Welcome to the student section of the UHL Education and Training web page. Here you will find a brief description of the numerous ways that students learn about our environment, public-health issues and ways to become part of the UHL team. Take a few minutes to explore our student opportunities. Questions about our programs can be sent via Email UHL. Thank you for your interest in UHL.

APHL/CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
Each year, UHL recruits Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Fellows through the APHL/CDC EID Fellowship program. UHL has been actively involved in this program since its inception in the 1980s. Approximately 50 percent of the fellows who have participated in this program at UHL have stayed at UHL for a career in a public health laboratory and 80 percent have stayed in the field of public health.

Internships
As Iowa's public health and environmental laboratory, the University Hygienic Laboratory offers several ways for you to put your knowledge to work. Our team includes chemists, microbiologists, information technology specialists, educational trainers, administrators and many other professionals who help distinguish UHL as a national leader in public and environmental health.

We invite college students who have reached the sophmore level of study (at a minimum) to consider furthering their careers with a UHL internship, fellowship or practicum.

Sometimes teachers become interns, too. Susan Lorenzen, a science teacher from Tipton, Iowa, spent part of her summer as an intern at UHL under the Teachers @ Work program. Through the Iowa Workplace Learning Connection, Ms. Lorenzen and other teachers learn about techniques that they can integrate into their curriculum.

A list of current openings for internships, fellowships and practicums is available on our Internships page.

"The Hygienic Laboratory provides a great service to the state of Iowa and to other states. I will always think of it as a little CDC." - Susan Lorenzen

Job Shadow Opportunities
UHL partners with several Iowa schools to give students opportunities to view an environmental and public-health laboratory in operation by following our trained staff through a portion of their work day. Through these job-shadowing experiences, students watch staff performing their duties in chemistry and microbiology labs, and potentially in other areas with UHL. Job shadowing for junior high and high school students may be initiated by student-career ventures such as The Workplace Learning Connection or by individual schools.

"The UHL is providing these students with an excellent opportunity to explore science-related careers while still in high school. Students who take advantage of this opportunity are better prepared to pick a college major and are more realistic about the skills they need for future success." -- Jennifer Ott, The Workplace Learning Connection

K-12 Environmental and Public Health Series
UHL partners with the Iowa Public Television to provide a K-12 Environmental and Public Health Series held on the Iowa Communication Network System.

Teachers share their comments about the program: "This fit into our science curriculum perfectly." "This was the best ICN we have been to. Well presented and the kids interaction was valuable. Thanks!!"

K - 12 IPTV ICN Classes (PDF)

Student Grant Program
Each year through a selection process, UHL mentors junior high and high school students with their science projects through our Student Grant Program. UHL staff members work in collaboration with teachers to help guide students through the project process, providing the expertise and insight of a trained laboratorian. This program is funded by a UHL student grant and private sponsorship.

Studen Grant Brochure/Application Form (PDF)