The research questions focus on the effectiveness of the training on volunteer's behavior change and health improvement. Knowing about the effectiveness of this training is important given the dramatic increase in asthma and other respiratory or allergy-related illnesses that have environmental triggers. A focus group will be held one month after training. The 3 and 6 month surveys look at training issues, e.g. preparation to conduct HEALs in culturally diverse households, what they are finding when they enter the HEAL household in terms of problems, perception of readiness to meet their outreach objectives, etc. The 3 month survey also looks at short term behavior changes.
Students can assist in data collection, data entry, analysis, and writing results of the research.
Minimum qualifications include computer skills including data entry and analysis and literature searches. Approximately 10 hours per week is needed. Background in health sciences, environmental sciences is helpful. There are several active projects investigating the sources of microbial pollution in lakes, rivers, creeks, bays, shellfish growing waters, and sources of drinking water. The project involves the use of classical microbiology, immunochemistry and molecular biology.