Students & Trainees – Amazon Research Consortium for Climate Change and One Health

Training the Next Generation of Researchers

We are dedicated to training the next generation of leaders in climate change and One Health research in the Amazon and across Latin America. Through hands-on fieldwork, cutting-edge research opportunities, and comprehensive academic courses, our trainees gain the skills and expertise needed to drive meaningful change.

A Decade of Research and Engagement

Bass Connections at Duke University

Through Duke University’s Bass Connections program, our Environmental Epidemiology in Latin America series provides students with academic training, hands-on research experience, and opportunities to engage with communities to address real-world challenges in climate change, health, and environmental science in Latin America. These projects help bridge classroom learning with real-world impact, equipping students with the skills to lead in climate and health research while fostering meaningful community partnerships.

PAST PROJECTS:

The 2015-2016 Bass Connections in Global Health team (2)

Student give oral hygiene charla in Madre de Dios, Peru

Students meet with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment in Peru

Students construct light traps to catch mosquitoes

Students meet with regional government officials in Peru

Students conduct charlas with community members

The 2015-2016 Bass Connections in Global Health team

Students sort and count the insects collected in light traps

Our Trainees

Diverse Experiences in Climate Change and One Health Research

Carolina Coombes Pérez, MD MSc

Consultant at Duke Global Health Institute

"Up until joining the ARC team, I had only known clinical research as a way to understand infectious diseases. The ARC has broadened my perspective, introducing me to a diverse range of approaches to infectious disease research that incorporate sociodemographic and meteorological factors through a OneHealth lens. I am profoundly grateful to be part of this interdisciplinary and international team and to be constantly learning and being challenged."

Henry Cárdenas Campoverde, MSc

Spatial Analyst at Universidad San Francisco de Quito

"Being part of the ARC team on the Malaria Early Warning System project has been an exceptional experience, offering unique opportunities to apply machine learning and Bayesian models for malaria forecasting. Working alongside a diverse, multidisciplinary team, we developed a web dashboard to visualize spatiotemporal data and predict malaria cases across Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil. This dynamic environment fosters innovation and offers a rewarding space for impactful research— an ideal setting for those looking to advance in data-driven health solutions."

Sara O'Malley, MSGH

PhD Student in Environment, Duke University

"Working with the ARC has been an incredible experience – it’s the kind of work that brought me to Duke and the Pan Lab in the first place. Our highly interdisciplinary team has allowed me to engage with and learn from a variety of experts and trainees across multiple fields, institutions, and countries. Further, the group is truly full of amazing people who are dedicated to improving malaria burdens – it has been wonderful to be a part of."

Annika Gunderson, MSGH

PhD Student in Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Working on this team has created a lot of opportunities to be a part of interesting and applicable research. I’ve really enjoyed getting to learn from people in a range of fields and see how different disciplines and methods come together to answer questions. Our group has been very encouraging of students to branch out and learn new skills and broaden their experiences."

Perla Medrano, MSGH

Program Coordinator, Duke Global Health Institute

"Working with the ARC has been a transformative experience. I’ve experienced many 'firsts'—from being introduced to vector-borne disease, One Health, and climate change research, to conducting fieldwork in Peru, Ecuador, and Panama, to seeing how collaborations at the local, regional, and international levels can create scalable, meaningful change. It's been an honor to work with such a knowledgable, passionate, and diverse team committed to improving health outcomes in this underfunded region, actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with at-risk communities and researchers from underrepresented groups. I am deeply grateful to contribute to this important work."

Manuel Narvaez, MEng

PhD Student at Johns Hopkins University

"ARC trainings have been a valuable opportunity to enhance and develop new skills in climate and hydrological modeling, early warning systems, and agent-based models for infectious diseases. My experience with models such as NASA's Land Data Assimilation System has been particularly beneficial, as the training has taught me about the coherence between hydrology, climate, and early warning systems. Additionally, the multidisciplinary training helped me understand the importance of creating a malaria early warning system to support the Ministries of Health across the Amazon Basin."