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 with faculty mentors to pursue research projects and receive 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 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 is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and cognitive science at Vassar College. Her mentor was Dr. Elizabeth Stone of IFH’s Center for Health Services Research. Her project focused on behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Stephanie Marquez is pursuing a doctoral degree in public health at Rutgers University. Her mentor was Dr. Yanping Jiang of IFH’s Center for Population Behavioral Health. Her project examined neighborhood and interpersonal stressors (e.g., social isolation) and their impacts on cardiometabolic and cognitive health among community-dwelling older adults.
Megha Manthripragada is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Maryland. Her mentors were Drs. Greta Bushnell and Hillary Samples of IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science. She investigated recent trends in the utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adults using real-world data.
Victoria Tager-Geffner is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology as well as science, technology, and society at Vassar College. Her mentors were Drs. Greta Bushnell and Hillary Samples of IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science. She also investigated recent trends in the utilization of psychotropic medications in children and adults using real-world data.
Maria Rosario is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Fordham University. Her mentors were Drs. Greta Bushnell and Hillary Samples of IFH’s Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science. She researched recent trends in prescription ketamine utilization among adults with treatment-resistant depression using real-world healthcare data.
Brithany Andrade is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavior at Rutgers University. Her mentors were Drs. Ethan Halm and Jack Hemphill of the Rutgers Office of Population Health. She worked on various population health projects including cancer screening, chronic disease management improvement initiatives, analyzing high school training programs, health communication initiatives, as well as improving the Office's Population Health Fellowship Program.
Abigail Puszkin is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public health journalism at American University with mentorship from Drs. Ethan Halm and Jack Hemphill of the Rutgers Office of Population Health working on similar projects to Brithany Andrade including cancer screening initiatives.
Manasa Mangipudi is pursuing a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Rutgers University under the mentorship of Dr Michelle Chen from IFH's Center For Healthy Aging Research focusing on digital health neuropsychological studies through data analysis literature review
Riya Kunderan studying biology bachelor's university Rochester mentored Jennifer Miles center increasing access evidence-based treatments reducing negative consequences opioid epidemic
Anusha Addanki epidemiology master's student mentored Ubydul Haque global vaccine hesitancy underserved communities social media capturing strategies
Sanjana Kumar neuroscience bachelor's Brandeis Elizabeth Luth healthy aging defining scope hospice policies Medical Aid Dying states legalized
Margret Powell doctoral psychology Baylor Carolyn Sartor measurement issues disparities research
