Environmental Health Lab Intern
About The Position
Looking for a hands‑on summer internship? The Marathon County Health Department is seeking a motivated Environmental Health Intern! You’ll gain experience in the water testing lab, collect beach samples, work on a quality improvement project, and join sanitarians in the field. A great opportunity to explore a future career in environmental health. POSITION SUMMARY: This role involves internship-level work, designed to provide hands-on experience and support to the team and includes tasks such as: Obtaining recreational water samples Bacteriological and chemical analysis on drinking water and recreational water samples Various environmental health activities in licensing or human health hazards The work is performed under the direction of the Environmental Health & Safety Director. This position is available from mid or late May through August at the Marathon County Health Department. The intern will work an average of 30 hours per week. Hours of work will vary but will total no more than 390 hours.
Requirements
- Current enrollment in post-secondary level biology, chemistry, or environmental health coursework.
- Laboratory experience required.
- A valid driver’s license and a driving record that meets County standards.
- Data Analytics and Assessment Skills
- Prepares data for analysis
- Policy Development and Program Planning Skills
- Contributes to the development of strategies for implementing policies, programs, and services
- Connects individuals to programs and services
- Communication Skills
- Assesses the literacy of internal and external audiences
- Assesses the communication needs and preferences of internal and external audiences
- Communicates with linguistic and cultural proficiency
- Engages in active listening
- Communicates the impact of environmental factors, social factors, and individual actions on health
- Health Ethics Skills and Awareness
- Demonstrates principles of ethics and justice in all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communities
- Engages in continuous self-reflection about one’s biases
- Community Partnership Skills
- Implements strategies for maintaining relationships that improve community health and resilience
- Public Health Sciences Skills
- Management and Finance Skills
- Engages in continuous improvement of individual performance
- Fosters a healthy work environment
- Recognizes one’s own professional development needs
- Participates in professional development opportunities
- Determines how data and information can be used in decision making
- Makes evidence informed decisions
- Participates in teams to achieve programs and organizational goals
- Fosters collaboration
- Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills
- Describes how governmental public health programs and organizations are structured and function
- Identifies opportunities for creativity and innovation
Responsibilities
- Obtaining recreational water samples
- Bacteriological and chemical analysis on drinking water and recreational water samples
- Various environmental health activities in licensing or human health hazards
- Set up and run procedures: Heterotrophic plate counts Coliform Pseudomonas Fluorides Total alkalinity pH Others
- Notify team members of unsafe samples
- Maintain records and statistics for the health laboratory
- Enter data into lab computer database and generate reports; ensure accuracy
- Wash glassware and perform routine equipment maintenance
- Participate in or lead quality improvement activities as they related to lab or environmental health topics
- Participate or conduct inspections, as allowed based on certification
- Participate in human health hazard programming and projects
- Communicate environmental health information to others within the scope of the position using both oral and written communication skills
- Handle routine customer payment transactions
- Perform quality control procedures
- Ability to keep accurate records
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public
- Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive complaints, requests, inquiries, and emergencies
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a laboratory setting with accurate results in a timely manner
- Contributes to a positive work culture that fosters excellent customer service and teamwork
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
