New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ Division of Food Safety and Inspection
- Date: Summer 2021, Flexible start date
- Location: NYS Agriculture and Markets
- Intern: Elsa Konieczynski (Elsa's blog)
- Field mentors/supervisors: Dan McCarthy, Director, Division of Food Safety and Inspection
- Stipend: $5,000
The ideal candidate will work within the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ (NYSAGM) Division of Food Safety and Inspection to analyze various food safety policies that must be developed or implemented to ensure New York State remains a leader in the field of food safety.
At the end of the period, the Division will have an improved state inspection program which will improve the public health of NYS residents and a better educated and informed food processing industry.
Roles and responsibilities
The following are examples of projects the intern will work on:
- Analyze the regulatory requirements set forth by the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and compare the requirements to the readiness FSMA industry surveys completed by field staff
- Using the results of the FSMA readiness survey, create and host a robust outreach program to help the food industry understand the FSMA requirements
- Work with Division leadership to review and analyze public health and foodborne illness data to see how this has changed over time
- Review new and emerging foodborne illnesses and threats to our food supply and compare this data to inspection data/metrics collected by the Division and if necessary, provide a list of recommended improvements
- Review existing food safety policies and processes, identify gaps, and/or make recommendations to improve how food is regulated in New York State
- Prepare commentary in response to federal or state register notices
Qualifications and previous coursework
This opportunity is available to students in Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- The ability to review and analyze regulatory documents and supporting data
- Experience in MS Office products such as Excel and Access
Learning outcomes
The intern will have the opportunity to collaborate and partner with NYSAGM field and leadership staff as well as leaders/executives from other state and federal agencies. Such Federal agencies include but may not be limited to the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.
Collaborative opportunities will occur in the form of virtual meetings and/or teleconferences.
The intern will develop the skills to review and analyze complex federal regulations and influence the implementation of a statewide public health program.