Cecilia is currently a third-year undergraduate student from Waterville, Maine studying anthropology and global health at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, USA. 

Why have you decided to come to the Graduate Institute as a junior researcher ? 

The prominent research centres and the international atmosphere of the Graduate Institute made it the ideal place for me to gain research experience in the fields of environmental studies and global health. I decided to come to the Graduate Institute as a Junior Researcher to learn from expert researchers working on topics of great interest to me. 

How was your experience working for the Centre of International Environmental Studies? And more specifically for the research project with Prof. Andonova 'Accountability of International Organizations"? What were your main tasks? 

Working for the Centre for International Environmental Studies was an enriching experience, because I was able to carry out research while engaging with the Centre’s events that featured distinguished scholars in the environmental studies field. Everyone affiliated with the CIES was so kind and I enjoyed learning about their research projects. Additionally, I had an excellent opportunity to learn from Professor Andonova through working on her research project “Accountability of International Organizations”. My main tasks were to research legal instruments, conduct literature searches, and code academic articles on the topic of World Health Organization accountability. 

What are the main 'lessons learnt' from your experience? 

I gained exposure to political science research theory and methods, and I learned about the governance structures and accountability mechanisms of certain international organizations. 

Is there anything else you would like to add ? 

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be a Junior Researcher at the Graduate Institute. I would like to thank everyone for giving me a warm welcome at both the Centre for International Environmental Studies and the Global Health Centre.