Cal-WATCH Data Intern

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The Public Health Institute (PHI) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting health, well-being, and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. As one of the largest and most comprehensive public health organizations in the nation, we are at the forefront of research and innovations to improve the efficacy of public health statewide, nationally, and internationally.

PHI was distinguished as one of the top 50 “Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work For” by the Non-Profit Times in a national search.

POSITION SUMMARY

About Tracking California

Tracking California, a program of the Public Health Institute in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health, mobilizes data for public health action. We track and analyze data on sickle cell disease, environmental health, and related health outcomes to protect California communities. Our core values are scientific integrity, transparency, sustainability, equity, and partnership. We are committed to building an inclusive team that reflects the populations we support, and we actively seek applications from individuals from marginalized or underrepresented communities.

About the Internship

This internship supports the California Water: Assessment of Toxins for Community Health (Cal-WATCH) Project. The project is a partnership between Tracking California, a program of the Public Health Institute, along with the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Environmental Health Investigations Branch. Together, this project aims to track and prevent harmful algal bloom illness state-wide, while also working locally in Lake County, California to improve outreach, illness reporting, and drinking water monitoring.

A central component of the project is identifying self-supplied water systems. including surface water intakes and private wells, in Lake County; connecting with residents to offer testing; and raising awareness of potential contaminants and water quality hazards. Prior to household water sample collection, participants complete a consent form and questionnaire to provide information about their water source, in-home filtration systems, water uses (such as drinking, bathing, laundry, and gardening), and any water quality or health concerns. These survey responses, together with water quality testing results, provide critical information for understanding potential environmental exposures and community concerns related to drinking water.

The intern will support the management and analysis of these data, helping to organize survey and water quality information, conduct literature reviews to provide context for project findings, and contribute to the development of reports and other dissemination materials. Through this work, the intern will gain hands-on experience in applied public health research, data analysis, and scientific communication while developing familiarity with water quality concerns, all transferable skill sets for environmental and public health. They will work closely with Tracking California staff and the broader Cal-WATCH project team, including Tribal partners and state agency representatives, to help translate data into actionable information for communities and stakeholders.

This is a temporary, part-time internship that is expected to last up to 89 days with a work schedule of approximately 12 hours per week (30% FTE). The intern is expected to complete no more than 150 hours, with a preferred start date of November 2, 2026 and expected end date of January 29, 2027.

The position is primarily remote with an option to attend in-person meetings if the intern is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Applicants who will work from California and will be available to work during core business hours for the Pacific Time zone are preferred.

Full pay range for this position: $22.08 to $30.51 per hour. The typical hiring range for this position is from $22.08 (minimum) to $26.29 (midpoint) per hour. The starting wage is determined using a variety of factors, such as the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as internal equity consideration and budget availability.

Employment Type: Part – Time

Measurable Goals and Outcomes:

• Organize, clean, and manage project datasets, including participant questionnaire responses and water quality testing data.
• Conduct descriptive analyses of survey and environmental health data to identify key patterns, trends, and community concerns.
• Complete a literature review summarizing current research on private wells, surface water intakes, drinking water quality, environmental exposures, and related public health impacts.
• Contribute to the development of at least one project report, fact sheet, presentation, or other dissemination product.
• Prepare data summaries, tables, charts, and visualizations to support project findings and stakeholder communications.
• Present findings and progress updates to Cal-WATCH project staff and partners.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary partners, including Tribal organizations, state agencies, and public health practitioners, to support interpretation and dissemination of project findings for local action.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Data Analysis & Research (Primary Focus)

• Assist with data entry, cleaning, management of participant survey and sample collection results.
• Create, organize and maintain databases, documentation, and data dictionaries.
• Conduct descriptive analyses of survey, environmental, and water quality data.
• Create tables, charts, maps, and other data visualizations to support project findings.
• Conduct literature reviews and summarize scientific evidence related to drinking water quality, private wells, intake systems, environmental exposures, and impacts to public health.
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure responsible handling of participant and project data.

Research Translation & Communications

• Assist with interpretation and synthesis of project findings in collaboration with Cal-WATCH project staff.
• Contribute to the preparation of publications, briefs, presentations, and other dissemination materials.
• Support communication of findings to Tribal partners, state agencies, and other project collaborators.

General Project Support

• Participate in Cal-WATCH project meetings and provide progress updates.
• Attend Tracking California staff meetings.

Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience with data analysis tools such as R, SAS, Python, or AI-powered tools for managing, analyzing, and visualizing data in spreadsheets and datasets.
• Experience conducting literature reviews or synthesizing scientific research.
• Experience creating data visualizations, dashboards, or reports.
• Currently enrolled in the first year of a graduate degree program or in the program break after the first year.

Other Qualifications

• Familiarity with survey collection, cleaning, analysis.
• Interest in translating research findings into actionable information for communities and decision-makers.
• Coursework or experience in epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental or public health, exposure assessment.
• Experience working with community-engaged, environmental justice, Tribal, or public health projects.
• Experience preparing presentations, reports, factsheets, or other public facing materials.
• Knowledge of California drinking water, environmental health, or climate-related issues.

EEO Statement

The Public Health Institute is committed to a policy that provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and to make all employment decisions so as to further this principle of equal employment opportunity. To this end, the PHI will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, medical condition including genetic characteristics, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identification and expression, sexual orientation, and we offer employment opportunities (and throughout employment treat our employees) fairly and equitably without regard to these characteristics.

ADA Statement:

The Public Health Institute is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Recruitment Team at least 48 hours in advance at Recruitment@phi.org.

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We’re so pleased the Public Health Institute is an organization you would like to work with. Do you have questions about this opportunity? If so, email our recruitment team at Recruitment@phi.org.

Additional information about PHI’s benefits and compensation offerings can be found here.