About
During the 2021-22 Academic Year, InCHIP’s Lunch and Learn explored some of the different career paths possible for graduate students outside of the traditional route of the academy. These talks were informal spaces for students to hear from former UConn PhD students who have gone on to apply their expertise in domains beyond academia in recent years. We hope this program allowed graduate students curious about their options an opportunity to imagine the diversity of experiences and paths available to them post-graduation.
Upcoming Workshops
Check back in a few months to learn about the Lunch and Learn offerings for the 2022-23 Academic Year!
Past Workshops
March 8th 2022 | 12:30-1:30 PM EST via zoom
Erin Hagan, PhD
(Deputy Director for Evidence for Action at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)
Biography: Dr. Hagan is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Evidence for Action, including managing the proposal submission and review process, providing assistance to applicants and grantees, coordinating with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and overseeing administrative and programmatic activities. She also reviews and recommends applications for funding. Over the course of her career Dr. Hagan has worked across a variety of sectors including non-profit, academic, and public. She brings experience in social, economic, and health equity, cultural humility, public policy, business, and evaluation.
September 21st, 2021 | 12:30-130PM EST via zoom
Jaime Foster, PhD
State Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly for the 57th District of Ellington and East Windsor
Biography: Dr. Jaime S. Foster is serving her first term as State Representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, proudly serving the 57th District of Ellington and East Windsor. She currently serves on the Public Health, Energy and Technology, and Children’s Committee.Prior to being elected to serve in the General Assembly, Dr. Foster served on the Ellington Human Services Commission, Board of Education, and the State’s Milk Promotion Board. She will continue to serve on the Ellington Farmers Market Board of Directors.
Dr. Foster is an alumnus of UCONN’s College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources; she received her B.S. in Dietetics and subsequently completed internship and testing requirements to be a Registered Dietitian. She has also obtained her MS and Doctorate in Nutritional Sciences.
Professionally, Dr. Foster works as a research scientist for the Yale- Griffin Prevention Research Center.Dr. Foster is committed to advocating for meaningful change that will improve the lives of those in the community. Her background in health and nutrition policy will be vital as the legislature navigates the COVID19 pandemic and prepares for future public health crises. She is committed to supporting local agriculture and rebuilding our economy.
February 8th 2022 | 12:30-130PM EST via zoom
David Portnoy,PhD
Associate Division Director in the Division of Population Health Science, Office of Science at the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)
UConn Alum page
Biography:David Portnoy is Associate Division Director in the Division of Population Health Science, Office of Science at the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). He has a MA and PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Connecticut. While at UConn his research was conducted at InCHIP working with Kerry Marsh (PhD Advisor) and others. After UConn he obtained an MPH from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health while completing post-doctoral training through the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program. Previously at FDA/CTP he led a group of social and behavioral scientists focused on consumer perceptions and use of tobacco products, understanding communications about the harms of tobacco products (including warnings), and understanding and preventing youth use of tobacco products. In his very recent new role he helps lead a division of 100 Social Scientists, Epidemiologists, Statisticians, and Evaluators focused studying and reducing the population health impact of tobacco use through regulation. His research interests include health risk perception and communication, consumer perceptions and use of tobacco products, and social psychological influences on health behavior and decision making. Dr. Portnoy was FDA’s scientific lead for the research to support a new cigarette health warnings rule starting in 2013.