Research Profile: Effects of Sanitation Intervention

October 27, 2023

Sindhu Damodaran (UNC ‘26, CSS 10) is an environmental health sciences major at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC. Her research with the Brown Lab focuses on Maputo Sanitation, which studies norovirus GI and GII among children.

Where do you conduct your research?

Brown Lab at Gillings School of Global Public Health

What research questions does your lab study?

How effective is a latrine sanitation intervention in Maputo, Mozambique?

Please tell us a little about your specific research project.

In the Brown Lab, I’m working on the Maputo Sanitation and I’m specifically looking at Norovirus GI and Norovirus GII and the association between this disease and diarrheal outcome in children ages 1 month to 5 years.

How has this experience shaped your future goals?

Working in a lab has definitely helped me narrow my future path. Eventually, I would like to earn a M.D./Ph.D and work for the CDC, and focus on Environmental Toxicology.

What has been the most fun or interesting part of your research?

Collaborating with other graduate students and post-docs has been one of the most interesting and helpful parts of working in research. I love the hands-on work, but being able to learn and ask questions from the scientists deepened my appreciation for research.

What was it like presenting your research at a national conference?

Although I haven’t presented at a national conference, being able to share my research at a Gillings research symposium helped with my scientific communication skills, and I also loved learning about other research going on in Gillings.