By Collins Otieno Omenda: Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases Unit (ERID)
When the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) reached out with an internship offer, I was happy to dust off my MSc in Statistics and put it to use. I saw the opportunity as my gateway to health research and a chance to contribute to tackling Africa’s pressing public health challenges, which I have always aspired to. Before the APHRC, I had worked in freelance data analysis alongside my MSc research, and taught at Laikipia University and Egerton University. My career path has been anything but linear but this internship was the right step forward.
APHRC wasn’t completely new to me. I had done some background research work, exploring its website, combing through the research portfolio, and reading every internship blog I could find. I discovered an organization that didn’t just crunch numbers but is also using data to tell stories that could change lives. The more I learned, the more I became convinced that this wasn’t just another internship. It was my chance to bridge two worlds I cared about: the precision of statistical analysis and the urgency of public health action.
Discovering my path to the APHRC
I first came across the internship opportunity while job hunting online. While still contemplating whether to apply, a former university classmate, who was also an intern at the Center, shared the advert with me, again. I took that as a sign to review the projects on offer to find the best fit. With my background in statistics and data, I naturally gravitated to a project supporting data analysis and manuscript writing under Kenya Multisite Integrated Serosurveillance for COVID-19 and Other Pathogens (KEMIS).
My Expectations
With a role focused on supporting data analysis and manuscript writing for the KEMIS project, I expected my responsibilities to be narrowly scoped to number crunching, analyzing datasets, and drawing insights from health-related research. However, I was excited to discover that was otherwise and found myself immersed in qualitative data analysis, an area I had never imagined I would enjoy as a “quantitative person.” Who would have thought a data science enthusiast like me would be coding the Blantyre Prevention Strategy (BPS) Evaluation Project interviews and conducting thematic analysis? Working with tools like Dedoose for collaborative coding and analysis opened a new world where I learned to draw insights not only from numbers but also from narratives.
I enjoyed every aspect of my work. I co-authored several manuscripts and a scientific research blog, explored previous projects like DREAMS and engaged with the research teams on why they used different methods as well as reviewed related publications. I also attended internal capacity strengthening sessions and acquired new skills in stakeholder mapping and analysis using Kumu, and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA).
Beyond the technical skills, I had the opportunity to develop soft skills. Just two weeks into my internship, I attended a two-day training on emotional intelligence (EI). A takeaway that stuck with me:
“When people behave the way they do, or say whatever they say, and you feel irritated and perceive them as bad, then the problem is with you because it’s how you direct your emotions – our emotions drive our behaviors.”
It might be debatable, but I believe this awareness will help me maintain positive and productive relationships with colleagues throughout my career.
My Future as a Researcher
The internship has been the perfect starting point to my career. It offers insights into areas that align with my research interests, such as infectious diseases modeling, climate and health, geospatial health, and impact evaluation. With an interest in machine learning as well, I aim to expand my horizons to dive deeper into health research, leveraging the valuable skills I have gained to solve various health issues in Africa and around the globe.
Advice to Future Interns
Interning at APHRC is a privilege. Be prepared to discover and nurture your passion and career path. Stay open and flexible to learning and discovering both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of research and don’t shy away from areas outside your comfort zone. If your role is focused on quantitative research, get involved in qualitative aspects as well or if in program administration, create opportunities to engage in or conduct research. At APHRC, there’s always an opportunity to learn beyond your profession; it all depends with how you manage your time.
Final Thoughts?
I am thankful for the opportunity to intern at APHRC and sincerely appreciate my internship supervisor and the entire Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (ERID) unit team for making my internship experience so rewarding. This is a team you will always want to grow with; everyone is approachable, vastly experienced and knowledgeable. Their willingness to share their expertise and support my journey has left a lasting impression on me.