Current Opportunities
We offer hands-on opportunities to medical and public health students and graduates. Contact the Rwanda Zambia Health Research Group for more information: info@rzhrg-mail.org
Employment Opportunities for MPH/MSPH Students and Graduates
Rollins Earn and Learn (REAL): 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. Beyond the direct work experience, it is an opportunity for students to be mentored by public health professionals. These opportunities are offered during the academic year and are based in Atlanta.
Internships in Atlanta, Rwanda, and Zambia: All three RZHRG offices recruit Master’s degree graduates to gain hands-on research and program experience, including administration and finance, data management and analysis, project management, and regulatory affairs. Internships are one-year in length. Our internship graduates continue on to other educational opportunities (including medical, physician assistant, nursing, and PhD programs). Others have assumed high-functioning positions with organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, World Health Organization, Family Health International, Population Services International, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the US Public health Service Corps, among many others.
Research Opportunities for Students
Emory University School of Medicine Discovery Phase: The Discovery Phase of the medical curriculum provides Emory medical students with the opportunity to conduct a hypothesis-driven research project while working closely with a faculty mentor. Past Discovery projects have resulted in publication. The Rwanda and Zambia sites are each able to host Discovery Phase students.
Rollins School of Public Health Global Field Experience (GFE): The Rwanda and Zambia sites host 4-8 GFE students per year. The GFE program provides scholarship to MPH and MSPH students at the Rollins School of Public Health to complete a summer field experience in low- and middle-income countries. Many GFE projects fulfill thesis requirements and can result in publication.
Previous Student Research
Student research resulting in a thesis or dissertation include:
Jessica Li (2019): Effect of a Family Planning Program on Long-acting Reversible Contraceptive Use in HIV-negative Single Mothers: Results From a Prospective Cohort Study in Zambia
Mariama Tounkara (2019): A mixed-methods exploratory study of factors that influence postpartum IUD uptake after family planning counseling among women in Kigali, Rwanda
Huimin Zhong (2018): Assessing the Prevalence of Positive Gonorrhea and/or Chlamydia (Using GeneXpert) in High Risk Groups in Kigali, Rwanda
Vanessa Da Costa (2018): An exploratory analysis of factors associated with interest in postpartum intrauterine device (IUD) uptake among pregnant women and couples in Kigali, Rwanda
Amedee Ngarukiye (2018): Knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding postpartum IUD and implant services among providers in Kigali, Rwanda
Sarah Bonaparte (2018): The role of incident syphilis infection on HIV transmission in Zambian HIV discordant couples, 1994-2012
Hilary Kelly (2018): Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Seroprevalence Among HIV Negative Women of Childbearing Age at High Risk for HIV in Zambia
Shideh Ebrahim-Zadeh (2018): Factors Associated with Study Visit Compliance among Participants in a Simulated HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trial
Katherine Tote (2018): Hormonal contraception does not increase the risk of genital tract infections among a cohort of HIV serodiscordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia
Zachary Ende (2017): Viral Determinants of Subtype C HIV-1 Transmission in Zambian Heterosexual Couples
Amelia Mazzei (2017): Needs Assessment and Scale-Up Recommendations for Integrated HIV and Family Planning Services in Rural Rwanda
Meredith Wesley (2017): Predictors of HIV/STI Incidence Among Female Sex Workers in Rwanda and Zambia
Alec Goldberg (2017): Heterosexual Transmission of HIV-1 Despite Reported Use of ART in Couples from Zambia and Rwanda
Karmen Unterwegner (2017): "That's why they are no longer coming in numbers": A mixed-methods study of outcome sustainability for an HIV and family planning integrated program conducted in Zambian health clinics
Emeli Anderson (2017): Factors associated with prevalent HIV infection among female sex workers in Rwanda and Zambia
Jyotsna Ramachandran (2016): Interaction of Genital Abnormalities and Risk of HIV Acquisition among Women in Sero-Discordant Couples in Lusaka, Zambia
Gelsey Hughes (2016): Correlates of Disclosure of HIV Status for Female Sex Workers in Kigali, Rwanda
Catherine Nguyen (2016): Factors associated with incident bacterial vaginosis in an HIV serodiscordant couple cohort, Zambia, 1994-2012
Nekabari Sigalo (2015): Incidence of Abscess and Predictors of Time to Abscess among Individuals in HIV Discordant Relationships in Zambia
Amanda Deen (2015): Evaluation of a Comprehensive Training Intervention for Couples' Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Providers in Zambia
Emily Kehoe (2015): Task-Shifting of Couples Family Planning Counseling and LARC Promotions to Animateurs de Santé in Kigali, Rwanda
Udodirim Onwubiko (2015): Incidence and Predictors of Any Incident Indicator of Unprotected Sex among a Cohort of HIV serodiscordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia (1994 - 2012)
Danielle Brown (2015): Predictors of Dual Contraception among HIV Discordant Relationships in Zambia
Sunni Wenson (2015): Predictors of Non-Condom Use Among Female Sex Workers in Zambia
Preeti Ravindhran (2015): Hormonal Contraception and Female-to-Male HIV Transmission Risk Among Sero-discordant Couples, Zambia 1994-2012
Meredith Craven (2014): "When you are willing, you can do it" Changes in Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Hope among Zambian Providers Receiving LARC Training. A mixed-methods study
Ana Maria Visoiu-Knapp (2014): Evaluating the knowledge-adherence of couples' voluntary HIV counseling and testing counselors: implications for patient management in Lusaka, Copperbelt and Southern Province, Zambia
Kathleen Wu (2013): Evaluation of a Training Intervention for Couples' HIV Counseling and Testing Counselors in Copperbelt Province, Zambia
Lauren Witt (2013): Ideation and practices related to common communicable and non-communicable causes of morbidity and mortality among Couples' HIV Counseling and Testing Clients in Copperbelt, Zambia
Rachel Parker (2013): Predictors of Previous HIV Testing Among Couples Receiving Couples Voluntary Counseling and Testing (CVCT) in Three Regions of Zambia
Kristine Dennis (2012): Establishing Molecular Epidemiology in Concordant HIV-1 Positive Heterosexual Couples at CVCT Centers in Rwanda and Zambia
Chad Stegeman (2012): Comparison of Plasma Viral Load and other Predictors of Transmission from Men to Women and Women to Men in Discordant Couples from Rwanda (Clade A HIV) and Zambia (Clade C HIV)
Paul Livingston (2012): Improving Diagnostic Ability and Assessing Prevalence of Schistosomiasis in Lusaka, Zambia
Nancy Czaicki (2012): Progress and Challenges in Integrating Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing into Routine Antenatal Services in Government Clinics and Predictors of 1-Month Follow-up HIV Testing for Couples' Voluntary Counseling and Testing Outside of a Research Setting in Ndola, Zambia
Alexandra Ricca (2011): Characteristics of an Evolving Cohort and Predictors of HIV Prevalence among Heterosexual Discordant Couples in Lusaka, Zambia
Cecile Dinh (2011): The Associations Between Schistosomiasis Infection, Presence of Genital Abnormalities, and HIV Prevalence, Transmission, and Acquisition in Lusaka, Zambia.
Kathy Hageman (2010): Barriers to consistent and correct condom use among heterosexual serodiscordant couples in Zambia and Rwanda