Field of Study:
Environmental Epidemiology
Department:
Epidemiology
Rank of Student:
Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors
Desired Majors:
Any
Hours per Week:
8
Compensation Type:
Academic Credit,
Voluntary Experience
Application Deadline:
Contact:
Arbor Quist, quist.24@osu.edu
Private
Public
Project Description
Our research team examines how industrial pollution in Ohio affects public health. For this project, we are working with community partners to study the potential health effects of spreading oil and gas wastewater on roads as a dust suppressant and deicer. While this practice is permitted in parts of Ohio, some residents and community leaders have expressed concerns about whether radioactive materials and heavy metals present in the wastewater could be harming human health. Our team applies innovative biomonitoring techniques to measure radioactive radium and other heavy metals in baby teeth and soil, providing evidence of environmental exposure over time. We are also collecting toenail clippings from adult participants to measure heavy metal exposures from the past 6-12 months. This study is being conducted in Licking, Ashtabula, and Coshocton Counties.
As a student worker on this study team, you will gain hands-on experience in community engagement and participant recruitment, including attending community meetings, staffing outreach tables at community events, explaining the research project to community members, recruiting participants, and calling study participants to schedule visits,. Additional responsibilities include survey administration, soil sampling, sample processing, and data management in REDCap. Some fieldwork may occur on weekends (1-2 days per month). This position provides an opportunity to work directly with faculty, community partners, and research staff while developing skills in environmental health research and public health field methods. Students interested in careers in public health, environmental science, medicine, epidemiology, or related fields are especially encouraged to apply. Students may also have opportunities to contribute to presentations, publications, and future research projects.
As a student worker on this study team, you will gain hands-on experience in community engagement and participant recruitment, including attending community meetings, staffing outreach tables at community events, explaining the research project to community members, recruiting participants, and calling study participants to schedule visits,. Additional responsibilities include survey administration, soil sampling, sample processing, and data management in REDCap. Some fieldwork may occur on weekends (1-2 days per month). This position provides an opportunity to work directly with faculty, community partners, and research staff while developing skills in environmental health research and public health field methods. Students interested in careers in public health, environmental science, medicine, epidemiology, or related fields are especially encouraged to apply. Students may also have opportunities to contribute to presentations, publications, and future research projects.
Required Applicant Information
1. Resume (include work, volunteer, leadership, student organization, and research experience)
2. Short statement of interest (approximately 2 paragraphs, no more than 1 page) that includes:
-Why this project interests you and what you hope to gain from the experience.
-What skills or experiences make you a good fit for the position, especially experiences involving communication, leadership, teamwork, or interacting with the public.
2. Short statement of interest (approximately 2 paragraphs, no more than 1 page) that includes:
-Why this project interests you and what you hope to gain from the experience.
-What skills or experiences make you a good fit for the position, especially experiences involving communication, leadership, teamwork, or interacting with the public.
Required or Desired Skills
No prior research experience is required. We are looking for students who have:
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including comfort interacting with community members and research participants in person and over the phone
- Reliability, professionalism, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Interest in public health, environmental health, epidemiology
- Experience with R or ArcGIS is a bonus but not required
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including comfort interacting with community members and research participants in person and over the phone
- Reliability, professionalism, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Interest in public health, environmental health, epidemiology
- Experience with R or ArcGIS is a bonus but not required
Faculty Member Lead:
Arbor Quist
Starting Semester:
Autumn
Length of Project (in semesters):
2