrity. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with whole genome sequencing (WGS) or other advanced molecular techniques.
• Previous involvement in clinical research or laboratory settings.
• Proficiency in English language.
• Basic knowledge of biosafety and health and safety regulations in laboratory environments. 
• Skills in scientific writing, including the ability to contribute to research papers and reports.
• Experience in statistical analysis

Website: www.oucru.org

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

Summer 2024

Maximilian Nguyen, PhD Candidate – Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics in the Management of Common Childhood Illness in Nepal (Video Presentation)

Alyssa Woolley ’26 – Antibiotic Treatment of Typhoid in Nepal (Video Presentation)

University of Sunderland

Reducing Health Inequalities 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 – Reducing Health Inequalities 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 has a variety of projects across a wide range of stakeholders, including populations, the voluntary sector and academia to understand the causes of health inequalities and work collaboratively to empower people to become more involved in their wellbeing and communities. 

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: The projects will be undertaken with a range of community-based activities to measure who is taking part in the initiatives, 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 2024

Meghana Bhupati ’26 – Holistic Healthcare: The Role of Local Authorities in Social Prescribing (Video Presentation)

Maile Organek ’26 – Sunderland ‘til I Die (Video Presentation)

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)

Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership

Donor Research & Analysis Internship

Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $8,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP) is a not-for-profit global health organization driven to protect people from the rise and spread of drug-resistant infections, one of the biggest threats to us all. By forging public and private partnerships that matter, we develop and make accessible antibiotic treatments for people who need them. Founded by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), GARDP collaborates with partners worldwide to ensure equitable access to innovative antibiotic treatments.

GARDP’s External Relations team is critical in securing essential resources to advance the organization’s mission of developing and delivering new treatments for drug-resistant infections. The team identifies, cultivates, and maintains partnerships with diverse donors, including governments, foundations, and corporate stakeholders. The team supports the organization’s sustainability through proposal development, and strategic donor relationship management, enabling GARDP to meet the urgent global health needs for countering antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

Joining the ER team offers hands-on experience in global health advocacy and partnerships management, working closely with internal teams such GARDP’s Executive Office, R&D, and Access teams, which requires a broad understanding of all issues important to Donors. She/He may also attend external events for networking within the international community in Geneva. This role provides exposure to cross-functional projects and a broad understanding of key issues important to donors, ideal for those looking to develop skills in international relations within a mission-driven, public health organization.

Intern Responsibilities: The specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Conducting desk research: Assess and synthesize information on current trends in funding priorities in support of GARDP’s expanding private sector partnership strategy and in new markets in Europe and Asia. 
• Data Analysis for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E): Analyze existing data related to donor engagement, funding impacts, and program outcomes to support M&E efforts, informing team strategy and reporting.
• Developing Information Management Tools: Create or refine data management templates, dashboards, and tracking tools to organize funding opportunities, track donor engagement, and monitor proposal progress.
• Supporting Proposal Development: Assist in drafting and structuring sections of funding proposals, integrating research insights and data to strengthen evidence-based appeals to potential donors.

Qualifications: 

• Research Skills: Demonstrated experience in conducting literature reviews, synthesizing information, and analyzing data, with a preference on health, development, or nonprofit sectors.
• Analytical Abilities: Proficiency in data analysis tools and experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis methods.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex information in accessible language.
• Interest in Global Health & Development: Passion for issues related to antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, or global health initiatives, and an understanding of the nonprofit funding landscape.

Website:  https://gardp.org/ 

New Internship for 2025; no past Princeton interns.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Technical Advice and Partnership Internship

Location: Remote or in Geneva, Switzerland

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $4,000 (remote) or $8,000 (in-person)

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 internships to support the Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) Team which is part of the Technical Advice and Partnership (TAP) Department and the South-East Asia team in the Grant Management Division (GMD).

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will support a scope of work in one or more of the following areas that are key focus for the RSSH and GMD teams:

Integration and Financing of HIV, TB and Malaria Services: 

• For several portfolios in the region, analyze the existing laws and regulatory environment governing the organization, delivery and financing of HIV, TB and Malaria services at different levels of the national health system, including the process for development of new policies and the stakeholders involved.
• Identify opportunities for strengthening of service delivery at PHC and community level and the sustainability of the financing through domestic resources.

Climate Change and Health:

• Development of country profiles on climate impacts on health with a focus on malaria, TB, HIV in a set of target countries including the Solomon and other SIDS (small island development states).
• Literature review of climate impacts on malaria, TB and HIV in low and middle countries including SIDS context.
• Consolidation of best practices and case studies on climate-resilient, low-carbon healthcare delivery technologies and solutions.

The interns will be integrated in the day-to-day work of the Laboratory Systems Strengthening sub-team or the South-East Asia regional 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; and for the Integration theme, the intern should have a strong interest in policy development, government inter-agency coordination, political economy and health financing.

Website: www.theglobalfund.org/en

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

Summer 2024

Molly Chadwick ’25 – Smart Choices for Global Health: Optimizing Diagnostic Equipment with the Global Fund (Video Presentation)

Lucia Wetherill ’25 – Investigating Issues of Lab Governance in African Countries (Video Presentation)

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)

The Kids Research Institute Australia

Research Internships

Location: Various cities in Australia

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: Up to 10

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: The Kids Research Institute Australia (formerly Telethon Kids Institute) 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 fifteen (15) 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 – Climate Change and Mental Health

About: The Youth Mental Health team’s mission is to improve the mental health of young people and their families in Western Australia and beyond. We aim to better understand mental health issues in young people and ensure that the best possible treatments are provided for those that experience poor mental health.

Climate change presents a major public health concern in Australia marked by unprecedented wildfires, heatwaves, floods and droughts. For young people the climate crisis is one of the most pressing concerns affecting their health and wellbeing. Marginalized young people are overrepresented when it comes to poor mental health and current research suggests that marginalized youth are more impacted by the climate crisis. The Youth Mental Health team is interested in better understanding how marginalized youth experience and cope with the impacts of climate change on their mental health? And in addition, what interventions exist to support the mental health of marginalized youth affected by climate change?

Intern Responsibilities: The intern would be required to conduct a systematic review relating to climate change, young people and marginalized groups. The key research and tasks include the following:

• Screening studies for inclusion or exclusion in systematic review
• Full-text manuscript acquisition, where necessary
• Data extraction of included studies
• Assisting with manuscript write-up

Qualifications: 

• Academic background in psychology, health science, public health or a related field
• Some qualitative and quantitative data analysis experience, preferably with software such as NVivo
• Scientific writing experience
• Respect for and knowledge of human diversity
• Ability to work with and respect diverse people, including Aboriginal, culturally diverse and gender diverse people
• Previous experience with systematic reviews (preferred)

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia. 

FOCUS AREA #2 – Relationship Between Screen Time and Health

About: ORIGINS is a decade-long collaborative initiative between the Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) and the The Kids Research Institute (The Kids) 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 into the primary school years. 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. 

ORIGINS is driven by a diverse and highly passionate team with backgrounds and experience in psychology, public health, nutrition, health promotion, biological sciences, data linkage and data 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.

The amount of time adults spend on screens is increasing rapidly. Daily screen time has been found to cause negative impacts on both physical, psychological and mental health. It is one of the most common sedentary behaviors. Sedentary behaviors are predictors for chronic diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and cardiovascular mortality. Higher screen time has also been linked with poorer dietary behaviors, such as higher intakes of sugar, snacks, deserts and an overall poorer quality diet. There is also a positive trend between increasing hours of screen time and overweight and obesity. In addition, increased screen time has been found to impact sleep patterns. This project will explore the impacts of screen time on both physical and psychological health within the ORIGINS cohort through a literature review and analysis of data collected from ORIGINS participants.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on the following responsibilities:

• Undertake a review of the literature on screen time and its impacts on physical activity, nutrition, BMI and sleep.
• Data analysis and interpretation of the relationship between screen time and physical activity, nutrition, BMI and sleep among ORIGINS participants. 
• Engage with the ORIGINS team and participate in some day-to-day activities to better understand the goals of ORIGINS
• Attend team meetings and any relevant ORIGINS events 

Qualifications: A high level of written English is required. Ability to work both independently and with a team.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #3 – Mapping the Distribution of Tuberculosis and Drug-resistant Tuberculosis Profiles in Ethiopia

About: The Geospatial and Tuberculosis (GeoTB) research team apply advanced geospatial models to better understand the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) at a local, national, regional, and global scale. Deliverables focus on designing innovative approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public health interventions which help control and ultimately eliminate tuberculosis (TB) in high burden countries.                

Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from an infectious disease. Despite being preventable and curable, it is estimated that 1.3 million people lost their lives to TB in 2022. A significant challenge to overcoming the disease is drug resistance, as drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) is harder to diagnose, treat and cure, but is equally as transmissible and infectious as drug susceptible TB (DS-TB). Africa carries a disproportionate burden of TB, and Ethiopia is classified as one of the 30 high TB countries where disease continues to cause significant mortality and suffering. Although the globally endorsed End TB Strategy aims to eliminate TB, results against interim targets are significantly off track.  To try and address the shortfalls in progress, innovative solutions are being sought to inform TB control programs and maximize their efficacy. Spatial analytics are proving increasingly valuable to inform targeted interventions and will be used by this project to identify areas at high-risk of TB infection and to map the geospatial distribution of different drug resistant-TB profiles.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved in data cleaning, data management, data analysis, and manuscript drafting.

Qualifications: Biostatistics (mandatory) and mathematical modelling/epidemiology (preferred).

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #4 – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Hub Australia

About: The FASD Hub Australia, based at The Kids Research Institute, brings together the latest high quality, evidence-based content about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and alcohol harms in Australia by providing a freely available “one-stop shop” or “front door” to information about FASD, attracting a large and broad type of audiences to one location; producing evidence-based resources and events for target audiences; and connecting audiences with other specialist groups and websites.

Building capacity in health professionals is critical both to prevent FASD and other alcohol-related harms and ensure people living with FASD can be assessed and diagnosed as quickly as possible. Evidence shows that early intervention is imperative to setting people with FASD up to thrive, to complete education, and to avoid contact with the justice system. Diagnosis of FASD is complex and time consuming – and the number of Health Professionals competent to complete an assessment in Australia is low. The FASD Hub Australia plays an essential role in building workforce knowledge and capacity and increasing the number of FASD-informed Health Professionals through hosting and disseminating the Australian Guide to Diagnosis of FASD, its associated eLearning course and clinical workshop.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will primarily focus on helping update content in the FASD suite of eLearning resources to reflect changes to the diagnostic guide.

Qualifications: Academic background and interest in public policy, neuroscience, psychology or medical sciences.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #5 – 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. We are a group of over 20 researchers including clinician scientists, Aboriginal researchers, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

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. Whilst 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.

Intern Responsibilities: This project will use a two-arm, randomized-controlled parallel group design to examine i) the effectiveness of the "Blow, Breathe, Cough" (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 #6 – Skin Health Research

About: The Healthy Skin and ARF Prevention team is working towards preventing and treating skin infections, with the added scope of prevention of Strep A transmission from person to person in order to prevent acute rheumatic fever (AF). The projects in this internship are related to research in Group A streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus in clinical and community settings.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will provide research project support, which may include data collection, activities planning, consumer engagement, systematic reviews and governance.

Qualifications: Interest in infectious diseases, skin health, clinical trials, pediatric health or Indigenous health is preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #7 – Guidelines for Reducing Skin Infections

About: The focus of the END Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) Program is tackling acute rheumatic fever (ARF), a disease caused by an abnormal immune reaction to a Strep A infection of the throat or skin. Within the END RHD Program, the Strep A Translation Team aims to understand the epidemiology of Strep A infections, and explore the implementation of the RHD Endgame recommendations.

Skin infections and infestations are common causes of disease, which can have profound impacts on both physical health and quality of life. Strep A, Staphylococcus aureus, scabies, head and body lice, tinea, bed bugs and molluscum contagiosum have been identified as major drivers of skin infections. The burden of skin infections and sequelae, including ARF and RHD, falls heavily on children in remote Australian Indigenous communities, and in many overseas populations, where resources to maintain health and hygiene are limited. The capacity to wash clothing and bedding has strong pathways to the prevention of infectious disease generally, and forms one of nine Healthy Living Practices (HLPs) recognized as necessary to maintain health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (HLP-2: Washing clothes and bedding). 

There has been little evaluation of the efficacy of laundry processes (e.g., temperature, duration, soaps/detergents, drying conditions) on removing skin pathogens from household fabrics. The optimal operational procedures of laundry, and the actual and potential impact they have on the burden of skin infections, is therefore unknown. As part of a collaborative body of work led by infectious disease specialists with expertise in respective skin pathogens, the primary aim of this project is to establish evidence-based technical guidelines for washing clothing and bedding to eradicate priority skin pathogens. This will become a practical resource that can be used by communities, laundry service providers and clinicians. An overarching aim is to provide evidence for the mechanisms by which HLP-2 can interrupt transmission of skin infections and infestations and ultimately reduce the burden of RHD among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This holds great significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who are disproportionately affected by RHD as a product of ongoing systemic racism and socioeconomic marginalization.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on synthesis, writing, editing and formatting of the guidelines (with technical supervision and support). The intern will make contributions to the development of a short booklet/infographic for immediate use by communities and service providers. The intern will also contribute to a peer reviewed publication describing expert deliberations and decisions in more detail.

Qualifications: Mandatory qualifications include:

• Proven strong writing skills
• Demonstrated effective data analysis and information management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an innovative, multidisciplinary team, including excellent communication skills and ability to be adaptable and flexible
• Commitment to upholding cultural safety in work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Academic degree (or working toward) in infectious diseases, microbiology, public health, primary health or related field.
• Experience using Endnote referencing software (preferred)

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #8 – Enhancing OpenMalaria's User Experience Through AI-assisted Modelling

About: Our team developed and uses OpenMalaria, an individual-based modelling and simulation software designed to study and predict the transmission dynamics of malaria and the potential impact of various intervention strategies. Individual-based models are where individual entities or "agents" (humans, mosquitoes, and parasites) interact with each other and their environment based on a set of rules. This allows for a more detailed simulation of malaria dynamics compared to traditional compartmental models. We use OpenMalaria to understand how different interventions, including malaria vaccines, might affect disease spread. It serves as a valuable tool for researchers and public health officials working to control and eventually eliminate malaria.

OpenMalaria uses XML configuration files that can be complex to create and modify. Users often need to consult extensive documentation to set up their experiments correctly. This project aims to use AI tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), to make it easier for researchers to work with OpenMalaria's configuration system and codebase.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will work on applying AI approaches to improve the OpenMalaria user experience. Main tasks include:

• Training language models on OpenMalaria's XML configuration files and patterns
• Documentation, user guides, and C++ codebase
• Developing tools that can help users generate correct XML configuration files and Stretch goal, answer user questions about OpenMalaria through a chat interface Testing and validating the AI tools' outputs, documenting the development process
• Expected deliverables include AI tools to help generate OpenMalaria configuration files (XML), documentation of the development process, and (stretch goal) AI tools (chat interface) to answer user questions about OpenMalaria

Qualifications: Must be a fluent English speaker with good programming skills in Python (or R), and an ability to solve technical problems. Experience with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.) is preferred. Experience with C++ and a background in natural language processing is preferred but not required. 

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #9 –Research Software Engineering: Optimizing Malaria Vaccine Impact Through High-performance Computing and Pipeline Development

About: Our team developed and uses OpenMalaria, an individual-based modelling and simulation software designed to study and predict the transmission dynamics of malaria and the potential impact of various intervention strategies. Individual-based models are where individual entities or "agents" (humans, mosquitoes, and parasites) interact with each other and their environment based on a set of rules. This allows for a more detailed simulation of malaria dynamics compared to traditional compartmental models. We use OpenMalaria to understand how different interventions, including malaria vaccines, might affect disease spread. It serves as a valuable tool for researchers and public health officials working to control and eventually eliminate malaria.

OpenMalaria is a complex simulation software that presents significant usability challenges for researchers without extensive computational backgrounds. There is typically a steep learning curve for the average user. Currently, typical users use basic R and Python workflows for their analysis. This internship project aims to improve these workflows to make them more efficient, reproducible, and user-friendly. In other words, the intern will learn how to implement best practice research software engineering principles to improve existing pipelines.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will help improve our analysis pipelines and work with high-performance computing resources. Main tasks include: 

• Improve existing R analysis pipelines (or creating new ones in Python if preferred)
• Running and optimizing workflows on the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre
• Finding ways to make computations run faster through better code organization
• Writing clear documentation, Using GitHub for version control and Working with other researchers to understand their needs and improve the tools

Qualifications: Must be a fluent English speaker with good programming skills in Python (or R), and an ability to solve technical problems. Some experience with version control (like Git) and some understanding of computer architecture is preferred. Some C++ programming experience, familiarity with using the command line and interest in scientific computing and public health is preferred but not required.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #10 – Detecting Commensal Bacteria Which Inhibit Group A Streptococcus in Pharyngeal Swabs

About: The Group A Strep Pathogenesis and Diagnostics team (GASP) is focused on understanding GAS biology and infection to reduce the burden of disease caused by this pathogen.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) cause mild sore throats and skins sores but is also a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children, with the burden is particularly high in the world’s First Nations peoples. GAS shares its niche (the oropharynx) with a number of commensal species, each of which may act synergistically or antagonistically with one another. We are interested in understanding these interactions and harnessing them for better management of GAS transmission to improve health outcomes for affected children.

Intern Responsibilities: In this project, the intern will design molecular primers and probes for the detection of bacterial species which can inhibit growth of GAS. This will involve the use of bioinformatic tools and online genomic database for silico primer design and validation. You will then optimize the use of these primers in the lab to develop a highly sensitive quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to detect each commensal species.

Qualifications: A background in microbiology, molecular biology, or closely related discipline is required for this internship. High levels of computer literacy are extremely desirable, and experience with bioinformatics is not required but strongly preferred. 

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #11 –Uncovering How 'Rheumatogenic' Strep A Strains Trigger Acute Rheumatic Fever: Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, and Vaccine Development  

About: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen, causing over 775 million infections and 600,000 deaths worldwide. Underlying this disease burden is the common GAS infection of the tonsils known as “Strep throat”, which often results in healthcare visits and antibiotic prescriptions, and can lead to severe complications such as blood infections, “flesh-eating disease”, and chronic conditions such as rheumatic heart disease. This burden is particularly high among vulnerable and marginalised groups, including children and impoverished and Indigenous populations. Our group aims to discover and characterise the precise molecular events that take place during Strep throat infections including how they are able to trigger acute rhematic fever. We use a variety of techniques in our research, including genetic screens, targeted mutagenesis, and tissue culture and biochemical assays. 

Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) is an adverse immune response to Strep A infection. ARF can lead to damage to the heart valves known as Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD). It has long been known that not all GAS infections will result in ARF episodes, even in high-risk individuals. Using carefully recruited cohorts of ARF patients and related controls, we are working with an international team of investigators to understand ARF pathogenesis, vaccine safety and to develop a biomarker for diagnosis of ARF. We are also trying to better understand the mechanisms involved in how Strep A infection is able to trigger acute rheumatic fever. Some strains of Strep A are more likely to cause ARF than others and are known as ‘rheumatogenic’ strains. We aim to document the specific strains found in ARF patients in the literature and determine the attack rate of ARF based of the specific strain to identify any clear rheumatogenic patterns. Additionally, we plan to review past ARF outbreaks to see which Strep A strains were involved, further assessing their potential to cause ARF. This research will help us select specific Strep A strains for laboratory experiments to model ARF pathogenesis. By identifying 'rheumatogenic' strains, we aim to determine the factors that make them more likely to trigger ARF, which would lead to a better understanding of the disease and aid in vaccine development.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be asked to complete a systematic review on strains of Strep A that are able to cause ARF. Specifically, they will search the literature for research in which GAS has been isolated from ARF patients. The intern will also look at major outbreaks of Strep A that are associated with outbreaks of ARF.  The student could also complete some basic bioinformatics to determine if specific virulence factors are associated with ‘rheumatogenic’ strains.

Qualifications: English competency is required.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #12 –Gateway to Allergy Prevention: Promoting an Immunomodulatory Breastmilk Profile with Maternal Prebiotic Supplementation

About: Our research center is dedicated to advancing research in immunology, breastfeeding, and infant health (LRF CIBF). We focus on understanding the complex interactions between maternal diet, breast milk composition, and infant health outcomes, particularly allergic diseases. Our mission is to develop evidence-based strategies to improve breastfeeding practices and child health worldwide.

Globally, food allergy is a growing concern for children and their families. In Western Australia (WA), more than 30% of infants show signs of allergic sensitization before four months of age, highlighting the importance of promoting immune tolerance early in life. Childhood is a critical period for immune imprinting, and human milk (HM) plays a critical role by providing bioactive components that promote immune system development. Prebiotics, non-digestible fibers that stimulate beneficial gut bacteria, have been shown to regulate immune responses both locally (in the gut) and systemically. However, the effect of maternal prebiotic supplementation on HM composition remains unclear. We hypothesize that increasing maternal fiber intake through prebiotic supplementation may lead to a more tolerogenic HM profile, potentially reducing the risk of allergic disease in infants.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be involved in the next phase of some recent research, aiming to further elucidate the role of HM composition in determining infant health outcomes, including allergy prevention. The intern will focus on analyzing clinical data from the SYMBA trial to assess how maternal prebiotic supplementation affects infant health outcomes through the changes in HM composition we have observed. Data Analysis: Analyzing previously collected data from HM samples. Literature review: Review existing literature to support findings and contextualize results within the broader field. Communication: Assist with manuscript preparation, present findings at team meetings and possibly conferences.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree (or working towards) in a relevant field such as nutrition, public health, biomedical science, or related discipline. Proficiency in data analysis software (R, or similar) and familiarity with statistical methods, including descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and multivariate analysis. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Team spirit is key.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #13 –T1D Scope Evaluate Translate Estimate: SETE 4 Sustainable Knowledge Translation

About: The Rio Tinto Children’s Diabetes Centre (JDRF Global Centre of Excellence) aims to improve the lives of young people living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) by accelerating the implementation of evidence-based models of care for children and young people living with T1D.

No review has collated and assessed resources to support effective management for children and young adults living with T1D. Traditionally systematic reviews have proved to be labor intensive and years out of date once finalized. Our project will pioneer an innovative ‘accelerated review’ approach known as the ‘2weekSR’ method. The 2 weekSR method is a systematic review conducted and automated using technology to translate results within a 2-week period (median time is 66 weeks). This project will pilot the 2weekSR method to a scoping review of T1D resources for young people. This project will ensure T1D resources are up-to-the minute, fit for purpose, and provide a template for scalable and sustainable knowledge translation efforts.

Intern Responsibilities: The project activities include using tech enablers to identify and screen Australian resources targeted to a) carers of children with T1D, and b) teens/young adults with T1D within an accelerated and predefined period; determining the quality of resources by assessing indices such as credibility, ease of use, currency, evidence base, and availability; mapping these resources to a diabetes socioecological framework and working with consumers to identify gaps/unmet needs; planning and implementing the integration of quality resources into diabetes education programs and the Perth Children’s Hospital DiabHQ portal - a diabetes patient portal; and estimating the costs associated with resource mapping and gapping beyond the life of the project compared to traditional methods.

Qualifications: The intern will need to have some experience conducting systematic searches and/or reviews. Interns with skills in understanding AI assisted research are preferred.

Note: This internship takes place in Perth, Australia.

FOCUS AREA #14 – Data and Modelling for Malaria Vectors in Asia

About: The Infections Disease Ecology and Modelling team works on a variety of problems using quantitative, data-driven science to support the management of infectious diseases, including vector-borne diseases and their vectors. We have a particular focus on malaria vectors and malaria in Africa and Southeast Asia, as well as a range of respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza. The project will focus on updating knowledge of malaria vectors in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia.

Intern Responsibilities: The tasks and responsibilities of the intern will include a range of data management and visualization, scientific software coding, and basic modelling. The project can to some extent be led by the interests and skills of intern.

Qualifications: Intern needs quantitative scientific skills and base level of scientific computing; such skills can come may come through wide range of fields such as math, biology, physics, computer science, ecology, etc. An interest in health and/or ecological sciences is preferred.

Note: This internship can take place in either Perth, Australia or Melbourne, Australia. 

FOCUS AREA #15 –Dashboard Development and Visualization Design for Infectious Disease Modelling Hub

About: The Australian Consortium for Epidemic Forecasting and Analytics (ACEFA) aims to support the timely, effective response to epidemic diseases in Australia through real-time data analytics, modelling, and forecasting. Consortium activities include providing decision support, advancing methods and software tool development, informing the design of surveillance programs and data collection, and engaging with stakeholders. For the past year the consortium has been conducting weekly modelling and reporting on respiratory viruses in Australia as part of a forecasting hub, building off the national seasonal influenza forecasting program (2014–19) and COVID-19 situational assessment consortium (2020–23).

The consortium is currently expanding its scope and capabilities, and is aiming to have both a forecast hub and scenario projection hub up and running by 2026. The hubs are designed to allow for multiple groups to provide modelling outputs related to the same data and problems, improving our ability to provide decision makers with consensus conclusions about possible interventions.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will focus on assisting in the development of a data and forecast visualization dashboard. Dashboards have many benefits over static visualizations for communicating uncertainty. There is some flexibility in the exact tasks the intern can take on depending on skillset and interest, but would ideally involve writing R code to make visualizations, an interactive dashboard for the hub website, and potentially some data analytics if that were of interest.

Qualifications: Essential skills include programming, data analysis and visualization, excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent organizational skills, and experience working independently as part of a team. Desired skills include familiarity with data visualization in R and version control software such as GIT and GitHub. Experience working with sensitive data types and tools such as quarto and shiny for dashboard development is a plus.

Note: This internship can take place in either Perth, Australia or Melbourne, Australia. 

Website: https://www.thekids.org.au/

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past Kids Research Institute Australia (Formerly known as the Telethon Kids Institute) Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2024

Ellie Berman ’25 – Food Insecurity: An International Review of Food Provision for Children (Video Presentation)

Angela Cai ’27 – Causes of Disease: When We Don’t Have the Full Picture (Video Presentation)

Sharv Dave ’25 – Small Lives, Big Threats: Climate Change Impacts on Child Health in sub-Saharan Africa (Video Presentation)

Tara Dsilva ’25 – Understanding Flourishing in Early Childhood (Video Presentation)

Jenna Elliott ’25 – An International Review of Food Insecurity and Provision Policy for Children and Families (Video Presentation)

Seth Kahn ’25 – The Case Ascertainment Rate Dilemma: Using an Infection Inference Model Fitted to Simulated Surveillance Data to Estimate Time-Varying CAR (Video Presentation)

Abigail Kim ’26 – Healthy Skin for All: Closing the Gap on Skin Infections for Aboriginal Health (Video Presentation)

Evan Soper ’27 – Addressing the Effect of Sampling Bias on Predictive Ecological Niche Models (Video Presentation)

Nina Su ’26 – Clinical Trial and Health Promotion Intervention for Children with Otitis Media (Video Presentation)

Tiffany Tsai ’25 – Move to Improve: Integrating Personalized Exercise Programs for Children with Chronic Health Condition (Video Presentation)

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: 4

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 four (4) 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, including the following:

• HIV and TB: Investigating Adherence and Identifying factors leading to Lost-to-Follow-up in Health Care
• Service Package for implementation of Psychosocial Rehabilitation policy guidelines for HIV and TB.
• Wellness strategy: support work done in the development of the strategy
• Child malnutrition: addressing drivers of stunting

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

FOCUS AREA #2 – Telehealth Evaluation

About: The directorate for Clinical Service Improvement (CSI) is a newly established unit within the Western Cape Department of Health (WCGH). We are a small, flexible team exploring conventional and unconventional ways to improve clinical service delivery across our province.

We engage directly with clients (clinicians, healthcare facilities etc.) and with WCGH top management to find challenges and opportunities. We consider these in terms of three interlinked themes, including innovation and prototyping, improvement sciences, and service and platform design. 

As part of the service and platform design, the team has been working on various telehealth projects with the aim of improving easy access to care. We typically test adherence model, access to treatment like emergency contraception, optimizing existing service contracts and anything that shows the potential to improve care via a telehealth intervention. We run a call center with 10 to 15 non-clinical agents at any given time. They are supported by a clinical team and project manager.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will be required to cost the telehealth interventions. Costing new and novel interventions remain critical to determine if the health department is able to afford role out but also to compare to existing interventions. Activities that may be assigned to the intern include:

• Assessing the cost effectiveness of the telehealth intervention and compare to usual care
• Assessing cost benefit of a specific telehealth intervention.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in the field of health economics and/or public health
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation and economic evaluations
• Analytical skills
• Economic evaluation
• Monitoring and evaluation of health interventions
• Literature reviews (including systematic reviews)
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Strong writing skills

FOCUS AREA #3 – Clinical Service Improvement

About: The Directorate for Clinical Service Improvement is an innovation-driven team within the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness. We are tasked with identifying and addressing systemic challenges in healthcare delivery. Our approach combines cutting-edge methodologies with tried-and-tested solutions to create scalable, evidence-based models that drive meaningful service improvements across the public health system.

Forensic pathology services in the Western Cape are essential yet significantly resource-constrained, impacting both public health and the justice system. Producing legally compliant autopsy reports is a meticulous and time-intensive process, often delayed due to the high workload and manual data entry requirements.

This project explores the potential of integrating voice-to-text technology to streamline the documentation process during autopsies. Additionally, by applying artificial intelligence for formatting, error-checking, and analysis, we aim to enhance the speed, accuracy, and standardization of these critical reports. The long- term goal is to develop a scalable solution that reduces administrative burdens, improves report quality, and enables forensic pathologists to focus more on their core expertise. There is potential for this model to be applied to other clinical areas, further amplifying its impact.

Intern Responsibilities: This project will focus on leveraging voice-to-text technology and AI-driven text processing to enhance forensic pathology report generation, improving efficiency and accuracy in a high-demand, resource-constrained environment. The intern will have the opportunity to customize their involvement based on their background and interests, with a focus on either technology implementation (e.g., AI and voice recognition) or process improvement. Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting in the design and execution of proof-of-concept experiments.
• Mapping and analyzing the current process flow for forensic pathology report generation.
• Collaborating on AI and voice-to-text integration into existing systems.
• Developing a final report detailing project outcomes, along with advocacy materials to support scaling and replication of the intervention.
• The project has wider applications beyond forensic pathology, with similar use cases in surgical operations and client reporting, offering the intern a broader scope of influence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in English for clear communication with teams and stakeholders.
• Skills in process improvement, efficiency optimization, or experience with artificial intelligence and voice-to-text technologies.
• Competency in report writing and the ability to synthesize findings into clear, actionable documents. We welcome a range of technical and academic backgrounds, allowing for a tailored role that aligns with the intern's expertise while providing valuable contributions to the project.

This internship will take place at the Department of Forensic Pathology at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, with office-based work at the nearby Bellville Health Park.

FOCUS AREA #4 – Primary Health Care Facilities

About: Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities see the vast bulk of clients seeking health services and are located within communities. PHC facilities have vastly differing queue flows and processes to manage clients without appointments. These clients are often subjected to very long waiting times, and often not seen on the day they present if the facility does not have the capacity to see them. This presents obvious adverse implications for patient safety and experience. Furthermore, due in part, to the lack of effective processes to manage unbooked clients, there exists a deep distrust in the health service from patients. This distrust manifests through frequent altercations with clients, and widespread lack of willingness to abide by policies to improve health services.

This work will aim to comprehensively survey the contributory system and incidental factors, with accompanying high quality literature review and rigorous policy analysis. At the end of the internship, using rapid appraisal methods, we would like to have a document with relevant recommendations for decision- makers around unbooked clients and where best to intervene addressing long waiting times, patient dissatisfaction, service pressures and better understand the factors contributing to low trust and how to influence this positively.

Intern Responsibilities: The project will focus on a rapid appraisal with recommendations for decision-makers for unbooked clients attending Primary Health Care facilities in Cape Town, South Africa. The specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Literature review
• Policy analysis of local and international policies around unbooked clients and service design
• In-person interviews with/without focus group discussions with selected individuals
• Develop drafts of the rapid appraisal to supervisor and address comments
• Possibly publish in academic journal if feasible/substantiated

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Basic literature review (mandatory)
• English speaking
• Competent writing ability
• Policy analysis 
• Ability to conduct in-person interviews and focus groups

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

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

Summer 2024 

Laurel Cooke, MPA – A Summer of Challenging Triumphs (Video Presentation)

Gabby English ’26 – Antenatal Smoking in the Western Cape (Video Presentation)

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)

Mpala Research Centre

Health Research Internships

Location: Laikipia County, Kenya

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: All airfare, housing, and onsite food provided free of charge, plus $1,500 cash stipend

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

Princeton Supervisor: Hanna Ehrlich, Postdoctoral Associate, Princeton Global Health Program

About: The Mpala Research Centre and Wildlife Foundation is located on the Laikipia Plateau in north central Kenya. The facility is operated as a partnership involving Princeton University, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and the National Museums of Kenya. Mpala facilitates and promotes the advancement of human livelihoods and sustainable human-wildlife coexistence through science, education, and outreach. 

In East Africa, anthropogenic and climate changes have increased water insecurity, impacting how humans, wildlife, and livestock interact. Laikipia County, Kenya is made up of conservancies for endangered wildlife, private cattle ranches, and public grazing lands used by pastoralist communities. A complex history of land use and change in the region has led to increased pressure at shared water sources (waterholes) with disease transmission between megafauna (e.g., zebras, rhinos, cattle) congregating at these sites. Our research will investigate nematode and vector-borne pathogen presence at waterholes and surrounding rangelands, identify anthropogenic drivers of animal movement and disease, and integrate these findings into disease surveillance systems. Our work aims to prioritize local knowledge and vulnerable communities, particularly those experiencing landscapes in transition, to mitigate drivers of disease emergence and spread. 

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 – Laboratory Focus

About: All interns will have the opportunity to participate in ecological fieldwork, including animal tracking and vector sampling. In addition to this, the intern will have the opportunity to participate in laboratory work.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Lab work: DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis
• Fieldwork: Animal tracking and sampling; mosquito and tick trapping; fecal nematode egg counts
• Data analysis: Camera trap processing; data cleaning, analysis, and presentation

Qualifications:

• Basic laboratory experience (e.g. familiarity with pipetting and sample processing) is strongly preferred. 
• Interns are encouraged to incorporate additional background, research interests, and ideas to help shape the direction of this project.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Community Focus

About: All interns will have the opportunity to participate in ecological fieldwork, including animal tracking and vector sampling. In addition to this, the intern will have the opportunity to participate in social science work.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Community work: Interviews; community and site mapping 
• Fieldwork: Animal tracking and sampling; mosquito and tick trapping; fecal nematode egg counts
• Data analysis: Camera trap processing; data cleaning, analysis, and presentation

Qualifications:

• Exposure to anthropological or ethnographic methods is preferred but not required. 
• Interns are encouraged to incorporate additional background, research interests, and ideas to help shape the direction of this project.

Websites:https://chw.princeton.edu/people/hanna-ehrlich and https://mpala.org/

View Internship Summary Posters from Past Mpala Research Centre Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2023

Clara Toujas-Bernate ’25 – Making Healthcare Transportable: A Qualitative Reflection (Video Presentation)

Tsion Yared ’24 – Making Healthcare Transportable: A Qualitative Reflection (Video Presentation)

Summer 2022

Kaleb Boyd ’24 – Understanding the Effect of Environmental Changes on the Human Gut Microbiome: An Analysis of the Turkana in Kenya (Video Presentation) 

Zhudi Pan ’23 – Dams, Nasty Freezers, and Everything in Between: Working with the Turkana Health Genomics Project (Video Presentation)

Summer 2019

Nourhan Ibrahim ’20 – Secondary School Conservation Biology Education in Laikipia County Kenya

Summer 2018 

Carly Bonnet ‘19 – Medicinal Herb and Clinic Use in Mpala, Kenya

Ayo Foster-McCray ’20 – Health Education and Healthcare Implementation in Rural Kenya

Gabriela Rivera ’20 – Health Education and Mobile Health Outreach

Sebastian Silveira ‘19 – The Importance of Nutrient Availability and Parasitic Risk on the Foraging Behaviors of Grevy’s & Plains Zebra

Summer 2017

Annabel Lee ’20 – LaikipiaRabies Vaccination Campaign

Maria Malik ’19 – Evaluating the Biodiversity of the Local Anopheles Mosquito Population at MPALA through Larval Sampling

Lily Reisinger ‘18 – The Function of Zebra Stripes in Thermoregulation & the Deterrence of Disease-Carrying Biting Flies

Madeleine Sumner ‘20 – Faces of Rural Kenya: A Journey through the Kenyan Public Health System

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, and onsite food provided free of charge, plus $1,000 cash stipend. (Note: Some meals during off/rest days will not be covered. Interns can expect to pay approx. $2-10 per person for those meals, using money from the 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 the human health consequences of environmental disturbances.

Since 2014, Princeton researcher Benjamin Rice (in the lab of Professor Jessica Metcalf) has been studying infectious disease in Madagascar. Concerningly, disease such as malaria have increased in frequency in recent years, coinciding with climatic changes such as more severe weather events. A wide array of pathogens (e.g., malaria, dengue, and others) and public health activities such as vaccination and are thought to be sensitive to climate-driven disruptions. However, research establishing the consequences for local communities and implications for public health strategy remains minimal.

Focusing on Madagascar and other countries bordering the Indian Ocean, we are interested in studying the health impacts of tropical cyclones (equivalent to hurricanes), using multiple approaches:

• Climate and Health: First, through collaboration with climate scientists at the High Meadows Environmental Institute (HMEI), we aim to characterize how climate change will alter the location and timing of extreme weather events. The research team will integrate predictions of the future distribution of tropical cyclones with disease data to highlight areas at greatest risk and suggest interventions to mitigate that risk.
• Epidemiological Modeling: Using data on vaccination coverage, bednet usage, and other indicators of health system functioning, we aim to characterize the extent to which storms interrupt routine public health activities – and quantify the cost in terms of health burden that results. The student will assist with compiling and analyzing existing data, building models, collecting new data, and developing further research questions in partnership with Malagasy collaborators. We plan to start from the basics so while an interest in R coding and modeling is required, no prior experience needed.
• Infectious Disease Surveillance: To complement existing data, we aim to collect new data, focusing on deploying new diagnostics to increase the number of diseases for which data are available from low resource settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria are widely used, providing much needed data, but, to date, this has not been extended to other pathogens such as dengue and zoonotic infections. The recent development of more low-cost tests provides us with an opportunity to pilot an expanded range of diagnostics in Madagascar, in collaboration with scientists working in the One Health field.

Intern Responsibilities:

• The intern will collaborate with Dr. Rice and a research team to clean, visualize, and present data on climate and infectious disease in Madagascar and other countries bordering the Indian Ocean such as Mozambique.
• Within these topic areas, the intern will develop new lines of inquiry in a direction of the intern’s choosing, helping to pilot new approaches and broaden the research scope.
• Interns will participate in fieldwork in Madagascar in a combination of field, lab, and clinical settings.

Qualifications: Experience (or interest) 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.

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

View Internship Summary Poster and Video from Past Madagascar One Health Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2024

Ingrid Nilsson ’26 – Toxoplasmosis in Wild Carnivores: One Health Research Initiative Madagascar (Video Presentation)

Oscair Page ’26 – Madagascar One Health: Wildlife Pathogens and Zoonotic Disease Risk (Video Presentation)

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

African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP)

Digital Transformation, Health Promotion, and Social Entrepreneurship Internships

Location: Gaborone, Botswana

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: ACHAP is a Botswana-based non for profit organization founded in 2000 as a public health and socioeconomic impact organization. The organization leverages implementation science to enhance governmental response to health challenges by building capacity bottom up from community systems to district health and social delivery facilities for access to services and programs.  The organization works both at a national and community level.  ACHAP interventions are implemented with the active participation of key community stakeholders including beneficiaries. ACHAP core strengths include flexibility, innovation in program design and implementation, evidence-based programming, and commitment to culturally relevant approaches.

ACHAP’s key interventions include the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) Program; the Botswana TB/HIV Prevention, Care and Support Program; Prevention Programs for Adolescents and Youth; Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health; COVID-19 Response; and various research activities, consultancies, and small grants.

There are four (4) potential focus areas for a student intern. When applying, please indicate the one or one or ones you would like to be considered for.

FOCUS AREA #1 – Digital Transformation and Automation of Health Data Reporting

Intern Responsibilities: The intern would organize and clean health implementation data sets at ACHAP, and develop web-based dashboards for user-driven data analysis and reporting. Additionally, the intern would support ACHAP efforts to begin implementation of digital telehealth initiatives at the community level. This may include devising means for community residents to report health indicators to health providers remotely via phone apps or other digital means.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Adolescent Girls’ and Young Women’s Health

Intern Responsibilities: Botswana has set ambitious national goals for HIV testing, adherence to HIV treatment, and viral suppression. ACHAP programs promote, among others, the health of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), who sometimes encounter gender-based violence, and can be at risk of leaving school early. The intern will support these efforts, including the Social Asset Building program which aims to empower AGYW by building entrepreneurship skills to break generational cycles of poverty that predisposes them to HIV infection. The intern will help enroll at-risk AGYW in HIV prep programs, and promote their access to health services in general. The intern may also support efforts to document results of ACHAP’s AGYW work, including impacts on pregnancy rates, income, and academic performance. This could also include videography.

FOCUS AREA #3 – Health Training Curriculum Advancement

Intern Responsibilities: ACHAP has developed a wide range of health-focused training materials across a variety of thematic areas, for delivery to government, civil society, schools, and other audiences. The intern would provide support in formally packaging and institutionalizing these health training materials into formal curricula, registering them as intellectual property in Botswana, so that they can be formally standardized and also generate royalty income for ACHAP when licensed for use by other providers.

FOCUS AREA #4 – Resource Mobilization and Social Entrepreneurship

Intern Responsibilities: ACHAP’s health activities are supported by a wide range of domestic and international donors. The intern would support efforts to diversify ACHAP’s funding sources by exploring public-private partnerships among local and international companies willing to collaborate on health interventions, including environmental health. This will include approaching tour companies operating in Botswana’s wildlife-rich Okavango Delta region and other areas. The intern would research successful funding strategies used by health-focused NGOs operating elsewhere in Africa and in the world. The intern would also research international foundations, national and multilateral donors who may accept grant applications for health interventions, and may support grant application efforts.

Qualifications: 

• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Professional proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams
• Demonstrate solid interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team
• Ability to research information and prepare reports and other correspondence
• Ambitious, motivated, and enthusiastic

Website:  https://policycommons.net/orgs/african-comprehensive-hivaids-partnerships-bw 

New Internship for 2025; no past Princeton interns.

NYC Health + Hospitals

Emergency Management & Climate Health Internships

Location: New York City, New York

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 3

Stipend: $7,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: NYC Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) Central Office Emergency Management and System-wide Special Pathogens Program provides the strategic and operational framework and resources to protect our patients, visitors, staff, communities and infrastructure from natural, technological, and intentional incidents. Our programs are carefully designed to support all five critical elements of emergency management—prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery—specifically tailored to public health emergencies and infectious disease threats. 

The System-wide Special Pathogens Program, which includes the Institute for Diseases and Disaster Management, works to prepare for climate-related risks that may impact NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal health system. To address the emerging challenges posed by climate change, a dedicated branch of our program focuses on the nexus of climate health and all-hazards. This program is geared toward developing strategies to mitigate and adapt to the health impacts of climate-related infectious disease threats, fortifying the resilience of our healthcare system.

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 - Special Pathogens Program

About: 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 a local, city scale with the System Special Pathogens Program.

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 presentations and reports for special pathogens exercises. drills, simulations, or other activities.
• Attend and support healthcare facility site visits. 

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.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Climate Health

About: Climate change is increasingly impacting healthcare delivery systems worldwide, with more frequent heat events, intensified hurricanes, abnormal pathogen spread, and greater exposure to environmental toxins. Further, the likelihood of managing concurrent risks has increased, heightening the importance of health system preparedness for these events.

Last year, New York City Health + Hospitals' System-wide Special Pathogens Program expanded to include climate health. The intern will support an array of projects regarding both climate change risks and special pathogen concerns.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Support a research project regarding the nexus of climate health and special pathogens.
• Support climate health educational and training programs as part of the System-wide Special Pathogens Program.
• Support the planning, operations, and assessment of drills and exercises related to climate health.
• Conduct a literature review on climate health topics, including climate-related infectious disease spread, climate health initiatives, and New York City-specific threats.
• Develop educational materials for clinical providers and the general public regarding heat waves, hurricane preparedness, and air pollution.
• 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.
• Support the System-wide Special Pathogens Program and other infectious disease threat related projects.
• Provide administrative support from an ‘all-hazards’ approach to emergency management related activities.
• Attend and support healthcare facility site visits.

Qualifications: 

• Strong environmental studies background.
• Statistics experience preferred.
• Proactive and self-motivated individual with ability to work in teams, a highly dynamic environment with multiple stakeholders and timelines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to research information and prepare reports and other correspondence.
• 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 2024

Ashley Abramson ’25 – Infectious Disease Preparedness at NYC Health + Hospitals (Video Presentation)

Madeline Davet, MPA ’25 – Here and Now: Integrating Climate Risks into Healthcare Provision and Preparedness (Video Presentation)

Srista Tripathi ’25 – Infectious Disease Preparedness at NYC Health + Hospitals (Video Presentation)

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

World Bank Group

Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice

Service Delivery Innovations Team

Location: Washington, D.C.

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1 (Restricted to Graduate Student Applicants Only)

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: Established in 1944, the World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for development solutions. In fiscal year 2018, the WBG committed $67 billion in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to its members and private businesses, of which $24 billion was concessional finance to its poorest members. It is governed by 188-member countries and delivers services out of 120 offices with nearly 15,000 staff located 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 – Rapid Social Response Umbrella Trust Fund Project

About: The Rapid Social Response is a Trust Fund in the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice seeking a highly motivated and skilled summer intern to support the integration of food and nutrition considerations in social protection programming.

The intern will be supporting efforts to maximize the extent to which the 30-billion-dollar WBG social protection portfolio can improve food, and nutrition outcomes for the most vulnerable. The intern will have the opportunity to develop and lead independent projects with guidance from the RSR-FNS trust fund window manager.

Intern Responsibilities: Tasks and Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Analyze existing social protection programs and identify gaps and opportunities for integrating nutrition components.
• Lead a review of qualitative review of past RSR grants, synthesizing lessons learned and their achieved impacts
• Review literature on the current evidence and best practices related to nutrition sensitive SP programming.
• Lead the development of brief with country specific brief entry points to Nutrition Smart Social Protection.
• Contribute to the organization's knowledge management efforts by documenting project activities, lessons learned, and best practices.

Qualifications: The intern should possess the following qualifications:

• Currently enrolled as a graduate student, preferably in a relevant field such as international development, public policy, or food security, global/public health nutrition.
• Strong research and analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to conduct literature reviews and synthesize information.
• Knowledge of food and nutrition security issues, social protection programming, and development principles is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proficiency in data analysis and statistical software is a plus.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice

About: In recent times, with COVID-19, Ukraine war and inflation crisis, social protection (and social assistance in particular) has played a crucial role in supporting the poor and vulnerable households, it has seen unprecedented scale-up in terms of no of people reached through cash transfers (Gentilini et al., 2022a, 2022b, 2023). Emerging out of the polycrisis, countries are scaling back their programs to pre-covid-level (Gentilini, 2024), due to lack of fiscal space to maintain such levels of coverage. But recent evidence (Tesliuc et al., forthcoming) highlights that current levels of financing on social assistance (and more broadly on social protection) are inadequate compared to the needs. Around 2 billion people in L&MICs are either missed or inadequately coverage. And it would cost anywhere $60-120billion per annum to cover the extreme poor with social safety nets (World Bank, 2023; Tesliuc et al., forthcoming). So this raises an important question on how to make the social assistance programs fiscally sustainable and how can we optimize financing of social protection programs.

The Social Safety Net Global Solutions Group (SSN GSG) is working on a knowledge product to advance the frontier on this topic. The team is looking for a qualified intern to support the GSG on this topic and other priority areas of the SNS GSG, including Adaptive Safety Nets and Food Security and Nutrition. The SSN GSG has been curating analytical products (e.g., the State of Social Assistance), organizing SPJ connect events (e.g., inflation-indexed cash programs) and many more. The team had also reviewed the World Bank’s portfolio on social assistance to better understand the Bank’s efforts in supporting social assistance programs in client countries.

Intern Responsibilities: Tasks and Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Conduct desk research on financing of social assistance and evidence on the effectiveness of social assistance.
• Analyze data on social assistance based on the needs in the ongoing project.
• Prepare slide decks and/or briefing notes on the main findings from financing work, evidence of social assistance work, and other ongoing projects.

Qualifications: The intern should possess the following qualifications:

• Ability to rapidly absorb and synthesize large volumes of economics and development materials
• Quantitative skills including excellent command of excel and a basic command of Stata/R/Python
• Excellent English writing skills
• Currently enrolled as a graduate student, preferably in economics, public policy, or related fields
• Enthusiastic individual with an open mind to learn and contribute

Website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/home

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

Summer 2024

Baneen Abbas, MPA – Internship at the World Bank

Nicholas Johnson ’25 – Assessing the Effectiveness of Pensions and Social Insurance (Video Presentation)

Nada Shalash, MPA – Improving Global Social Protection Systems and Enhancing Shock Preparedness

Summer 2022

Evelyn Wong, MPA ‘23 – Building Innovation Capacity for People-Centered, Equitable Primary Healthcare (Video Presentation)

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 is a plus, but training is available.

Websites: 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 2024

Minna Abdella ’26 – A Qualitative Study on Asthma Triggers among Urban Minority Children in the District of Columbia’s Public Housing (Video Presentation)

Willem Maniago ’27 – Reducing Childhood Asthma in D.C. Public Housing: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Video Presentation)

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 health-related social needs for the Latine 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
• Support with subject recruitment
• Support with data collection and analysis

Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include the following:

• Bilingual Spanish/English
• 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/ 

View Internship Summary Posters and Videos from Past La Clínica del Pueblo Princeton Student Interns:

Summer 2024

Felipe De Bolle ’26 – Social Support as Healthcare: Improving Health Outcomes by Addressing Social Needs (Video Presentation)

Josephine Klein ’25 – My Summer with Entre Amigas (Video Presentation)

University of Iowa

Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Internship

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $6,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: The team at the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine is focused on the development of novel therapies for the treatment of fungal keratitis, or fungal infections of the cornea. With access to clinical samples of fungal keratitis isolates from Iowa, India, Ghana, and Nepal. We are establishing a robust repository of fungal strains from around the world to better understand how to treat these devastating infections. The goal of this work is to perform high throughput drug screening with fungal keratitis isolates to identify candidate compounds for improved treatment of these infections.

Fungal keratitis is a blinding disease both in America and around the world causing significant amounts of corneal blindness. Despite available clinical antifungals, response to therapy in fungal keratitis is poor with about half of infections requiring surgery to attempt to resolve the infection. Fungal keratitis is most commonly caused by environmental molds including Aspergillus and Fusarium species. A major contributor to the poor response to therapy is the lack of antifungals that are efficacious against molds and the huge intraspecies variability in response to clinical antifungals in these organisms. Thus, our project aims to fill the need for better mold-active antifungals by directly screening with these organisms. This project will use a variety of microbiological techniques to characterize the response of these strains to antifungals, stress, and various environmental conditions.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Review of clinical records of patients with fungal keratitis.
• Preparation of media and laboratory reagents.
• Evaluation of susceptibility of isolates to clinical and investigational antifungals using minimum inhibitory concentration assays.
• Characterization of the growth of fungal isolates under various environmental and stress conditions.
• Contribute to optimization of a high throughput screen with fungal isolates.
• For those interested, we can also begin exploring the clinical correlations of drug development and patient outcomes of fungal keratitis locally.

Qualifications: 

• Molecular biology wet lab techniques preferred.
• Curiosity!

Website: https://medicine.uiowa.edu/eye/ 

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

Summer 2024

Irene Park ’26 – Fungal Keratitis in the Heartland: Susceptibility Testing Analysis and Clinical Implications (Video Presentation)

Trenton Health Team

Health Data Analytics Internship

Location: Hybrid - Trenton, New Jersey and Remote (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 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.
• Summarize and present results to stakeholders through slide decks, dashboards, or other visuals.
• Adhere to THT’s privacy requirements and ensure the appropriate handling of sensitive information.

Qualifications: 

Required qualifications 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.
• Ability to work independently - intern will work closely with Senior Data Analyst, but must be self-motivated and able to work independently on projects.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Strong writing, communication and data-driven storytelling skills.
• Experience with data visualization tools, like Tableau.
• 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 2024

Angela Zheng ’26 – Data-Driven Approaches to Health: Leveraging Analytics for Social Impact (Video Presentation)

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: Mwanza, Tanzania; or Gaborone, Botswana; or 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). Please see each focus area below for additional details on internship location.

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 5

Stipend: $4,000 (remote/New Brunswick, New Jersey) and $6,000 (Gaborone, Botswana and Mwanza, Tanzania)

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 – Behavioral Science Research Using Mobile Health Technology (Sleep N’ Quit)

About: This Sleep N’ Quit study is led by Dr. Chaelin Karen Ra and funded by the National Institutes of Health NIH. This study investigates the use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies including sensors and smartphone apps to facilitate tobacco cessation while investigating the bidirectional relationships to sleep and smoking. The aims for this study are to develop effective interventions utilizing mHealth to increase accessibility to tobacco cessation intervention and support in partnership with local Tobacco Quit Centers.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Conducting participant recruitment phone and zoom calls to increase enrollment in research studies.
• Assist with the preparations of mailing study items to participants and recruitment materials (i.e., flyers) for participants. Updating inventory and participant log on a routine basis and requesting purchase orders for necessary items.
• Monitors progress of projects. 
• Conducting targeted literature searches and web searches. As directed, provides support in the preparation of presentations.
• Opportunities for learning and shadowing in participant recruitment and tracking, data entry/cleaning/management.
• Adheres to HIPAA guidelines to ensure protection of any private health information.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Demonstrated detail orientation; strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, multi-tasking, prioritizing, and interpersonal skills. Effective oral and written communication skills. Must be computer literate with proficiency and working knowledge of database and reporting tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams. Skills with survey building software such as REDCap and experience with statistical software (e.g., SPSS) and IRB submissions preferred but not required.

Note: This opportunity takes place remotely and/or in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

FOCUS AREA #2 – Population Health Interventions

About: The research in our department, Population Sciences and the Cancer Health Equity Center of Excellence is focused on population health interventions concerning real-world outcomes and health equity and cancer, including hereditary cancer risk assessment and genetic testing and lung cancer screening.

Intern Responsibilities: A summer intern with our research team would gain direct experience in population health and cancer disparities research, and technological digital interventions enabled by artificial intelligence. The intern will play a crucial role in supporting the research initiative, whether it is in the launching or implementation or analysis phase of one or more randomized controlled trials. Daily tasks would draw on a wide set of skills concerning the creation or deployment of research surveys, using REDCap databases, and reviewing patient-facing materials. Additionally, the intern, with project manager oversight, could become deeply involved in recruiting and enrolling eligible patients, contacting them directly to introduce the study, discuss study questions, and securing consent. The intern would also engage with key stakeholders for each clinical trial in weekly team meetings, learn about research methods, and have the opportunity to share his or her ideas and suggestions for handling workflow issues that may arise.

Qualifications: Successful interns are expected to have an interest in population health, cancer prevention and screening, genetic testing, and health equity and have strong interpersonal, written communication, and analytical skills with attention to detail.

Note: This opportunity takes place remotely and/or in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

FOCUS AREA #3 – Multiple Cancer Prevention and Support Studies

About: The position in the Manne lab may involve work on multiple cancer prevention and support studies. Under Dr. Manne’s Survivorship Center, the intern will assist with a study focusing on patients with lymphoma.

Intern Responsibilities: The intern may gain experience with human subjects research, online intervention platform development, direct patient interaction, and qualitative interviews. Interns will sit in on interviews with patients or providers and will use Zoom’s transcription feature to transcribe and clean the interview script. The intern will also be able to use the scripts to synthesize information and conduct a thematic analysis on interview responses. In another project, we are utilizing Facebook to conduct a family expansion project for skin cancer prevention. The intern may assist with capturing and documenting information from the participant’s medical provider and will gain experience working with participant management software called DatStat. Training will also be available on research document creation/modifications (consent forms, interview guides, scripts, surveys, etc.) in preparation for Institutional Review Board (IRB) review. The intern will work closely with the investigative team, and make valuable contributions to projects that will improve cancer survivor knowledge and support.

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.

Note: This opportunity takes place remotely and/or in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

FOCUS AREA #4 – Skin Cancer and Lung Cancer Prevention Research

About: Our research is focused on the evaluation and dissemination of behavioral interventions and policies to decrease cancer risk, with primary focuses on skin cancer prevention and tobacco use and cessation. Specifically, we work to identify ways to change behaviors and policies to prevent skin cancer, particularly in children, teens, and young adults, through surveys, behavioral digital interventions, and comprehensive indoor tanning and school sun safety policy research. For tobacco use, we are currently focused on cigarette “relighting”, an understudied behavior where some smokers relight and smoke their cigarettes one of more times after the initial lighting and extinguishing of the cigarette. This behavior is associated with health disparities, greater nicotine dependence, higher toxicant exposure, and lower cessation rates.

The projects in the lab focus on cancer prevention in a couple different forms.

The first project is skin cancer prevention as it relates to indoor tanning (IT). The number of skin cancer cases is increasing, and treatment can also be quite expensive. IT, particularly by young people, can cause serious skin damage, sunburns, and increase skin cancer risk. In an effort to improve skin cancer prevention, this project assesses the IT policies across US states including through a confederate (pseudo patron) study, surveys to determine compliance with these policies, and costs of tanning and skin cancer. This will help evaluate IT law stringency, enforcement and compliance, which can inform work in reducing IT of young adults, who are an at-risk population. 

The second project addresses smoking and lung cancer prevention research. Cigarette relighting is a poorly understood and understudied behavior but seems to be more common in disenfranchised groups. This behavior is associated with health disparities, greater nicotine dependence, higher toxicant exposure, and lower cessation rates. National survey data, including some related to cost by state of residence, have been collected and are being analyzed to better understand relighting as a whole. To improve intervention for smokers, data are being collected about relighting behaviors at tobacco quit centers, and a lab study is being conducted to measure toxicant levels in relit cigarettes. Cigar relighting is also being explored using a survey.

Intern Responsibilities: Specific research activities will vary based on the status of the research projects in Summer 2025. However, the intern can have the opportunity to be involved in both the skin cancer prevention and relighting grants. We try to involve interns in multiple types and phases of projects base on their interest and skills. The intern will be able to assist in data cleaning, basic analyses, presentation and manuscript preparation through writing, creating figures/tables/etc., and assisting with identifying literature and creating detailed reference lists in papers. The intern may also assist with other research tasks which could include collecting pilot data for other grant submissions, drafting digital intervention content to deliver to participants, creating and programming surveys, and other tasks agreed upon by the intern and mentors. 

Qualifications: We are seeking a student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a relevant science field (e.g., pre-med, public policy, public health, psychology, sociology, health education, or nursing) preferred. Strong interest in cancer prevention, behavioral medicine, e/mHealth and social media, psychology, or health policy preferred. Strong organizational, oral and written communication, problem-solving, multi-tasking, prioritizing, initiative, and interpersonal skills. Experience working with reporting and research tools such as Qualtrics, Endnote, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint preferred.

Note: This opportunity takes place remotely and/or in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

FOCUS AREA #5 – Women’s Cancer Screening, Early Detection, and Timely Diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa

About: The aim of our work is to reduce cancer inequities globally. Our research is focused on global cancer control and implementation science, particularly on the prevention and early detection of breast and cervical cancers in low-resource settings. Dr. Friebel, a cancer epidemiologist, and Dr. Kohler, a health services researcher, have been conducting global oncology research for over a decade. Their research collaboration leverages observational, interventional, and qualitative data with the goal of improving early diagnosis and cancer outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Our current projects investigate breast and cervical cancer screening uptake and cancer diagnostic and treatment pathways in healthcare settings in both Botswana and Tanzania. We aim to improve access to cancer care in low-resource settings by identifying barriers and facilitators for early detection of breast cancer and cervical cancer screening at the individual-, provider-, and health-care facility-level. We use data-driven approaches, including mixed-method assessments of key stakeholders and health care facility capacity, to tailor evidence-based public health interventions to local contexts.

Intern Responsibilities: Specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Data collection from primary and tertiary care facilities in sub-Saharan Africa;
• Administration of a cross-sectional survey to staff at health care facilities; 
• Assistance with data entry, management, and analysis; 
• Opportunity to present a related abstract and potential co-authorship for a journal article.

Qualifications: 

• Strong personal initiative
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Oral and written communication and problem-solving skills
• Must be fluent in English
• Coursework in global health, public health, and/or epidemiology
• Interest in women’s health and/or cancer
• Preferred prior human subjects research experience and data management

Note: This opportunity could take place in either Mwanza, Tanzania or Gaborone, Botswana. During time abroad, the intern will work closely with local research staff in a hospital and clinic setting and participate in weekly project calls with the US-based P.I.

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

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

Summer 2024 

Adelaide Asante ’25 – Dive into Public Health and Geospatial Analysis

Sonia Cherian ’27 – AI Relational Agents as Public Health Intervention: CATALYST and PROPEL Studies (Video Presentation)

Rachel Edelstein ’26 – Empowering Mentees: Creating the EMERGE Mentorship Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute (Video Presentation)

Jamil Fayad ’26 – Relationship Between Online Alcohol Advertisements and Alcohol Use (Video Presentation)

Amar Gamal Abou-Hussein ’25 – Lifestyle Patterns and Quality of Life in a Cohort of Black Breast Cancer Survivors (Video Presentation)

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

Save the Children

Child Health and Data Analysis Internships

Location: Remote

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 2

Stipend: $4,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

About: Save the Children is an organization that works in communities across rural America and around the world, where many children don’t have access to regular meals or high-quality education.  Bringing decades of expertise to the table, Save the Children teams up with local partners to innovate and address the challenges families living in poverty face. On top of providing nutritious food, childcare and mental health resources, Save the Children has developed signature early childhood education and school-age programs that help kids thrive as learners and in life.

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

FOCUS AREA #1 – HIV and Tuberculosis Data Analysis

About: The goal of this internship is to analyze HIV/TB/Malaria program data to support documentation and development of abstracts and other knowledge products. 

Intern Responsibilities: The intern will review, organize, and analyze a large amount of program data from Global Fund HIV/TB/Malaria grants. They will propose ideas to improve the team’s data repository and make it more user friendly, clean the existing data, and cross-analyze data to support development of documentation, abstracts, and comparisons/summaries. If the intern can work on data dashboards using power BI or other tools that would be an advantage. 

The specific activities that will be assigned to the intern include:

• Review data repository and suggest ways to structure and improve it
• Analyze data and propose ideas for documentation, abstracts, and possible publications
• Clean and organize the data repository
• Develop data dashboards

Qualifications: Preferred and required qualifications are below.

Required qualifications: 

• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English 
• Professional proficiency in Microsoft Office suite 
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams, demonstrate solid interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team 
• Data analytics skills, including mining, evaluation, visualization, and developing dashboards on Power BI or other tools

Preferred qualifications:

• Writing experience in relevant areas, including reports and presentations
• Practical experience in statistical analysis using statistical packages a plus

FOCUS AREA #2 – Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL)

About: MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership engages in global initiatives and provides technical and capacity development assistance (TCDA) to country partners to apply evidence and best practices to accelerate progress toward sustainable improvements in the health of women, children, and families.  Our TCDA approach emphasizes partnerships, mentoring, mutual accountability, co-investment of resources, program technical rigor, and adaptive management to accelerate delivery of high-quality, evidence-based interventions at scale to reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity. We support country governments to expand and enable partnerships with a wide range of health and non-health actors, including public, private, faith-based, civil society, and youth-led entities.

The project also supports international initiatives, strategies, frameworks, and guidelines to strengthen technical leadership, learning, and USAID policy dialogue around maternal, newborn, and child health, voluntary family planning, and reproductive health (MNCH/FP/RH) services.

The scope of work will focus on monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning support for the DGH Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Team with focus on the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership award. The fellow will work with the team to compile, analyze, document, and disseminate data and information from programming, while supporting data use and capacity-building.

As the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership project moves into its penultimate year, the project will hone its focus on documentation and dissemination products highlighting global leadership in the areas of Child Health, Newborn Health, Nutrition, WASH, and Adolescents and Youth. Fellows can expect to review data on bureau, core, and/or field-funded activities and synthesize them to help develop succinct briefs and other materials that can support global learning on key interventions in these areas.

Intern Responsibilities: Illustrative activities may include:

• Support the Department of Global Health Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (DGH MERL) team with data analysis, document summaries, operational guidance, and technical writing related to data use and adaptive management for the USAID funded MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership Project.
• Assist in the creation of protocols, tools, and other materials for submission to IRBs, including work with country teams for use of these tools in country contexts as required.
• Draft reports, blogs, and briefs as needed to highlight the research and technical learnings from the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership Project
• Any other reasonable duty as may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and level of responsibility

Qualifications: Required qualifications include:

• Professional proficiency in spoken and written English
• Professional proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with individuals and teams, demonstrate solid interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team
• Possess outstanding writing skills
• Able to handle confidential and proprietary information appropriately and with discretion
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, and belonging

Website: https://www.savethechildren.org/

New Internship for 2025; no past Princeton interns.

Kenya Youth and Adolescent Reproductive Health Study

Research Internship

Location: Remote

Duration: 8-10 weeks

Number of Positions: 1

Stipend: $4,000

To Apply via GPS: Click Here

Faculty Supervisors: Katie Donnelly, Researcher; Esther Annan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

About: Kenyan girls face high rates of gender-based reproductive violence and teen pregnancies. The causes of these negative health outcomes are complex, multifold, and vary across regions and neighborhoods. This project will bring together a diverse, interdisciplinary team of researchers—including epidemiologists, medical practitioners, sociologists, anthropologists, and policy analysts—and organizations—including Kenyan government health workers and civil society groups. The goals of the study are to 1) define the reproductive health challenges faced by Kenyan girls and young women, 2) explore the material and cultural causes of these challenges, and 3) develop innovative solutions. 

We seek to understand the unique barriers to contraceptive care among adolescents in Kenya through the administration of a pilot study in two communities – an informal settlement in Nairobi called Mathare and a rural community in Laikipia County, Nanyuki. These communities are strategic sites due to their geographic and demographic characteristics. The former represents a high poverty urban population, while the latter represents a high poverty rural population. 

This summer we will be completing phase 1 of the project, which will lay down the foundation of the study. In this phase, focus group interviews will be administered by the Princeton research team along with local partners who are members of each community and will establish the social, cultural, educational, and material constraints to contraceptive care among community youth. The interviews will target at least 100 young people per site aged 15-24 years, purposively sampled based on their location. Focus groups will be divided by gender and age (i.e., 15-19, 20 - 24) to facilitate open sharing. Additionally, we will conduct a quantitative study on these same themes using secondary data sets. The specific datasets we will use will be determined in conjunction with local partners.

Intern Responsibilities: 

• Conduct literature reviews 
• Transcribe audio files of research interviews 
• Attend qualitative and quantitative analysis workshops 
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data 
• Assist with the drafting of research reports 
• Attend research meetings with Princeton and Kenyan research teams

Qualifications:

• Interest in global or public health, especially reproductive health 
• Qualitative analysis skills 
• Experience using statistical softwares such as R, Stata 
• Knowledge of basic statistical concepts

Websites:https://chw.princeton.edu/people/katie-donnelly and https://chw.princeton.edu/people/esther-annan

New Internships for 2024; no past Princeton interns.