Eli's PhD program was in the School of Education, focusing on the development of quantitative methodology in educational research. After graduation, he plans to work at a governmental or non-profit research firm. 

Why did you choose to intern with the Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group?

I really think the its important for quality information to inform public policy. The Weldon Cooper Center as a civic focused organization helped me develop valuable skills while improving the public good. 

What projects did you work on during your internship?

I worked on a wide variety of surveys ranging from a survey about local governments' solar power initiatives here in Virginia to a survey about colorectal cancer in Appalachia.

What have you learned as a result of your internship?

I learned all about the survey development process including how to formulate survey questions and the best techniques to elicit responses.

Has your experience in the Demographics Group helped you in your academic studies, given you skills you can use in a future career or helped you to think differently about your academic and/or career path? 

Surveys are widely used across social science and in many areas of business such as marketing. This internship helped me develop a familiarity with the survey development and deployment process that is sure to be of use wherever I end up working. 

What did you enjoy most about your internship?

I really enjoyed the opportunity to figure out the best ways to ask questions that helped clients get the information they needed. 

Would you recommend the PhD Plus Program to future students?

I definitely would recommend the PhD+ program to other students. The academic job market is increasingly unstable and it is a good idea to develop skills and connections for careers outside of academia . The PhD+ program provides generous resources to do just that making it an easy call to participate.