Student Opportunities
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.
Spring 2023 Cooking Matters for Kids Intern
Date Posted: 12/12/2022
Who: UNC-Chapel Hill Students
When: Spring 2023
Position: Cooking Matters for Kids Intern
Project: The Carolina Hunger Initiative is looking for interns to help lead Cooking Matters for Kids lessons in afterschool programs in Orange County, NC. Cooking Matters for Kids is a nutrition and cooking education program that empowers kids to make healthy choices and prepare simple, low-cost meals and snacks. Interns will work as a team to lead nutrition hands-on nutrition and cooking activities with 3rd-5th grade children. The time commitment is approximately 3 hours per week throughout the semester (2 hours at a school site for lessons and 1 hour to review materials prior to class).
Apply: Please complete the application form (https://carolinahungerinitiative.formstack.com/forms/cm_volunteer_fall22_copy)
More Information: See the Spring 2023 Cooking Matters for Kids Intern Position Description or contact Marlee Marrotta (memarrot@email.unc.edu)
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
The Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group
Date Posted: 11/15/2022
Who: UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Students
When: Now until Summer 2023
Position: Part-time Research Assistant, fully remote, 12-20 hours/week, $15-17/hour pending experience
Project: The Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group is looking for a graduate student interested in working on intervention development and adaptation across projects. The student in this position will gain experience conducting literature reviews, designing, and executing research protocols, and developing intervention and education outreach materials for care settings (early childhood, and senior living). The student in this position may gain exposure to various health promotion topics including, motor skill and social emotional development in young children, and physical activity promotion in adult senior living facilities.
Apply: Please send your resume to Falon Smith (ftilley@unc.edu) by November 30, 2022.
More Information: The Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group
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