Four Princeton undergraduate students — Zoe Tavares, Adrija Kundu, Lena Chau, and Janah Richardson — gave back to communities and gained practical, real-world experience by working with New Jersey-based organizations focused on public health-related projects and research. 

The New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science (NJ ACTS) collaborated with the Program for Community-Engaged Scholarship (ProCES) and community partners to design and fund four different short-term initiatives. These remote projects, which addressed specific community health and organizational needs, offered the Princeton students valuable experiential learning opportunities between the 2024 and 2025 academic semesters. Each student also produced a final deliverable for the community partner to support the organizations’ efforts going forward. The students were chosen for the paid micro-internships through an annual selective application process. 

The four projects ranged over a wide array of topics: 

• Cannabis Use, Education, and Prevention: A Literature Review and Messaging for Public Health Professionals
• RSV Vaccination for Infants: Educational Resources for Parents 
• Health and Social-Emotional Impacts of COVID-19 on Children
• The History of Hospital Closures and Community Health Activism in New Jersey 

Zoe Tavares ’28 partnered with the Montgomery Township Health Department (MTHD) to examine the public health impacts of marijuana usage since the 2021 legalization of the drug in New Jersey. The impact of more potent strains of marijuana, new methods of use, and increased access has raised questions and concerns among community health officials across the state. In Montgomery, chief among these are the drug’s effects on adolescents and young adults, who are the demographics most likely to start usage. Communicating the health risks of marijuana is challenging due to polarizing views and limited evidence-based resources. To address these questions and challenges, Tavares conducted a literature review on the public health effects of marijuana use, examining over 50 papers and other sources published since 2022. This review was intended to update MTHD officials on current trends and potential areas of concern. As a second output of her project, Tavares provided specific public health messaging suggestions, talking points and successful program examples that health educators can utilize in the community. 

“This opportunity was very meaningful to me, as I came from a high school where marijuana usage was a common but under-addressed problem,” said Tavares. “My work with the Montgomery Township Health Department (MTHD) aims to help public health officials effectively communicate about marijuana—especially towards youth—and enable the local community to make informed, safe decisions.” 

Adrija Kundu ’27, who is majoring in Molecular Biology with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy, partnered with Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital and RWJ University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics for her project. The hospitals needed an accessible educational resource focused on communicating what is currently known about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and ways to prevent infection in infants. RSV is a leading cause of hospitalizations for infants under one year of age in the United States. Kundu provided this information in a brief, animated video for families titled “Tiny Shots for Tiny Tots,” that highlighted basic aspects of the virus and, importantly, emphasized an available immunization that can protect infants from RSV.  The overall goal was to help medical professionals educate parents and caregivers using an easy-to-digest format so they can make informed decisions about the vaccine. 

“As an aspiring physician, I am committed to leveraging the research, community mapping, and graphic design skills I developed through this internship to lead large-scale community health initiatives that bridge the gap between medical advancements and patient understanding,” said Kundu.

Psychology major Lena Chau ’26 worked with Hamilton Area YMCA for her micro-internship. The community non-profit wanted to better understand post-COVID-19 impacts on the emotional, physical, and social health of younger children. They sought to provide targeted support systems and programs that bridge the gaps that formed as a result of these impacts. For one of her deliverables, Chau provided a review of the literature focused on factors during and after the pandemic that influenced school-aged children’s socio-emotional development. She also shared recommendations to better support the next generation. Using publicly available data sources, Chau also generated a summary of demographic data by zip codes and academic performance of nearby schools. Together, these resources will help the Hamilton YMCA apply for grant funding to better curate youth programs and summer camps serving the diverse population that resides in the Hamilton area. 

“Following the same principles I applied in my own research at Princeton, I found it eye-opening to use them in collaboration with Hamilton YMCA,” said Chau. “As someone who is interested in how different social factors influence different populations, the research done in this internship allowed me to practice and hone my skills while also enhancing my perspective on how research can be applied in a real-world setting.”

Janah Richardson ’26, who is majoring in Public Policy within the School of Public and International Affairs, partnered with Truth & Repair: The History of Health Inequity in New Jersey and Newark Public Library to examine the impact of the 1979 Margaret Hague Hospital closure on marginalized communities in Jersey City, NJ. Richardson used archives from the Newark Evening News along with extensive documents housed within the Newark Public Library's public health collection to compile a comprehensive five-page report. This report detailed the reasons behind the hospital's closure, how those decisions were perceived, and the substantial grassroots response that ensued. It also highlighted the broader implications of critical health care facility closures for community health, policy-making, and social equity. The objective was to provide valuable lessons on how communities can more effectively mobilize to defend access to essential health services, and to offer insights on the most effective coalitions and strategies for protecting communities from such decisions.

“As a student studying government and politics, this research has allowed me to connect theory to practice, exploring how policy decisions impact marginalized communities and their ability to organize against institutional encroachment,” said Richardson. “This project has deepened my understanding of the importance of grassroots organizing and the role of community-based solutions in health disparities.”

A key objective of the NJ ACTS consortium is to promote the education and training of the translational science workforce, encompassing students engaged or interested in biomedical, clinical, and health-related research. Another goal is to involve patients and communities across New Jersey to ensure that efforts align with their priorities. 

"Every year, I look forward to co-creating these health-focused opportunities for undergraduates which help community organizations address unmet needs,” noted Bianca Freda ’98, manager of NJ ACTS at Princeton.  “Students find the experiences to be valuable and our partners in the community are appreciative of the support. It’s a win-win.”