Puja Shanbhag is the Spring 2023 India Center and Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Intern within the Office of Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII). She is a senior at UCF pursuing an undergraduate degree in biology in the pre-professional track. Puja is a member of the College of Science Ambassadors and a frequent volunteer at Shepherd’s Hope clinic in Orlando. Her research interests include international public health, how it is affected by  environmental factors such as climate change, and how behavioral and societal perceptions around women and childbirth further impact public health trends. Upon graduation she plans on taking a gap year and volunteer within the healthcare field.

In her current position, she’s excited to assist the India Center and GPII office with community events, outreach and education as well as reviewing developments and trends related to India and other regions of the world within her own research interests.