Practicum Research Fellowship Awards 2008-2009

For the 2008-2009 academic year, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics will award four to six Practicum Research Fellowship Awards to MPH and MSPHMEID candidates from the Department. The Awards are intended to:

• recognize academic achievement and service in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics; and
• provide partial financial support to practicum/culminating experiences.

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has relationships with organizations in the Washington area, as well as abroad where we place students to help them meet the requirements of their MPH and MS practicum and culminating experiences. These include local health departments such as the Departments of Health in Alexandria, DC, Arlington, Fairfax Country, and others; the National Institutes of Health including NIAID, NIMH, and NCI; local health provider organizations like the GW MFA, Children's National Medical Center; and for profit and non profit organizations such as the Elizabeth Glazer Foundation, and local consulting firms that do statistical analysis and conduct clinical trials. Other federal agencies include the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture.

Through collaboration with the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, we also have the distinctive capacity to place students in research projects/practicum experiences with both field and laboratory dimensions, with GWU faculty on site and investigating infectious diseases problems. Opportunities may include (1) International Collaboration in Infectious Diseases Research (NIAID-NIH), "Pathogenesis of liver fluke-induced cancer in Thailand"; (2) Human Hookworm Vaccine Initiative with product and clinical development facilities at GWU and Brazil (3) National Institute for Parasitic Diseases, China, (4)Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Australia; (5) Ministry of Health Honduras; (6) Several universities in central and South America, (7) Gorgas Research Institute in Panama (8) Pan American Health Organization and many others.

Practicum research fellowship awards are a package of tuition grant, travel grant, and/or stipend support which will together cover a portion or all of a Fellow's costs related for their practicum placements. Practicum placements may be within the United States or international, depending on availability and the student's interest. The maximum amount of the award will be $8000 which includes up to 4 credits of tuition for practicum/culminating experience credits for MPH students and up to 5 credits of tuition for practicum/final project credits for MSPH.

Students must meet the following two general requirements to qualify as applicants for Practicum Fellowship Awards:

1. Strong academic performance in the departmental and public health and microbiology (when applicable) curriculum-eligible applicants must have a GPA of 3.5 or above.
2. A written and approved research concept proposal with a placement and preceptor arrangement in place

In order to be awarded the Fellowship Award, Completion of the SPHHS and Departmental prerequisites for the practicum, including CITI TRAINING, HIPAA/HIPS coursework, and other applicable prerequisites must have been completed and approved. If Human Research is involved appropriate IRB approvals must be in progress and in place before the initiation of the practicum research.

Applications will be solicited for the Fellowship Awards (approximately 2-3 awarded in each cycle) in

• September 2008 from students who anticipate beginning their practicum in January of 2009. Applications are due on September 30, 2008. All applications should be sent to sphshp@gwumc.edu. Selected students will be asked to participate in interviews once their applications have been reviewed. Award notification is expected by October 15, 2008.
• January 2009 from students who anticipate beginning their practicum in May-August of 2009. Applications are due on January 19, 2009. All applications should be sent to sphshp@gwumc.edu. Selected students will be asked to participate in interviews once their applications have been reviewed. Award notification is expected by February 20, 2009.

Practicum Research Fellowship Award Submission and Selection Process

1st Step: Decide when to register and schedule your practicum.

2nd Step: Obtain details of practicum placement, find preceptor, and put together research concept proposal.

3rd Step: Submission of Application and Supporting Documentation

• A. Resume/CV
• B. Completed application packet
  1. Background information
  2. Academic Transcript
  3. A 350-word essay describing your career goals and how a particular placement will relate to the achievement of those goals
  4. Description of practicum placement and research concept proposal
  5. Faculty letter of recommendation
  6. Budget and budget justification

To view the award application form, please click here.
Email sphshp@gwumc.edu to request the application as a word document.

4th Step: Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by Department faculty based on the student's relevant experience, academic standing, and practicum plan.

5th Step: Notification
Students will be notified of their award via e-mail within xx days of the submission deadlines. Students will be required to submit a signed and dated Fellowship Award Acceptance Form (to be included with their notification) within a week of notification indicating either acceptance or withdrawal.