Cultivating the next generation of translational scientists in biobehavioral health

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) recently concluded a three-month internship program hosting two undergraduate students from the Department of Biobehavioral Health (BBH). The students provided administrative and logistical support for health task forces operating in Schuylkill County.

These task forces were established following CTSI’s Community-Driven Research Day in Schuylkill County — a collaborative event hosted to openly discuss how to improve local health outcomes. By bringing together local leaders, healthcare providers, and Penn State researchers, the event flipped the script on traditional research, empowering the community to identify its most pressing health challenges. The resulting task forces were formed to design actionable, community-led programs, and the BBH student interns stepped right into the heart of the work to help translate the ideas into reality.

The internship provided support to these community initiatives while offering the students professional development. Through weekly check-ins with CTSI staff members Nicole Tarr and Jess Petrie, the interns received mentorship that included mock interviews, resume updating and career mapping.

Thomas J. Gould, Jean Phillips Shibley Professor and Department Head of Biobehavioral Health at the Penn State Neuroscience Institute, emphasized the value of the collaboration for student development.

"These interns truly had a special experience that will significantly aid them in their career development," Gould shared. "We are deeply grateful for the opportunities CTSI has provided our students and look forward to many more success stories emerging from this partnership."

Supporting healthy aging initiatives

Casey Sheehan, a BBH major, class of 2028, worked with the Schuylkill Healthy Aging Task Force and played a pivotal role in planning the highly successful "Cheers to the Golden Years" Healthy Aging Fair.

Drawing on her background in hospitality and senior care, Sheehan helped coordinate eight exhibitors and communicated with community organizations to prepare for the event, which hosted 40 guests. According to post-event surveys, 67% of participants reported they are now "very familiar" with local retirement resources.

"One important lesson I’ve learned is that effective communication and organization are just as important as technical knowledge," Sheehan said. "Aging-related work is not just about healthcare — it’s about community, connection, and quality of life. Supporting older adults requires a team effort that goes beyond medicine and includes education, outreach, and accessibility."

Mapping resources for substance use and addiction

Adriana Simmons, a BBH major with a minor in biology, class of 2027, supported the Schuylkill County Substance Use and Addiction Task Force. Her work focused on providing vital research support for a project mapping regional barriers and assets related to substance use.

Simmons utilized REDCap for data entry, compiled common themes from 15 key informant interviews, and assisted in designing the 'Schuylkill County Cares' infographic — a resource map highlighting local addiction treatment and recovery services. Her contributions were recognized with a named inclusion on the project's research poster.

To support Simmons's goal of becoming a genetic counselor, CTSI leadership connected her with the director and founder of the Penn State Health Cancer Genetics Program for clinical exposure ahead of her graduate applications.

"This experience has taught me so much, and I am incredibly grateful for the time, mentorship and support," Simmons said of her time with the task force. "Each of these experiences has strengthened my research skills and given me a much greater appreciation for community-based research and interdisciplinary collaboration."

To learn more about Penn State CTSI's student opportunities and community task forces, visit ctsi.psu.edu.