OGPH Early-Dissertation Awards

2025 Global Public Health Early-Dissertation Travel Awards

Request for Proposals

Deadline: March 17, 2025

The UM-SPH Office of Global Public Health (OGPH) supports opportunities for critical innovative multidisciplinary global health engagement, transparent partnership, and capacity building for students and faculty. The OGPH Early-Dissertation Travel Awards provide a travel stipend of up to $7,500 to University of Michigan School of Public Health doctoral students who have passed their comprehensive exams but not yet begun their dissertation research. Funding is intended to support preliminary visits to prospective overseas dissertation sites, to facilitate planning doctoral dissertation research or to support other research related expenses for dissertation preparation.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidates must have passed their comprehensive exams, but not yet begun their dissertation research. Students can apply before they have passed their exams, but can not receive the funds until they have passed.
  • This funding is available to PhD students in any SPH Department to further their own dissertation plans, and is not intended to assist the work of faculty advisor, mentors or other research projects unrelated to their dissertation.
  • Peference will go to doctoral applicants who are earlier in their research, as the primary goal of this award is to help the student refine and strengthen their dissertation research and partnerships.
  • The focus of this fellowship is to support research relevant to the global health needs of low and middle-income countries, however students conducting research in high-income countries may apply. In particular, if their work could be applicable to low-resource settings or communities.
  • Travel can be for any duration adequate to complete the goals described, and may be combined with other sources of support for longer or more complex activities.  While we expect most students will travel during the summer recess, it is not a requirement that you travel during the summer months. Travel must commence before December 31, 2024.  
  • Candidates must be actively enrolled and continuing on the following academic year in order to apply.
  • If awarded, students are responsible for complying with all University of Michigan Institutional Review Board requirements for the ethical conduct of research. 

Any questions about funding criteria, requirements or application process may be directed to [email protected].  

Application Requirements

Once you click the "Begin My Application" button below, you will enter information about yourself, your degree program, and your travel proposal into an online form. You will then be asked to upload electronic copies of the following documents:

  • Proposal: A proposal describing your project, including your rationale, objectives, and potential design, and methodology; and a description of the activities you plan to undertake during the early-dissertation visit, as well as the projected benefits of the trip for your academic program and future career. If you will be working with an established research project, describe the organization and the activities in which you will be engaged. When applicable, identify the institution through which you will work and describe any institutional linkages to the UM. This proposal must be for the purpose of furthering your own dissertation plans, and not to assist on the work of your faculty advisor or other projects. The proposal must be three pages, single-spaced, maximum. (You may use any spacing format that keeps your proposal within the limit).
  • Travel Itinerary: An anticipated travel itinerary (include dates, anticipated air and ground transportation, and carriers when possible). Travel can begin any time before December 31, 2025.
  • Reference Letter: A letter of reference from your faculty project advisor which speaks to your ability to carry out your proposed research. Please ask your reference to e-mail their letter directly to [email protected] by the deadline. The faculty advisor’s letter must also include a description of their ability to provide financial support for the proposed travel if applicable.
  • Budget: A budget, including estimated cost for travel, lodging, food, visa, travel health insurance, immunizations and other travel prophylaxis, where appropriate. Your budget should demonstrate your efforts to obtain cost-sharing from other units, therefore please list all other funding anticipated or received on your budget.  Students receiving funding from other sources are eligible to apply, however the amount of the award may be reduced to avoid over-award. A budget template may be found here. 
  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae
  • U-M transcript: An unnoficial trascript is acceptable 

Formatting Note: You must strictly adhere to the naming protocols for all the above documents noted in the online application in order to upload them to the application site. You will be able to log out, and log back in to complete your application later. Your application will not be considered until you upload all necessary documents and click the "Submit My Application" button. 

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Review Criteria & Process

The Global Public Health Application for Early-Dissertation Travel Awards is due at 12:00 PM (Noon) on March 17, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Projects will be reviewed by a team designated by the Office of Global Public Health after the deadline;
  • Reviewers will assess:
    • Quality, significance and feasibility of the proposed activities;
    • Potential contribution to development of student's career in global health research;
    • Relevance to health issues and needs of low and middle-income countries;
    • Creativity or innovation of the project;
    • Record of academic achievement;
    • Strength of relationship with host institution; and
    • A clear and reasonable budget.

Applicants will be notified of awards around April 17, 2025.  These awards can ONLY be deposited into the student's account through the fellowship award system.

Other Award Requirements 

Travel Health and Safety:

Please be aware that all UM SPH Students receiving funding from the Office of Global Public Health are required to:

  • Purchase Travel Abroad Health Insurance
  • Register their internship travel in the UM Travel Registry
  • Submit a Travel Health & Safety Plan:  The Vice Provost for International Affairs, based on recommendations from the International Travel Oversight Committee (ITOC), is responsible for determining Country Risk Ratings for all travel destinations. In consideration of the ever changing status of world events, all students receiving Office of Global Public Health funding are required to submit a Travel Health & Travel Safety Plan.  This is required regardless of the travel risk rating of your destination.  We advise you wait until travel is approved by ITOC to purchase insurance, visas, etc. You are advised to begin the ITOC approval process as soon as possible.

Final Report:

Upon completion of your travel, you will be required to complete a brief report of ~five pages in length and outline the research experience as well as summarize all funds received from all other sources, within 30 days of your return to the U.S..

Questions?

Email us at [email protected]