Twelve undergraduate and graduate students from across the country were selected from over 500 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 Institute for Health faculty and research staff who discussed their research and their career journeys. Forum leaders included Drs. Carolyn Sartor, Yanping Jiang, Brett Millar and Marie Sizemore of IFH’s Center for Population Behavioral Health, Ann Nguyen and Dan Treglia of IFH’s Center for State Health Policy, Francine Cartwright, Dan Tarng and Maria Dorigo of the NJ Population Health Cohort Study and Nicole Swenarton, Lara De Meo Hoyt and Joseph Brecht, communications experts at Rutgers.
Students presented their research and participated in a Q&A during a final seminar wrapping up the program.
Ellie Kogan, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and cognitive science at Vassar College
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Stone, IFH’s Center for Health Services Research
Project: Behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disabilities
Stephanie Marquez, pursuing doctoral degree in public health at Rutgers University
Mentor: Dr. Yanping Jiang, IFH’s Center for Population Behavioral Health
Project: Neighborhood and interpersonal stressors (e.g., social isolation) and their impacts on cardiometabolic and cognitive health among community-dwelling older adults.
Megha Manthripragada, pursuing bachelor’s degree in biology at University of Maryland
Mentors: Drs. Greta Bushnell and Hillary Samples, IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science
Project: Investigation of recent trends in the utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adults using real-world-data.
Victoria Tager-Geffner, pursing bachelor’s degree in biology and science, technology and society at Vassar College
Mentors: Drs. Greta Bushnell and Hillary Samples, IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science
Project: Investigation of recent trends in the utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adults using real-world-data.
Maria Rosario, pursuing bachelor’s degree in psychology at Fordham University
Mentors: Drs. Greta Bushnell and Hillary Samples, IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science
Project: Research examining recent trends in prescription ketamine utilization among adults with treatment-resistant depression using real-world health care data.
Brithany Andrade, pursuing bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavior at Rutgers University
Mentors: Dr. Ethan Halm and Jack Hemphill of the Rutgers Office of Population Health
Project: Various population health and health equity research projects including cancer screening and chronic disease management, improvement of the Office’s Population Health Fellowship Program and other initiatives and analyzing the Office’s high school training program and health communication initiatives.
Abigail Puszkin, pursuing bachelor’s degree in public health and journalism at American University
Mentors: Dr. Ethan Halm and Jack Hemphill of the Rutgers Office of Population Health
Project: Various population health and health equity research projects including cancer screening and chronic disease management, improvement of the Office’s Population Health Fellowship Program and other initiatives and analyzing the Office’s high school training program and health communication initiatives.
Manasa Mangipudi, pursuing master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering at Rutgers University
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Chen of IFH’s Center for Healthy Aging Research
Project: Data analysis and literature review for studies in digital health and neuropsychology.
Riya Kunderan, pursuing bachelor’s degree in biology at University of Rochester
Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Miles of IFH’s Center for Health Services Research
Project: Increasing access to evidence-based treatments for reducing the negative consequences of the opioid epidemic.
Anusha Addanki, pursuing master’s degree in epidemiology at Rutgers University
Mentor: Dr. Ubydul Haque of the Rutgers Global Health Institute
Project: Vaccine hesitancy among underserved communities using social media data capturing strategies.
Sanjana Kumar, pursuing bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Brandeis University
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Luth of IFH’s Center for Healthy Aging Research
Project: Defining the scope of hospice policies regarding Medical Aid in Dying in the 11 states where MAID has been legalized.
Margret Powell, pursuing doctoral degree in psychology at Baylor University
Mentor: Dr. Carolyn Sartor, IFH’s Center for Population Behavioral Health
Project: Measurement issues in health disparities research.