PRCHN Summer Internship

The Case Western Reserve University Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods (PRCHN) Internship Program is an opportunity to provide students with a dynamic experiential internship in preparation for a career in public health, by developing core public health practice skills.   There are many diverse research projects and initiatives at the PRCHN covering topics such as Adolescent Health and Surveillance, Community & Clinical linkages, Healthy Food Access, and  Tobacco Prevention and Control. The PRCHN also provides the community with valuable and timely community-wide data through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the city-wide Neighborhood Environmental Assessment Project.

Our intention is to give interns a broad overview of the research and surveillance work that is conducted by the PRCHN as well as in-depth experience in 1-2 projects, chosen based on the center’s needs, the student’s interest and the timeframe in which the project is being conducted. Summer interns will work with their Project Manager and other study staff to develop the following skills:

1. Ability to work in a field collection data team
2. Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize data collection efforts
3. Excellent communication with persons inside the PRCHN and those outside of the PRCHN including those with different backgrounds (socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender, etc)
4. Record, track, and report on data collection efforts
5. Ability to obtain and process information

The ideal student will have excellent communication and organizations skills, an ability to follow study protocols, an ability to work well with other team members, a very flexible schedule, and will be detail-oriented. All majors are welcome, but the student should be interested in research/or and public health. The students must have at least a 3.5 GPA and access to transportation. Access to office space and a telephone will be provided.

Responsibilities

The summer intern will work in a team-oriented environment and must show capacity for working independently yet collaboratively.  The summer intern will be supervised by a Project Manager at Case Western Reserve University. Responsibilities are as follows:

1. Become trained in Human Subjects’ Research
2. Follow all study procedures and protocols
3. Participate in data collection efforts of the center such as neighborhood-based assessments (e.g., food store audit, community garden assessments, parks and green space audits), and school-based surveys.
4. Assistance in various aspects of data collection development (e.g., survey development, preparation of consent form mailings, etc).
5. Data entry
6. Data analysis
7. Preparation of reports
8. Complete weekly timesheets and submit them to both the preceptor and internship coordinator.
9. Attend all staff meetings, seminars, and professional development activities
10. Complete the PRCHN internship evaluation
11. Complete an exit interview with the preceptor

Hours and Payment

For the Summer program, the intern will work 16-20 hours/week.  Hourly wages are $15-$18.75/hour based on experience. Work-related travel will be reimbursed.