Summer Science & Policy Research Internship Program

Program Overview 

This internship offers a rigorous, hands-on experience at the intersection of public health, food justice, and science policy. Interns will investigate how food environments shape health outcomes across the Mississippi Delta, using qualitative and quantitative tools to conduct research, advocate for policy reform, and engage in sustainable food system development.

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Program Alignment with the Delta GREENS “Food is Medicine” Project

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This internship directly supports and extends the goals of the Delta GREENS Food is Medicine Project, a collaborative initiative led by the Reuben V. Anderson Center for Justice, Tougaloo College, and the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Delta GREENS seeks to address chronic disease and structural food insecurity through a systems-based approach that integrates agriculture, public health, and community-driven policy. Through this internship, students will contribute to the “Food Environment Assessment Project”, a critical subcomponent of Delta GREENS, which explores the availability, quality, and affordability of food across Mississippi's underserved communities. Interns will conduct on-the-ground assessments in local food retail outlets and farms, engage directly with patients and store owners, and participate in educational cooking classes aimed at promoting dietary change.

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The Need for This Intervention

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Communities across the Mississippi Delta face disproportionate burdens of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease—conditions that are inextricably linked to limited access to healthy, affordable food. These disparities are compounded by systemic disinvestment in public health infrastructure, rural economic challenges, and historical neglect of Black-led food systems. This internship provides students with the tools to intervene at both the individual and structural levels. By combining scientific training with policy engagement, interns will help build a local evidence base that informs real, community-driven solutions.

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Where Science Meets Policy

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This program is rooted in the belief that research should not end with publication—it should drive change. Interns will not only gather data but also translate their findings into policy recommendations, engaging in briefings with stakeholders and contributing to advocacy efforts that aim to reshape Mississippi’s food landscape. Working closely with researchers from Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, students will gain a unique opportunity to bridge academic research with practical, scalable public health interventions. The mentorship, fieldwork, and policy development experiences offered in this program prepare students to become the next generation of health equity leaders.