REAL Student Research Experiences: 2025-2026
The Rollins Earn and Learn (REAL) program is a signature program funded by Rollins that offers full-time MPH/MSPH students valuable opportunities to earn while they learn through applied public health experiences in real-world settings.Through HERCULES co-funding, the Center supports several REAL students supervised by HERCULES investigators each academic year. A summary of each student’s experience is provided below.
Saketh Sankara
As a second-year MPH Epidemiology student, I worked with Dr. Thomas Ziegler and collaborators on a pilot study examining how plasma per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) relate to body composition and glycemic responses among adults undergoing bariatric surgery at the Emory Bariatric Center. I led the data cleaning, statistics, and manuscript writing using SAS and R for 32 adults with severe obesity, focusing on three PFAS (PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS) measured by LC‑MS and integrating these with detailed DXA body-composition and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) measures. Our findings showed that higher preoperative PFNA and PFOS concentrations were linked to lower lean mass; PFHxS levels declined significantly after surgery, and average PFNA modestly tracked with smaller improvements in insulin resistance. This work has culminated in a first‑author medRxiv preprint and my MPH thesis. It deepened my perspective on the integration of environmental exposures into obesity and metabolic health research, particularly in populations that are often underrepresented in PFAS studies.
Madeline Chandler
I am a dual-degree (MPH/MDiv) graduate student at Emory and this was my third year working with Dr. Stephanie Eick in the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health. Throughout the academic year, I worked on a project investigating the associations between aromatic amines (AAs) and oxidative stress in a cohort of pregnant women. Employing regression analysis and generalized additive mixed models, we were able to demonstrate that many of the measured AAs were associated with higher oxidative stress, which can potentially lead to adverse maternal and child health outcomes. Under Dr. Eick’s guidance, I prepared and submitted a manuscript based on this work for publication in a research journal.
Thanks to the support of the HERCULES Exposome Research Center, I was able to maintain my incredible working relationship with Dr. Eick and add to my public health research experience. Throughout this year, I continued to sharpen my skills in data analysis, statistical programming, and scientific communication. As I graduate and prepare to enter the public health workforce, I truly believe that this experience has prepared me to be a researcher and epidemiologist.
Kavya Sajeev
As a second year MPH student in Epidemiology, I had the pleasure of joining Dr. Sheela Sinharoy and Dr. Thomas Clasen’s Climate-Resilient Odisha Produce Study (CROPS) team as a research assistant. The CROPS team, in collaboration with the Gram Vikas organization, conducts valuable work investigating how a gardening intervention may improve maternal and child nutritional outcomes in Odisha, India. As someone passionate about improving women’s health outcomes in India, as well as sustainable environmental interventions, I have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project.
During my REAL position, I focused on building my technical skills and gaining experience in both STATA and R. I have also strengthened my data management abilities. In this role, I conducted weekly data integrity checks and data cleaning procedures, developing products for long-term use. Additionally, I managed data throughout survey lifecycles and gained experience in cleaning and finalizing a full dataset. I also had the opportunity to contribute to donor reports for key stakeholders by creating data visualizations and conducting analyses to assess study progress on key performance indicators.
This research experience has bolstered my conceptualization of research that puts community first. Working with Gram Vikas members located in Odisha, modifying surveys based on team member insights, and focusing on program implementation and longevity has set a strong example for prioritization of the communities we serve as researchers.
Hanwen Miao
During my REAL experience funded by HERCULES, I worked on environmental health research using spatial data science. My project focused on improving the timing of exposure estimates related to unconventional oil and gas development by using high-resolution aerial imagery to identify well pad construction phases, including drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and periods of no construction. This work was motivated by the need to reduce exposure misclassification in environmental health studies that rely on administrative records, which may not always accurately reflect on-the-ground activity.
As part of this experience, I helped develop and apply image-based classification approaches to characterize well pad activity over time. I also contributed to data processing, visual interpretation of aerial imagery, and evaluation of how well administrative records aligned with imagery-derived construction stages. A key deliverable from this work was the development of phase-specific well pad timelines and supporting analyses that can be used to improve environmental exposure assessment in future epidemiologic studies. This research also contributed to a manuscript submitted for publication and strengthened my skills in environmental health research, geospatial analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Olivia Nelson
This school year, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the HERCULES Community Engagement Core, led by Erin Lebow-Skelley and Dr. Melanie Pearson. As a first-year Environmental Health and Epidemiology student and an Atlanta native, this experience was especially meaningful in deepening my understanding of environmental health within my own community.
I contributed to developing lesson plans for a youth afterschool program, including activities on how air quality impacts lung health and a hands-on lesson creating non-toxic paint as a safer alternative. I also supported the Clarence “Shaheed” Dubois Exposome Roadshow and Community Grant program, working with Atlanta-based groups to identify environmental health concerns and explore next steps for addressing them.
In addition, I served as a teaching assistant for the HERCULES Community Data Workshop, where I supported two groups in using publicly available data to better understand their communities and inform potential advocacy efforts. As part of this work, I created a resource sheet compiling relevant data sources for participants.
Overall, this was a highly impactful and empowering experience. It broadened my perspective on the diversity of communities across Atlanta and reinforced the importance of community-driven approaches in environmental health work.
Sara Forsido
During my first and second years at Rollins School of Public Health, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Xin Hu as a graduate research assistant through the REAL program. In this role, I worked on a project assessing the safety of CBD personal care products currently on the market, beginning with screening and quantifying contaminants and cannabinoids in these products. I generated inventory lists of CBD and non-hemp products and chemicals in products to be tested, investigated chemical profiles and bioactivity, analyzed and interpreted downstream laboratory data, and produced a survey summary report. This report described product type, application purpose, ingredients, bioactive ingredients, and bioactive targets. In addition to creating illustrative figures with this lab data using RStudio and Excel, I also produced several figures for and co-authored another research manuscript for a separate project investigating organic and inorganic contaminants in CBD oil products. Ultimately, this experience provided a valuable opportunity to work on environmental health research and strengthened my quantitative and scientific writing skills.
Phoebe Fowler
During my first year as an MSPH student in Epidemiology, I gained valuable research experience in reproductive and environmental health epidemiology under the mentorship of Dr. Audrey Gaskins in the Epidemiology Department. Through my HERCULES-funded REAL position, I contributed to a cross-disciplinary study evaluating the effects of microplastics on male fertility in collaboration with Dr. Akanksha Mehta at Emory Urology and Dr. Douglas Walker in the Department of Environmental Health. I deepened my understanding of the epidemiologic research process, from data cleaning to manuscript writing and submission. Additionally, this position enabled me to utilize my classroom-acquired skills to analyze real-world datasets and conduct methodological evaluations of existing literature in the field.
While I contributed greatly to multiple aspects of the study, my two main deliverables included a literature review and results of data analysis, which were presented as multiple tables and figures to be used for peer-reviewed manuscripts. Through constructing my literature review, I improved my scientific literacy and broadened my expertise in the field. I utilized my coding skills in R and SAS while maintaining a detail-oriented focus to successfully analyze multiple datasets and produce appropriate tables and figures.
In addition to my two deliverables, I made substantial contributions to the drafting of two peer-reviewed manuscripts. Through this process, I cultivated my scientific writing, and analytical and critical thinking skills. Overall, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, as it provided me with an all-encompassing experience of epidemiological research while preparing me for future research positions and allowing me to meaningfully contribute to a multi-disciplinary project.
Nandita Parekh
I had the honor of joining the Michigan PBB Registry as a graduate research assistant in the second year of my MPH in Environmental Health. Under the guidance of Drs. Robert Hood, Melanie Pearson, Michele Marcus and Ms. Metrecia Terrell, I applied qualitative research methods to identify and assess health concerns and community engagement strategies in the cohort. Through this work, I gained valuable experience facilitating focus groups and conducting thematic data analysis. The focus groups captured rich and varied participant perspectives, concerns, and ideas, which I used to identify gaps in the PBB Registry’s community engagement efforts. I synthesized community-identified needs, priorities, and goals to develop strategic, theory-informed recommendations for future engagement. I produced a report focused on guidance for community partners and presented recommendations for organization and outreach strategies to the PBB Leadership Team.
This project strongly aligned with my longstanding interests in environmental exposures and community-engaged research. Through this work, I gained a deep appreciation for the meaningful relationships the PBB Registry has built with its partners and for its sustained commitment to advocating for the health and wellbeing of Registry participants decades after the environmental disaster that led to its creation. This experience has reinforced my commitment to community-engaged and community-driven public health work, and I look forward to bringing the skills I gained through this experience into my future career.
Natalie Rivas
During my time as a REAL Graduate Research Assistant at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, I had the privilege of working under the mentorship of Dr. Ashley M. Ruiz. My research focused on the intersection of environmental health and gender-based violence (GBV) against women, specifically examining experiences during rapid-onset natural disasters in the Southeast. This position allowed me to engage deeply with qualitative data to understand how environmental stressors and social inequities compound the challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
My primary responsibilities involved the analysis of interviews conducted with women and key informants who navigated these disaster scenarios. To support the dissemination and future publication of this work, I created several key deliverables, including a comprehensive Excel database of transcript quotes categorized by different social determinants of health and key themes. I also produced thematic write-ups consisting of detailed analyses identifying patterns and emerging themes, specifically focusing on the roles of healthcare and transportation infrastructure during and after disasters.
This experience has been instrumental in strengthening my skills in qualitative data analysis and scholarly writing. It has also deepened my commitment to advancing health equity by addressing the structural biases and environmental factors that impact women’s health. I am grateful to the HERCULES Exposome Research Center for supporting this work, which has been an invaluable opportunity to develop practical research skills and contribute to such a meaningful project.
Hannah Bacho
During the spring semester of my first year in the Environmental Health MPH program, I had the privilege of working alongside the directors and members of the HERCULUES Community Engagement Core (CEC) to support the 2026 Community Data Workshop Series. I am incredibly grateful to have been a graduate research assistant for the course, which allowed me to work directly with community members around the Atlanta metro area and facilitate discussions on utilizing publicly available data to investigate relevant environmental health concerns. I have gained experience in course instruction, development, and implementation while also learning directly from residents about incredible ongoing initiatives and their admiration for their communities.
Throughout the semester, I have also had several opportunities to participate in research translation and documentation through deliverable development and community outreach events. I have reviewed and helped organize HERCULUES progress report summaries and pilot study submissions, allowing me to gain an appreciation for the impactful research that is being conducted within the university and with partner organizations. One of the highlights of the semester was volunteering with the CEC at the Atlanta Science Festival to demonstrate non-toxic and safer alternatives to common household items to engage young children and families in thinking about what contributes to their exposome. I have also assisted a local neighborhood in documenting commercial and residential properties using mixed methods, including mapping and photovoice techniques. Overall, this has been an incredible opportunity to be a part of a team of environmental health professionals dedicated to facilitating community engagement and outreach.
Jasmine Hopkins
As a Research Assistant funded by the HERCULES Exposome Research Center through the REAL program, I have been gaining hands-on experience supporting the TRaC EEG pilot study, which explores how everyday environmental exposures like light and temperature influence sleep, biological rhythms, and brain health. Working closely with the PI, Dr. Danielle Wallace, I have helped coordinate and complete study activities. A key deliverable from my work has been the development of a template for reporting data summaries back to participants, which includes translating data into clear, personalized actionable insights for participants. I have also contributed to community-facing health science communication efforts to help make this research accessible and relevant to diverse audiences. For example, I helped design and present a booth on environmental light exposure and sleep and chrono-health at the Atlanta Science Festival Expo, an annual public event with an estimated 20,000 attendees. This experience has allowed me to connect environmental exposures to real-world health outcomes while building practical skills in data collection, participant engagement, and science communication.
Yasmith Farnan
As a second year in the Environmental Health and Epidemiology MPH program, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Donghai Liang and the EMERGE group as a graduate research assistant. This past summer for my Applied Practical Experience (APE), I worked on a metabolomics project collaboration between Dr. Liang and Dr. Ying Wang at the American Cancer Society. I assisted with descriptive data analysis and had the opportunity to independently run metabolome-wide association studies (MWAS). I participated in conducting data analyses related to the project and gave a presentation of our study progress at an EMERGE meeting.
I also completed my MPH thesis with Dr. Wang and Dr. Liang, examining the relationship between radon exposure and breast cancer using metabolomics. This experience further developed my analytical skills and expanded my knowledge of statistical techniques. As I completed my thesis, I encountered various challenges and questions, but their guidance as mentors helped resolve them and ultimately refined my research abilities. Additionally, applying previous coursework and research experience within this Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) provided me the opportunity to thrive in this endeavor. Working with the EMERGE group throughout my MPH has strengthened my research expertise in ways I will carry with me beyond graduation.