Excerpted from article on School of Public Health news blog:
Alyssa Juenke, a Ph.D. student in toxicology at the School of Graduate Studies and an Epidemiology Methods Certificate student at the Rutgers School of Public Health, studies how a common food contaminant – zearalenone – may affect reproduction, pregnancy and early child development.
“I decided to pursue a certificate in Epidemiology Methods from the School of Public Health to support my doctoral work for my PhD in Toxicology,” Juenke said.
“I work with Dr. Emily Barrett investigating the effects of zearalenone on pregnancy and child neurodevelopmental outcomes in a pregnancy cohort, and the formal training provided by the certificate program has been really helpful for fully developing my thesis.”
In addition, Juenke helped develop a U.S. Sister Project to the international Isla Sister consortium and manages outreach for the New Jersey Kids Study and the Science Policy and Advocacy program at Rutgers. She hopes to work at the intersection of science and policy to strengthen human and environmental health.
“Getting the Eagleton Graduate Fellowship is the first step in pursuing a career where I can bridge the gap between scientists and policymakers,” Juenke said. “On a more personal note, it has been an incredible experience to immerse myself in the world of policy and interact with people outside of the public health sphere. I’ve learned so much in the first few months of this program and am excited to see where I’ll be at the end of the program.”
She is also a recipient of the Eagleton Graduate Fellowship Program’s Henry J. Raimondo Legislative Award and will also work with the Office of Legislative Services this spring.