Pradeeti Mainali is a first year at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, studying Epidemiology. Her current plan is to find a practicum experience for summer of 2024 with the health department and graduate from Columbia in the Spring of 2025. Long term, Pradeeti hopes to find a career within data analytics and visualization, using her epidemiology degree and biostatistics certificate.
Pradeeti recommends that future applicants ensure their personal statement reflects why they want the internship and what specific things direct their interest. She says she “feels this is the most important part of your application and recommends letting your personality shine through during the interviews. Try not to be nervous, although I know I was.” Once you begin the internship, Pradeeti recommends choosing a topic you are passionate about and enjoying your time because it ends so quickly!
Her most enjoyable experience throughout the internship was the trip to Atlanta to present at the CDC Showcase. She mentions that it was special because this was the first ‘work trip’ she had attended, and it gave her great insight into how public health meetings were structured. “I got valuable experience presenting my research project in ‘real life’ to people who are experts in the field; it was a great learning opportunity.” She mentions it was a great time to bond and relax with her peer interns through movie theater and aquarium team trips!
Overall, she greatly enjoyed her time in this internship and the relationships she made with her mentors and peers. She felt the internship was very well-rounded and introduced many different aspects of public health while applying native health as a context. Her last piece of advice is to take full advantage of the knowledge and experience offered through this internship!