Elaine Briggs Internship Fund
Olatunbosun Arowolo
Olatunbosun (Bosun) Arowolo is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Suvorov, he conducts research that provides an understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of rates of epigenetic aging of sperm, characterizing these mechanisms as a novel adverse outcome pathway, linking xenobiotic exposures and sperm epigenetic aging. Before enrolling at UMass Amherst, He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental management and toxicology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2014. In 2018, he completed his master’s degree in environmental biology and public health at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Between 2016 and 2020, he worked as a research assistant and later as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Elizade University, Ondo State, Nigeria. His hobbies are teaching, researching, and traveling.
Please kindly accept my heartfelt appreciation for the Elaine Briggs Internship Fund. Your confidence in my capabilities and your generous support are deeply appreciated, marking a significant milestone in my academic journey. Rest assured, I am committed to upholding the ethos of this Internship Fund as I embark on my professional endeavors, striving to effect substantial positive change.
Patricia Henegan
Patricia Henegan is a first year Environmental Health Sciences PhD student in Dr. Richard Peltier’s air pollution laboratory. Her research interests focus on the chemical composition of air pollution and their corresponding anthropogenic sources. She works to address issues concerning air quality and convey ways to lessen and adjust to the escalating impacts of environmental injustices and climate change on vulnerable communities. Her hobbies include reading fantasy and singing show tunes. Patricia’s career goal is to become a college professor.
I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous scholarship award. With this financial assistance, you have not only lightened my financial burden but also provided me with the opportunity to focus more intently on my studies and pursue my academic and career goals with greater determination. Your kindness has inspired me to strive for excellence and to one day pay it forward by assisting others in achieving their dreams. Thank you so much for the Elaine Briggs Internship scholarship!
Elise Pierce
Elise Pierce graduated with a B.S. in Public Health Sciences in May 2024 and is entering her 5th year at UMass Amherst as part of the 4+1 for a Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences. She works in Dr. Laura Vandenberg’s lab at UMass where she studies the effects of environmental exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the mouse mammary gland. She enjoys hiking and reading, and she hopes to pursue a career as an environmental analyst.
I am so grateful to receive the Elaine Briggs Internship Award. This scholarship will make it possible for me to stay in Amherst for the summer as I pursue a research internship in Dr. Laura Vandenberg’s environmental health lab.