2017 Intern Profiles

Pennsylvania State University
Environmental Resource Management
Political Science Minor

My experience in the CLEH program was a very positive one, and I cannot believe my nine weeks is already over. I have greatly enjoyed my time working at CDC/ATSDR, and I hope that one day I will be able to come back and work as an environmental health officer. Everyone in my office was so supportive of my work, and I really never had a bad day when coming into the office. The programming that our supervisors provided was also very interesting and engaging, and I felt that the fieldtrips added quite a bit to my knowledge and interests in the world of Environmental Health.

University of Texas, Austin
Geography and Sustainability
Business Policy Minor

Over the past 9-weeks, I have had the immense pleasure of serving as a CLEH intern at the CDC Chamblee Campus in Georgia. While having studied environmental science and carrying a strong interest in environmental health and the implications that it can have for human health, I had always been relatively hesitant about pursuing a career in the government. I have never had a close family member or friend working in the public sector so overall I lacked a strong understanding of what it really meant to work for an organization as large and as impactful as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The opportunity to work for team that developed and maintains the Environmental Health Tracking Network has been an eye opening experience. In the end, my summer with CDC/ATSDR has definitely opened my eyes to the fact that a career in the federal government – especially at an agency as well respected in the public eye as the CDC can be an immensely rewarding one.

Emory University
Media Studies and Environmental Sciences

This internship has been an incredibly valuable experience in many ways, but especially through the themed topics we have each week. Because of the weekly field trips, journal club activities, and subject-matter expert presentations, I gained a broad overview of various topics in environmental health. At the same time, I was able to work in depth with my specific project through the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. I appreciate this balance because I was able to experience different areas of environmental health while still experiencing what a typical workday is like at the CDC. I am also very thankful for the support from the various ORISE and CDC staff members who have mentored me throughout my project and presentations and who have provided me with career advice.

University of Pennsylvania
Psychology
Environmental Studies Minor

My experience as a CLEH intern this summer is not one I will easily forget. Although I wish it did not end so soon (the appointment ending date is August 4th, 2017), I am so grateful that I had this opportunity to grow, learn, and have fun. I developed useful skills, met a lot of interesting people, and gained a much better understanding of public health and the inner-workings of a government agency. My internship in environmental health this summer has made me realize how public health intersects with so many environmental issues. I hope to use my increased knowledge of public health to inform my future career efforts in the environmental sector.

Iowa State University
Environmental Sciences
Community and Regional Planning Minor

These past nine weeks have been an incredible experience. Between the staff here at the CDC and the opportunity to work on a relevant project is by far the most intense learning experience I have ever had. I feel that I have walked away from this internship with new skills, new career prospects, and new friends. I would highly recommend this internship to anyone who is thinking about public health for a future career. It was a great opportunity and I am grateful to everyone involved for making this experience meaningful.

Rice University
Environmental Science
English Minor

I had a great experience as a CLEH intern this summer! Before I began, I only had a vague idea of what environmental health entailed. Now, I am fortunate to leave with an understanding of so many different fields and avenues of work within environmental health. I think what really made this internship experience so incredible was the range of activities and breadth of topics we got exposure to. The past nine weeks were packed with a great mix of individual project work, presentations, trainings, fieldtrips, and journal clubs. The time flew by, and I can’t believe how fast August 4th, our appointment ending date, sprung up. When I think about internships, I imagine sitting at a desk working on the same menial tasks for hours on end. However, with this internship, there was never a chance to get bored! I loved that every week came with a new theme, articles to read, speakers to listen to, and exciting field trips. I felt the internship program was very committed to giving interns a holistic experience, both depth in an individual project and breadth in a range of topics.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Public Health
Environmental Sciences and Engineering Minor

This internship allowed me to develop my newly found self-confidence through public speaking programs, leading activities, and giving me the space and opportunity to develop a final product I was incredibly proud of. I also love my cohort dearly and will be incredibly sad when we all part ways. I hope that our paths in life will cross often and soon.

University of Massachusetts
Computer Science and Public Health Sciences

I have spent the last nine weeks interning at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia for my term that ends on August 4, 2017. Overall, this internship has been a rewarding experience. When the Deputy Directors from the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) organizations spoke to our cohort on the first week, I could not believe what I was hearing. It was a surreal experience to be listening to such influential people and hearing about the scope of projects that NCEH/ATSDR works on. I spent my time working on projects, attending journal clubs and field trips, and networking with employees.

University of Maryland
Global Health and Development Anthropology Minor

As a Collegiate Leader in Environmental Health this summer, I was able to gain valuable experience as a disaster epidemiology intern and immeasurable guidance through my colleagues and fellow cohort members at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Throughout my internship experience, I received support from the internship coordinators, my supervisors and team, my mentor, other colleagues, and my fellow intern cohort. Throughout, my internship cohort gave endless support and inspiration through their personal kindness and passion for environmental health in various capacities. Beyond my August 4 end date, I know that I have a network of support from the environmental health community at CDC as I grow academically, professionally and personally.

Rollins College
Environmental Sciences and International Relations
Sustainability Minor

This summer has been an eye-opening educational experience. Beyond the structured educational experiences, journal clubs and field trips, this internship provided networking opportunities with professionals at the forefront of their fields. This internship shaped new goals I have for myself after receiving my undergraduate degree. Everyone I spoke with was happy to put me in contact with a colleague or friend working in a field I had an interest in. Beyond individuals associated with the internship, anyone I asked was willing to provide guidance and advice on career opportunities from their experiences. It was encouraging to listen to FTE’s explain how they ended up working for the CDC and assuring us that there is not a singular path to follow in the public health field or to wind up in the CDC.