Public Health Internships in Vector-borne Disease at Michigan State University

Public Health Internships in Vector-borne Disease at Michigan State University

 Two positions are available for Summer 2018 beginning in mid-May.

Interns will receive a stipend of $6000 for 12 weeks of full-time work.

To build much needed public health capacity in the prevention of vector-borne disease (e.g., Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Zika), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has funded the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-borne Disease (http://mcevbd.wisc.edu) to train students in surveillance and research of vector and vector-borne pathogen biology, ecology, management and control.

 

Interns will be mentored by MSU faculty working on mosquito- and tick-borne diseases (Dr. Ned Walker, Dr. Michael Kaufman, Dr. Trisha Dubie, and Dr. Jean Tsao; (http://mcevbd.wisc.edu/partners/michigan-state-university)), their graduate students, as well as epidemiological staff at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS, http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/).

Detailed descriptions about the two positions follow below, but they both entail conducting field surveillance for vectors in Michigan. The two interns will work together and share many responsibilities, but will also take leadership roles over different aspects of surveillance activities. The "MDHHS intern" will split their time among tick and mosquito surveillance as well as writing an epidemiological summary report for the MDHHS. The "tick intern" will focus on mapping the emerging risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in Michigan. Both interns will also aid in supervising undergraduate technicians. Opportunities to present research at future conferences (e.g. MSU CVM Phi Zeta Day, Michigan Mosquito Control Association 2019 Annual Meeting) will be encouraged.

 For more information about these positions, please contact Dr. Jean Tsao (tsao@msu.edu). To apply, please email Dr. Tsao with a cover letter that includes a brief statement of interest, the names and contact information for two references, as well your CV/resume. Please also indicate if you prefer one of the positions or if both would be of interest. Applications will be considered until positions are filled.

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Internship position #1: Conducting vector surveillance & assisting MDHHS

Purpose:  The Centers of Excellence Intern will be dually assigned to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Section (MDHHS) and Michigan State University (MSU). The intern will provide assistance with active surveillance for vectors of disease, specifically ticks and mosquitoes (70% of time). This position also includes office duties in support of epidemiologic activities related to zoonotic and vector-borne disease (30% of time). The intern will work closely with MDHHS Epidemiology staff and MSU professors, graduate, and undergraduate students.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

·     Work with MDHHS and MSU to assist with field surveillance projects for ticks and mosquitoes. Overnight trips may be required. University owned vehicles and/or personal vehicles may be used for transportation. If a personal vehicle is used, mileage will be reimbursed.

·     Identify collected vectors and maintain shared databases of field collections.

·     Create epidemiologic summary of vector-borne disease surveillance activities conducted by MDHHS and its partner agencies. This report will be shared with local stakeholders and the public.

·     Assist with laboratory analysis, as assigned. This will require Environmental Health and Safety training.

·     Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education:  Minimum of 55 college-level credits completed.

Experience:  No experience necessary.

Important knowledge, skills, and abilities:

·     Ability to use Microsoft Office.

·     Skilled with graphic design.

·     Ability to communicate and work effectively with others.

·     Ability to work independently.

·     Ability to work weekends as needed.

·     Ability to walk at minimum one mile continuously at a brisk pace.

·     Ability to work in harsh weather conditions in remote locations which may include, but not limited to, uneven terrain, lack of phone connectivity, exposure to hot/humid temperatures, mosquitoes/ticks, and potentially poisonous plants.

·     Ability to pay attention to detail and have excellent eyesight.

·     Ability to perform technical report summaries.

·     Ability to drive a vehicle in the state of Michigan.

·     Ability to read and use a map.

·     Maintain positive, professional attitude.

MDHHS will provide:

·     Guidance on field surveillance activities.

·     Shared office space and computer when working on epidemiologic summary project. This will include standard privacy and security training.

·     Attendance at bi-weekly section meetings.

·     General introduction to the public health field.  

MSU will provide:

·     Guidance and instruction on field surveillance activities.

·     Travel support for field efforts.

·     Instruction on vector identification.

·     Participation at weekly lab meetings and conference calls with other Midwest CoE partners as the field schedule permits.

·     Instruction on other laboratory techniques relevant to vector-borne disease surveillance.

·     Intern will need to use personal computer when working at MSU.



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Position #2: The "Tick" Intern

Mapping the emerging risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in Michigan

 

Purpose:  The Centers of Excellence (CoE) Intern will be working in the Tsao lab at Michigan State University (MSU), which studies the ecology of tick-borne pathogens. The blacklegged tick, the vector of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, has been emerging across the state of Michigan and many citizens as well as medical professionals are unaware of the rapidly changing geographic risk of disease. The intern will conduct active surveillance for the blacklegged tick to update the Michigan Lyme Disease risk map (http://www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/0,4579,7-186-81018_25890-75866--,00.html). This position will comprise collaborative work with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiology staff, another CoE intern, and other MSU professors, graduate and undergraduate students working on mosquito-borne diseases.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

·     Work with the Tsao Lab and MDHHS to assist with field surveillance projects for ticks. Overnight trips will be required to conduct field surveillance across the northern Lower and Upper Peninsulas. University owned vehicles and/or personal vehicles may be used for transportation. If a personal vehicle is used, mileage will be reimbursed.

·     Identify collected vectors and maintain shared databases of field collections.

·     Assist with laboratory analysis, which will require Environmental Health and Safety training.

·     Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications/Requirements:

Education:  Minimum of 55 college-level credits completed.

Experience:  No experience necessary, but an interest in public health is preferred.

 

Important knowledge, skills, and abilities:

·     Ability to use Microsoft Office.

·     Ability to communicate and work effectively with others.

·     Maintain positive, professional attitude.

·     Ability to work independently.

·     Ability to work weekends as needed.

·     Ability to walk at minimum one mile continuously at a brisk pace.

·     Ability to work in harsh weather conditions in remote locations which may include, but not limited to, uneven terrain, lack of phone connectivity, exposure to hot/humid temperatures, mosquitoes/ticks, and potentially poisonous plants.

·     Ability to pay attention to detail and have excellent eyesight.

·     Ability to drive a vehicle in the state of Michigan.

·     Ability to read and use a map.

Interns should expect:

·     To obtain guidance and instruction on field surveillance activities.

·     To obtain travel support for field efforts.

·     To obtain instruction on vector identification.

·     To participate in weekly/bi-weekly lab meetings and conference calls with other Midwest CoE partners as the field schedule permits.

·     To obtain instruction on other laboratory techniques relevant to vector-borne disease surveillance.

To use their own personal computer.