CGHE Internships Offer Firsthand—And Often First—Global Health Experience
More than 20 students from across the University engaged in global health research experiences through a CGHE summer internship program.
The 10-week session, which wrapped up July 28, paired 22 graduate-level students with faculty mentors representing a dozen colleges and schools and working across 18 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For many, it was their first exposure to global health work.
“Before this, I had not considered global health as a viable option for me. This was an opportunity to branch out, meet new people, and have new experiences that helped me grow—both personally and professionally,” said Lena Dang, a master’s student in the School of Public Health.
Dang worked with Assistant Professor Emily Treleaven at the Institute for Social Research on a project examining how migration and societal changes over time are affecting children’s health in Nepal. Other projects included studying low-cost (i.e., non-electric) home cooling methods among families in Brazil; involving men in family planning in Uganda; reducing mental health stigma in India; and much more.
In addition to their project work, students gathered weekly for sessions organized by CGHE to hear from experts on specific aspects of the global health fieldwork and research. They also participated in small group discussions to share updates and insights on their own projects.
“I am continuously amazed and inspired by our students and their dedication—not only to their research work, but also to collaborative learning,” said CGHE education project manager Alana Rodriguez, who has led the internships for three years. “I feel like we did a particularly good job this year creating a space where students could take leadership roles and learn from one another.” The Center provided a $5,000 stipend to each student, who was expected to spend about 20 hours per week on their project. Not all students traveled, but some did. Public Policy student Hasan Sajili spent several weeks in Indonesia, where Assistant Professor of Epidemiology Abram Wagner is working with local communities to boost vaccine uptake. Sajili interviewed numerous community health workers who are piloting a new mobile vaccination initiative—a kind of “vax van”—and also spoke with community members directly to understand their experiences with vaccination, barriers and hesitations, and perceptions about receiving services through the mobile program.
“It meant so much to me to listen to their stories and learn about the practical limitations they face. It was my favorite part of the job,” Sajili said. “I had no prior experience in health research, but this experience taught me that it's okay to start from zero if you're open, curious, and willing to grow.”
2025 Graduate Student Internship Cohort
Ajie Baskoro, Global Health Epidemiology (M.P.H.)
Mentor: Marie O'Neill, Public Health
Research Project Title: Climate Change, Greenspace, and Birth Outcomes: Research to Inform Interventions for Equity
Apil K C, Urban & Regional Planning (Ph.D.)
Mentor: Sabine Loos, Engineering
Research Project Title: Evaluating the Effects of Recurrent Flooding and Housing Type on Individual Health and Well-Being in Nepal
Aqsa Sarwar, Health Informatics (M.S.)
Mentor: Thomas Valley, Internal Medicine
Research Project Title: Enhancing Global Equity in Pulse Oximetry (EQUIP-O2): An International Collaboration to Improve Patient Safety in Critical Care Settings
Ayaulym Saduakas, International and Regional Studies: Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (M.A.)
Mentor: Elizabeth King, Health Behavior and Health Equity
Research Project Title: Women, HIV, and Access to Healthcare Services
Camilla Bjelland, Nursing (Ph.D.)
Mentor: HaEun Lee, Nursing
Research Project Title: Exploration, Adaptation, and Pilot Testing of a Male-Engaged Group Family Planning Intervention in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda
Emily Angus, Social Work (M.S.W.)
Mentor: Ana Paula Pimentel Walker, Urban and Regional Planning
Research Project Title: Validating Health Surveys and Implementing Passive Cooling to Improve the Sleep, Cognitive, and Respiratory Health of Shack Dwellers in Brazil and Colombia
Faith Okaalo, Health Behavior & Health Education (Ph.D.)
Mentor: Elizabeth King, Health Behavior and Health Equity
Research Project Title: Women, HIV, and Access to Healthcare Services
Farida Bibi Mughal, Nursing (Ph.D.)
Mentor: Michelle Munro-Kramer, Nursing
Research Project Title: Formative Research for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Intervention Development Among Higher Education Institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa
Guanyi Yang, Applied Statistics (M.S.)
Mentor: Emily Briceno, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Research Project Title: Longitudinal Prognosis and Risk Factors for Mild Cognitive Impairment Across the U.S., Mexico, and India
Hasan Sajili, Public Policy (M.A.)
Mentor: Abram Wagner, Epidemiology
Research Project Title: Evaluation of Community Health Worker Interventions to Improve Vaccine Uptake (TABRIE)
Indhira Vadivel, Health Data Science (M.S.)
Mentor: Mousumi Banerjee, Biostatistics
Research Project Title: Social Stigma and Discrimination in the Context of Mental Health Help-Seeking in India
Jamie Jennings, Health Behavior & Health Equity (M.P.H.)
Mentor: Terri Conley, Psychology
Research Project Title: Gender Differences in Sexual Desire in Iran and the U.S.
Jia Andy Guo, Applied Statistics (M.S.)
Mentor: Ivo Dinov, Nursing & Medicine
Research Project Title: Novel AI Techniques for Exploring Global Health Equity
Jose Pelaez, Public Policy (M.A.)
Mentor: Edgar Franco Vivanco, Political Science
Research Project Title: Indirect Effects of Criminal Activity on Public Health: Evidence from Mexico
Lena Dang, Epidemiology (M.P.H.)
Mentor: Emily Treleaven, Institute for Social Research
Research Project Title: Children's Health in a High Migration Setting (Chitwan Valley Family Study)
Marwah Kiani, Medicine (M.D.)
Mentor: Sherri Sheinfeld Gorin, Family Medicine
Research Project Title: HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Colombia: Multi-Level Perspectives
Mubarick Asumah, Nursing (Ph.D.)
Mentor: Hala Darwish, Nursing
Research Project Title: Cultural Perceptions and Educational Needs of Healthcare Providers and Family Caregivers in Dementia Care in Ghana
Muhannad Alkaddour, Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D.)
Mentor: Hugo Gonzalez Villasanti, Mechanical Engineering
Research Project Title: Simulation-Based Tools for Participatory Design of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Systems in the Paraguayan Alto Chaco
Sarah Backstrand, Environment and Sustainability (M.S.)
Mentor: Brandon Marc Finn, Environment and Sustainabliity
Research Project Title: Environmental Justice and Inequality at the First and Last Mile of Decarbonization Supply Chains
Sasha Tretyakova, Applied Data Science (M.A.D.S.)
Mentor: Dhanu Thiyag, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Research Project Title: Development and Clinical Evaluation of a Minimally Invasive Gynecology Simulation Program in Ghana
Yennuten Paarima, Nursing (Ph.D.)
Mentor: Ifeolu David, Epidemiology
Research Project Title: Healthcare-Seeking Practices and Vaccine Uptake: Understanding Barriers and Facilitators in Sierra Leone
Yuhan Jiang, Industrial & Operations Engineering (M.S.)
Mentor: Lee Schroeder, Pathology
Research Project Title: Understanding and Improving the Effectiveness of Networks of Practice in Ghana through Advanced Analytics Modeling