Laurel Sharpless, an Injury and Violence Prevention Fellow at the UNC Injury Prevention Research Center (IPRC), was featured in CDC Connects where she shared insights about her experience in the ICRC Summer Internship Program.
During her internship at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Laurel focused on policy evaluation for intimate partner violence prevention, gained hands-on research experience, and built valuable professional connections.
Laurel Sharpless on Her Internship Experience
In her CDC Connects interview, Laurel shared insights about her experience:
What were the most valuable aspects of your internship?
“The most valuable aspects of the internship were my growth in research skills and opportunities for networking and exposure at CDC. I learned a new skillset in how to adapt and apply an evidence-based assessment tool to our systematic review to evaluate policies for the prevention of intimate partner violence. Moreover, I was able to make a lot of valuable in-person connections during my time at CDC, and I was able to understand various pathways that are available at CDC that have shaped my career goals.”
How did your internship contribute to your overall understanding of injury prevention?
“My research position exposed me to various policies, and the strength of their evidence for intimate partner violence prevention. The internship also helped me understand rigorous methods for policy evaluation that I will be able to apply to my future work. Lastly, this internship expanded my understanding of gaps in the literature when it comes to structural prevention intervention efforts for intimate partner violence. This knowledge helps me because I am interested in developing a program of research to understand structural and community-based prevention intervention efforts for mental health outcomes among gender-based violence survivors.”
What have you learned about yourself and your career goals through this internship?
“I have learned the importance of networking and conducting informational interviews. I have also learned how much I could see myself in a position at CDC upon graduation. Overall, this experience was rewarding and informative, and I am grateful I had this opportunity.”
Read the full feature on CDC Connects