Practicum Research Fellowship Awards 2011-2012

For the 2011-2012 academic year, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics will award three 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 MPH practicum/culminating experience and MSPHMEID field/laboratory 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 but are not limited to local health departments such as the Departments of Health in Alexandria, DC, Arlington, Fairfax County, 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 organizations such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and local statistical and clinical trials consulting firms. 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); (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 to their practicum placements. MPH Practicum or MSPHMEID Field/Laboratory experience placements may be within the United States or internationally, depending on availability of positions and the student's interest. The maximum amount of the award will be $8000 which may include up to 4 credits of tuition for practicum/culminating experience credits for MPH students and up to 5 credits of tuition for field laboratory/final project credits for MSPH students.

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 practicum plan which describes the competencies, objectives and activities that the student will undertake.

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 1-2 awarded in each cycle) based on the below timetable. All applications should be sent to sphsxl@gwumc.edu. Selected students may be asked to participate in interviews once their applications have been reviewed.

Practicum Research Fellowship Award Submission and Selection Process:

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

2nd Step: Meet with practicum director, obtain details of practicum placement, find preceptor, and put together practicum plan.

3rd Step: Submission of Application and Supporting Documentation.

• A. Resume/CV
• B. Completed application packet
  
  Award application including:
  1. Academic Transcript
  2. A 350-word essay describing your career goals and how a particular placement will relate to the achievement of those goals
  3. Description of practicum placement and practicum plan (click here for practicum plan template)
  4. Faculty letter of recommendation
  5. Budget and budget justification

Click to view the award application form. Email sphsxl@gwumc.edu to request the application as a word document.

4th Step: Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by Department faculty and scored 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 based on the above timetable. 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.