Summer Research Intern: Maryland Safe Drinking WATER Study

Presenter: Changwen Ding, Public Health Science , Global Public Health Scholars

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For my practicum, I worked in Dr. Amy Sapkota's lab in the University of Maryland School of Public Health. I mostly worked under Dr. Leena Malayil on the Maryland Safe Drinking WATER Study. This study works to characterize the chemical and biological properties of drinking water in the state of Maryland, with the ultimate goal of identifying disparities. Because the study was still in its pilot phase when I worked on it, I mostly assisted with participant recruitment, though I also conducted lab techniques including water filtration and PCR. I learned about the common contaminants in drinking water, and saw first-hand how different water quality can be, depending on someone's county of residence, water source, etc. This topic is crucial to public health, as characterizing drinking water and identifying disparities is the first step to rectifying these inequalities and ensuring safe drinking water, a basic human right, for all.