Ahmed Abdulghany
EHS Integrator Software Intern
Mentor: Stephanie Perry
Ahmed Abdulghany (he/him) is a computer science engineer currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at UCONN. In his free time, Ahmed enjoys outdoor activities with friends, playing basketball, or going to the gym. His lifelong dream is to start his own business and use his innovative approach to grow it.
Nicholas Brown
Industrial Hygiene Intern
Mentor: Ryan Cirillo
Nicholas Brown (he/him) is junior chemistry major from Charlotte, NC. He enjoys playing basketball, reading books, driving, and listening to music in his free time. He is not completely sure of the career he wishes to pursue, but he is open minded to many and all careers regarding STEM. Fun fact about him, this is his very first internship since he started college.
Gabriela Duarte
Environmental Affairs Intern
Mentors: Dan Schott, Dave Krochko, Iain Kinsella
Gabriela Duarte Garcia (she/her) is originally from Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to New Haven in 2018. She is currently a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace at the University of Connecticut. Gabriela is passionate about using engineering to create innovative solutions that support and protect the environment. Outside of academics, she plays water polo with the UConn team, underwater rugby and enjoys running. She loves trying new coffee shops as well as spending time outdoors with friends and family.
Kabe Fetner
Industrial Hygiene Intern
Mentor: Ryan Cirillo
Kabe Fetner (he/him) is originally from Valley, Alabama, and attends the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in public health with a focus on industrial hygiene. Kabe is passionate about occupational safety and community health through research on chemical exposures and environmental hazards. Outside of academics, he enjoys exploring the city, playing a game of chess, and watching HBO Max with friends.
Ekta Kumar
Physical Safety Intern
Mentor: Frank Pekarski
Ekta Kumar (she/her) is a recent graduate of Cape Breton University with a strong academic foundation and practical experience in occupational health and safety. She recently completed an internship at Yale University, where she served as a physical safety intern, gaining hands-on experience in institutional safety practices and protocols. Ekta is passionate about fostering safe environments and is committed to applying her skills in real-world settings to promote well-being and organizational resilience.
Sofia LaFalce
Infection Control/Infection Prevention Intern
Mentor: Emily Bludnicki
Sofia LaFalce (she/her) is from Fairfield, Connecticut. She is entering her senior year at the University of Rochester and is majoring in health, behavior, and society (public health) with a minor in psychology while simultaneously completing her Masters in public health at the University of Rochester. Athletics have been a large part of her life in Connecticut, and she plays field hockey at Rochester. Sofia likes to spend her free time with family/friends, working out, cooking/baking, and being outside as much as possible.
Cameron Liggitt
Health Physics Intern
Mentors: Josh Armstrong, Neil Whiteside
Cameron Liggitt (he/him) is currently enrolled in the Master of Health Physics program with the University of Alabama at Birmingham, having received his undergraduate degree in astrophysics from Arizona State University. Cameron spent two years working for the Arizona Bureau of Radiation Control as a health physicist. He spends his free time at the gym, reading, attempting trivia, and playing Smash Bros Ultimate.
Kiera Payne
Biosecurity Intern
Mentors: Maren Schniederberend, Julia Kontos
Kiera Payne (she/her) is a senior biology major at Morgan State University from New Haven with career aspirations of becoming a forensic biologist/DNA analyst. She is spending her summer at Yale EHS as a biosecurity intern. Some things she enjoys in her free time involve crocheting and sewing.
Keyner Rojas
Research Safety Intern
Mentor: James D’Addio
Keyner Rojas (he/him) is a second year MPH student at the Yale School of Public Health. He has been working with the EHS office as the Controlled Substances Program Assistant since October of 2024, and this summer is working as the Research Safety Intern.
Lillie Scanlon
Instructional Design Intern
Mentor: Courtney Drayer
Lillie Scanlon (she/her) is from Bethany, Connecticut, and is interested in pursuing a degree in graphic design. Passionate about storytelling and visual arts, Lillie is an avid reader of light romance novels and a fan of anime and manga. In her free time, she enjoys video games with some of her favorites being The Sims 4, Overwatch, and GTA 5. Lillie loves her dog Daisy, a Golden Retriever/Great Pyrenees mix, who adds joy to her days.
Lily Sutton
Environmental Affairs Intern
Mentors: Dan Schott, Dave Krochko, Iain Kinsella
Lily Sutton (she/her) is a rising sophomore at Connecticut College, majoring in environmental studies. Lily is focused on the social sciences along with social justice to help the planet and the living beings on it. On campus, she works as a barista and is involved with the Fashion magazine and the school’s Oceanna club. She was born and raised in New Haven. Besides nature, her passions include animals, spending time with her friends, and all forms of creativity-art, dance, fashion, thrifting/mending, and junk journaling.
Destiny Taylor
Biosecurity Intern
Mentors: Maren Schniederberend, Julia Kontos
Destiny Taylor (she/her) is a rising senior from Charleston, South Carolina, studying biology at North Carolina A&T State University. While she has long aspired to become a physician, her passion for the environmental side of biology has grown. After taking a microbiology course, she discovered a strong interest in lab safety, protection, and how human health connects to the environment. Outside of academics, Destiny finds joy in cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.
Helen Werner
Chemical Safety Intern
Mentors: Ryan Cirillo
Helen Werner (she/her) is originally from Trumbull, Connecticut, and earned her B.S. in occupational health & safety sciences from Keene State College in 2022, with minors in marketing and construction safety. After gaining experience working for a large general contractor in Washington, D.C., she has returned with a strong interest in deepening her knowledge of industrial hygiene and pursuing further studies in the field. Outside of work, Helen enjoys hiking, visiting farmers markets, and spending time with friends.