OGPH Early-Dissertation Awards

2025 Global Public Health Doctoral Travel Awards

Request for Proposals

The UM-SPH Office of Global Public Health (OGPH) supports opportunities for innovative multidisciplinary global health engagement, transparent partnership, and capacity building. The OGPH Doctoral Travel Awards provide a travel stipend of up to $7,500 to University of Michigan School of Public Health (SPH) doctoral students in the first two years of their program. 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 be:

  • An actively enrolled PhD student in the School of Public Health;
  • In the first two years of their doctoral degree program;
  • In good academic standing and intending to continue their studies at the School of Public Health in the 2025-2026 academic year
  • Planning to complete the proposed travel before December 31, 2025

Additional considerations:

This funding is available to PhD students in any SPH Department to further their own dissertation and research. Funding is not intended to assist the work of faculty advisors, mentors or other research projects unrelated to the student's dissertation.

Priority will be given 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.

If awarded, students are responsible for complying with all University of Michigan research, research ethics, and travel policies, as applicable.

Any questions about funding criteria, requirements or application process may be directed to sphglobalhealth@umich.edu.  

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 sphglobalhealth@umich.edu 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. 

Application opens soon! 

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.

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 sphglobalhealth@umich.edu