Nine undergraduate and graduate students from across the country were selected from over 1,200 applicants to participate in the Rutgers Institute for Health’s Summer Research Internship Program. The 10-week program paired students up with faculty mentors to pursue a research project and receive valuable career guidance throughout the summer.
Students also participated in regular forums led by Rutgers Health faculty and research staff who discussed professional development tips and tools, as well as their research and career journeys. Forum leaders included Dr. Janet Alder Assistant Dean for Graduate Academic and Student Affairs at Rutgers School of Graduate Studies and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Postdoctoral Affairs at Rutgers Health; Stephanie Bergren and Francine Cartwright of the NJHealth Study; Dr. Benjamin Bates of the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science; Dr. Tara Friebel-Klingner of the Rutgers Global Health Institute; Dr. Ethan Halm, Vice Chancellor for Population Health at Rutgers Health; and Drs. John Palatucci and Mandi Spishak-Thomas of the Center for State Health Policy.
Students presented their research and participated in a Q&A during a final seminar wrapping up the program.
Elyse Gans, pursuing a doctoral degree in counseling psychology from Lehigh University
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Stone, IFH’s Center for Health Services Research
Project: Evaluation of New Jersey’s state mental health programs including crisis response services, 9-8-8, mental health first aid, and law enforcement diversion programs.
Anna Chupak, pursuing a doctoral degree in public health from University of South Carolina
Mentor: Dr. Yanping Jiang, IFH’s Center for Population Behavioral Health
Project: Examination of neighborhood and interpersonal factors and their impact on physical and cognitive health among older adults.
Lauren Bauman, pursuing a master’s degree in public health, social and behavioral sciences from Yale University
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Miles, IFH’s Center for Health Services Research
Project: Analysis of equitable access to evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder in key settings, such as emergency departments, residential treatment programs, and community-based recovery homes.
Jasmine Li, pursuing master’s degree in public health policy from Yale University
Mentor: Dr. Min Hee Kim, IFH’s Center for Health Services Research
Project: Analysis of midlife geographic and individual pathways linking education and dementia.
Doris Mwambutsa, pursuing master’s degree in global public health from Rutgers University
Mentors: Dr. Ethan Halm and Jack Hemphill, Rutgers Health Office of Population Health
Project: Support for population health and health equity research projects including health education, communication and community service-learning initiatives and interventions to enhance cancer screening and chronic disease management.
Varun Vekaria, pursuing master’s degree in computer science from Rutgers University
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Chen, IFH’s Center for Healthy Aging Research
Project: Supporting digital health and neuropsychology projects on topics including Long Covid and multiple sclerosis.
Safiyeh Tayebi, pursuing doctoral degree in geography from Rutgers University
Mentor: Dr. Ubydul Haque, Rutgers Global Health Institute
Project: Supporting research on the surveillance of zoonotic diseases in high-risk environments involving emerging strains and transmission patterns.
Jaelyn Liu, pursuing master’s degree in social policy and data analytics from University of Pennsylvania
Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Bates, IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science
Project: Leveraging linkages between health system cancer registries and electronic health records to describe characteristics, cancer treatments, healthcare utilization, and health outcomes of cancer survivors.
D’Naija Ammons, pursuing bachelor’s degree in health education and maternal and child health from Howard University
Mentor: Tara Friebel-Klingner, Rutgers Global Health Institute
Project: Analysis of breast and cervical cancer screening uptake and cancer diagnostic and treatment pathways in healthcare settings in Botswana and Tanzania.