vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research
and Development (8723P)
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
EPA/600/N-04/198
December 2014
www.epa.gov/ord
"I've learned a lot from the people I've worked with, as well as
taught myself quite a few things. The internship experience
allowed me this stimulating and invigorating experience, and it's
one I won't soon forget."
Mark Vater
Northern Kentucky University
brought me great satisfaction. My resolve to use science for the
protection of public health is all the more concrete now."
Manelisi Nhliziyo
Tuskegee University
"I enjoyed working at
EPA and found it to be
a wonderful working
environment.	The
scientists were intelligent
and dedicated, but they
also enjoyed eating
lunch outside and going
on bike rides in the
evenings. I can see
myself working in this
kind of setting after I'm
finished with school."
Jewel Lipps
Southern Methodist
University
"As a young scientist
with aspirations to
positively affect the
living conditions of other
people and their quality
of life, this experience
TABEA ZIMMERMANN
"I never anticipated that in the summer of 2014,1 would become
a scientist. I've been trained in economics and environmental
studies at a private liberal arts college. Over the course of my
internship, I got a crash course in water science, analytical
chemistry and spatial data."
Will Lutterman
St. Olaf College
I "I have conducted
research a couple times
before and have been
unsure whether or not I
liked it enough to pursue
as a career option. After
this summer, I can
acknowledge that I very
much enjoy scientific
research and while it
may not be the focus
of my whole adult life,
I can see myself in the
research world after I
finish college."
Tabea Zimmermann
Dickinson College
Where are they now?
Catching up with GRO Alumni

DECEMBER 2014
ŁEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Greater Research Opportunities Undergraduate Student Fellowships
Mia Robins
"The GRO Fellowship
was the beginning of my
journey in government
service," 2003 Fellow
Mia Robins says. "My
experience as a Fellow
was my introduction to
government." Coming
from a family of teachers,
Mia says she always
thought working for
the government was
unattainable. She was
the first person in her
family to seek out an
opportunity through
the government. She
credits the Fellowship for showing her another career path,
saying "It gave me a different outlook."
Her Fellowship experience, particularly her summer internship
at Region 4 in Atlanta, Ga., helped Mia realize how EPA and
other agencies have an impact on a wide range of areas, from
the environment to health care. "The Fellowship made me proud
to know that I was working for the betterment of our country and
allowed me to see how my interests in service could be utilized,"
Mia says.
Mia earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Xavier
University, New Orleans, La. She chose Xavier because she
wanted to attend a university that focused on working in the
community while providing a strong foundation in the sciences.
Xavier, a historically Black university, has a strong commitment
to social justice. "The research I was able to do as a GRO
Fellow showed me how my research at a small university could
potentially have an impact on the country as a whole," she says.

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Mia went on to attend the Rollins School of Public Health at
Emory University, Atlanta, Ga., which is ranked in the top ten
public health schools by US News. The school has diverse
student and faculty populations and promotes community
involvement to reduce health disparities. Mia earned her master
of public health degree through an accelerated program. She
chose to focus on health policy and management, which she
calls "the business side of public health."
Her GRO internship introduced her not only to EPA, Mia says,
but to other agencies located in the same building. After an
internship at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,
Mia went on to work there. She has also worked for the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. While working at CMS,
one of Mia's responsibilities was conducting outreach to rural
communities about the Affordable Care Act as part of CMS'
responsibilities related to implementation of the Act. "What
I love the most about doing outreach is talking to people and
understanding their stories," Mia says.
Mia has worked as a public health analyst at the Health Resources
and Services Administration in Rockville. Md. HRSAis part of the
Department of Health and Human Services. It facilitates grants
and other programs to ensure that underserved and rural areas
receive the proper health services. HRSA grants support efforts
such as community-based health centers, the Ryan White HIV/
AIDS Program, and education of health professionals, including
students from disadvantaged backgrounds. "I love that I am able
to impact communities in a positive way through working with
health policy issues that affect future generations," she says.
Mia also seeks to have a positive impact on communities on
her own time. "I participate in a community service opportunity
each month," she says. She's participated in initiatives for the
homeless, such as a resume writing seminar held at a shelter,
and providing food to the elderly.
Two years ago, Mia and her sister made a mission trip to
Morocco, where they taught English in a women's shelter.
Spending just one week there -- and not speaking Arabic --
posed some challenges. "We had to be innovative in teaching,"
she says. "We developed activities like songs and arts and crafts
to teach English in a unique way." She hopes to make a mission
trip to another African country in the future to do health outreach
or language education. "A part of my life is that I want to give
back in the community outside of work," Mia says.
Internship Reflections
Between May and September 2014, GRO Fellows completed
10- to 12-week internships at EPA labs and offices around the
nation. We asked the Fellows for their impressions about the
internship program. Here are a few of their thoughts.
ROBY VENTRES-PAKE
I
ALEX MOIX, DYRIAN WANDICK, MANELISI NHLIZIYO
"This internship has allowed me to explore a different pathway
within my field of study. I had never worked in a laboratory
setting as much as I did this summer and it really opened my
eyes. I was able to work alongside EPA employees to reach the
common goal and mission of EPA to protect the environment
and human health."
Adeline Dutton
Lake Superior State University
"EPA has impressed me with the wealth of knowledge of its
employees, their concern for the safety of both people and the
environment and their patience with passing on their expertise
and skills to an undergraduate student who is so new to the
field. This internship far exceeded my expectations of the typical
routine work of an undergraduate internship by providing me
with an opportunity to work on innovative projects with great
potential."
Alex Moix
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
"This internship gave me experience with working directly with
overburdened and disadvantaged communities, the same
populations that I would iike to focus on as a physician. My
projects and experience at EPA have strengthened my desire
to enter into public health in order to tackle the problems
surrounding overburdened and disadvantaged populations."
Nelson Malone
Howard University
BRITTANY BEEBE
"This summer has allowed me to view EPA from the inside
out. I continue to believe in the necessity and importance of
the Agency and its mission. I believe the Agency is vital for
maintaining the beauty of our country, as well as public health."
Brittany Beebe
University of Nevada, Reno
"I obtained numerous skills from my internship that are not only
applicable in my academic career but daily life as well. These
skills are invaluable and can be used at any point in my life and
applied to any situation. The internship has also deepened my
passion for research and global health. It has also given me the
opportunity to witness applied research firsthand."
Dyrian Wandick
Tuskegee University
"My hosts made me an integral part of the team during my time
there and freely gave their knowledge and experience. As part
of the team I have been exposed to different disciplines and
given the opportunity to be involved in activities related to the
areas of expertise of each of the other members. Through those
activities I have developed many new skills and an interest in
new subject areas."
Erin Smith
Virginia Wesleyan College
ERIN SMITH
"This internship experience has confirmed my interest in
pursuing a career with an organization that is committed to
protecting the environment. Interning with EPA has helped
me adapt to a dynamic workplace, interact with professionals
from different backgrounds, and network with other motivated
individuals, all of which will help me in my future career as an
environmental engineer."
Jairo Luque Villanueva
Humboldt State University
"I wanted a real inside look at how environmental policy was
formed. I also wanted to work as independently as possible.
As it turned out, I got more than I had ever expected and even
a bit more than I had hoped. The people I was able to meet
and the overall freedom I was able to have was irreplaceable
and something I could have never experienced in the university
setting."
Jared Lobbestael
Eastern Michigan University
"The employees were zealous about their work, but were also
passionate about the research of their coworkers. They truly
believe in the work they do, and the ability of it to help preserve
the environment. They have offered valuable insight into how
to be environmentally conscious and have served as role
models of how people can couple science with environmental
preservation."
John Gurak
University of Texas at Arlington
"The internship experience overall introduced me to many of
the important areas of science in the environmental field in
a professional setting. I was really able to appreciate the big
picture importance of the project I was working on."
John Haugland
Marquette University
"Instead of the official title of my project, I think a more
appropriate title would be: 'Integrated approach for an extremely
rewarding and exciting GRO internship involving gaining skills
in biochemical and computational techniques, along with a few
laughs and great EPA co-workers.'"
Serina Robinson
St. Olaf College
"This experience has introduced me to new skills and resources,
but the most beneficial part of the experience is learning
how scientific research and new applications for technology
can be applied to have measurable positive impacts on the
environmental issues confronting the world today."
Tia Scarpelli
Michigan Technological University

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