Student Opportunities - Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

The Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) provides opportunities for students to engage with multidisciplinary prevention research and practice projects. Students may work on projects in areas such as cardiovascular health, obesity, and diabetes; cancer prevention and control; children’s health; health equity; healthy food access; nutrition and physical activity; rural health; and more.

While working or interning with HPDP, students will be supervised by a HPDP faculty or staff member. Specific responsibilities will vary by project, yet all interns will have the opportunity to participate in applied research or public health practice to address pressing health problems facing our society. A variety of types of opportunities may become available, including unpaid internships, practicum experiences, work study positions, and paid opportunities. The types of opportunities and projects accepting students vary throughout the year.

Current Opportunities

Information on current opportunities is listed below. For more information on a particular opportunity, reach out to the individual listed in the posting.

UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Graduate Research Assistant Position

Date Posted: 9/14/2023
Who: UNC Chapel Hill Graduate Students (Masters and PhD)
When: Fall 2023–Spring 2024
Position: Part-time research assistantship; 4- 6 hours/week, $18/hour
Project: The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) is looking for a GRA to assist on our strategic initiative related to developmental disabilities and mental health across the life span. During this academic year, we will be conducting an analysis of the research landscape in this space, interviewing expert consultants on their perspectives, and proposing research priorities that align with the mission of FPG.
Apply:Reach out to Desiree W. Murray (desiree.murray@unc.edu) to apply.
More Information: The GRA will perform tasks such as: reviewing key white papers and federal funding priorities and performing project management tasks including scheduling meetings and maintaining project documents. They will also be invited to participate in our team brainstorm meetings.

Summer Internship with UNC Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group

Date Posted: 4/12/2023
Who: Rising Senior (graduating 2023-2024) UNC-Chapel Hill Students
When: The internship is somewhat flexible but is expected to last 8-12 weeks between mid-May and early August of 2023.
Position: Summer Research Intern
Project: The UNC Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group (CHWRG) is offering a research internship* for a UNC student (rising Senior 2023-24) from an historically underrepresented racial or ethnic group, or a 1st generation college student. CHWRG conducts innovative obesity prevention research designed to improve child diet and physical activity, the development of a healthy weight, and social-emotional health of children and their caregivers. New work focuses on promoting physical activity in older adults. The purpose of the internship is to provide hands-on research experience for an undergraduate student who may be interested in a career in public health. During the internship, students will have the opportunity to participate as a team member in conducting community research, have 1-on-1 experiences with staff at various stages of the research process, and engage in learning experiences connected to the work we do.
Apply: please send an email to reganb@email.unc.edu with each of the following (as attachment(s)).

Short statement/letter (-300 words) about why this is of interest to you
Note hybrid or fully remote preference and why
Resume or CV
Names and contact information for 2-3 references

More Information: See the UNC Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group Summer Internship Opportunity Description or contact Regan Burney (reganb@email.unc.edu).

Research Assistantship with the UPSIDE Team

Date Posted: 11/23/2022
Who: UNC Chapel Hill graduate and undergraduate students
When: Ongoing
Position: Part-time research assistant, 5-10 hours/week, (volunteer or work-study; limited paid opportunities), hybrid (weekly in-person meetings)
Project: The UPSIDE Team is accepting a research assistant interested in self-regulation intervention and evaluation research from a positive youth development framework. This research assistant will work with a team of undergraduate and graduate students and research staff under the supervision of Dr. Desiree Murray to assist with current federally-funded projects that are 1) adapting the Be CALM mindfulness-based social-emotional program for middle school counselors, 2) evaluating a trauma-informed training and coaching intervention for Head Start teachers, and 3) examining day-to-day influences on adolescent wellbeing and coping utilizing ecological momentary assessment. Student tasks may include preparing data collection materials, tracking data collected and creating data summaries in excel, and other data entry and management tasks. Opportunities will be provided to participate in trainings and other activities to support research skill development.
Apply: Please contact hnetschy@live.unc.edu and send a resume.
More Information: The UPSIDE Team

Internships with the Carolina Hunger Initiative

Date Posted: 10/21/2022
Who: UNC-Chapel Hill Students
When: Fall, Spring, Summer
Position: Unpaid internships and practicum experiences
Project: The Carolina Hunger Initiative works to increase access to healthy food year-round for North Carolinians. Interns may help projects related to areas such as nutrition education, school and summer meals programs, and food insecurity among college students.
Apply: For information on how to apply for current opportunities, contact Jessica Soldavini.
More Information: Carolina Hunger Initiative Interns and Students