1. What is the Global Health Field Research Award (GHFRA) initiative at Johns Hopkins?
2. What is the GHFRA Student Research Program?
3. Who may apply for the program?
4. What characteristics are being sought in the typical GHFRA research student?
5. How much funding is provided?
6. How many students will be selected?
7. How does one apply for the GHFRA?
8. What type of research proposals will be considered?
9. What are some suggested themes for research projects?
10. The IRB rules are new; why is that and what does it mean?
11. What is the timeline for the program? 1. What is the Global Health Field Research Award (GHFRA) initiative at Johns Hopkins?
In order to expand and support research and education on global health issues and provide an opportunity for developing country experiences the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health (CGH) in conjunction with the department of International health developed the Frameworks in Global Health Program. The Bloomberg School of Public Health independently had created the Global Field Experience Fund. A key objective of both programs was to enhance the recruitment of diverse students into research and practice careers in global health. Effective October, 2009 the two programs merged to from the Global Health Field Research Award administered by the CGH. For more information on the GHFRA, see the CGH website or contact Jackie Sofia, Program Associate, Center for Global Health, jsofia@jhsph.edu, 410-502-9873. 2. What is the GHFRA Student Research Program?
A key element of the GHFRA initiative includes funding support for JHU students to participate in hands-on research and have the experience of living in developing countries or with key institutions engaged in global health research and practice each year. The program includes limited funding to support travel and field research for a minumum of a one month, as well as intense faculty mentoring.
All JHU undergraduate and graduate students, including (but not limited to) students in Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and International Studies are eligible to apply. The sole exception is that MPH students may not apply. Students within the MPH program must apply to the MPH Field Experience Fund. Additionally, medical graduates in residency programs are eligible to apply. Students who will be completing their studies prior to their travel/research are not eligible to apply. Students may not apply for funding for projects which have already been funded under another mechanism.
4. What characteristics are being sought in the typical GHFRA research student?
The program seeks to support diverse students reflective of the wide range of disciplines necessary to effectively respond to today’s global health challenges. While academic background and specific interest can vary greatly, all students should exhibit sincere academic and professional interest in the field of global health. They should also have the ability to work independently and handle themselves gracefully in challenging and diverse environments. 5. How much funding is provided?
Students may apply got awards up to $3,500.
6. How many students will be selected?
Approximately 34 students will be selected to participate in the program each year. 7. How does one apply for the GHFRA?
In order to apply for the program, each student must first identify a research mentor to work with them as well as a Hopkins faculty advisor willing to support their application. This most commonly means that a student must identify a faculty member willing to include the applicant’s research project within one of their existing international research programs. Details about eligibility and the application process may be found in the GHFRA announcement on the CGH web site.
What type of research proposals will be considered?
As with student backgrounds, diverse research proposals will be sought. The research can be based in a broad range of disciplines, including technical, economic, political, sociological, biomedical, public health, and/or basic science disciples. The specific research methods employed may also be quantitative or qualitative. Most important, the research objectives should have practical application to existent global health challenges. 9. What are some suggested themes for research projects?
Numerous highly important research questions are facing global health investigators today that can be addressed through small research projects such as those supported through the GHFRA program. Some ideas may include child survival, maternal and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, humanitarian emergencies, catastrophic disease outbreaks such as SARS or avian flu, or global chronic disease epidemics such as tobacco and obesity. Another approach would be to focus on structural aspects of global health, such as trade globalization, poverty, inequity, and gender inequality. JHU has a long history of engagement with global health issues and has one of the largest programs of its kind in the world. As a result, faculty members are involved in active research programs in all regions of the world. Perhaps the most effective way to identify a potential research project is to investigate what activities are currently ongoing throughout the University and discuss potential additions to these research initiatives with individual faculty members. A map of ongoing international research projects supported by Johns Hopkins faculty is available to students for review on the Center for Global Health's website.
Johns Hopkins is committed to ethical research practices and protection of human subjects. To ensure that these practices are being followed the GHFRA staffers are requiring proof that student researchers are approved by a n institutional review board here at Hopkins or at the institution in which they are doing their research. The practical implication is that students will have to plan carefully to make sure that they can get an approval. This may mean that they may have to work with an investigator on an established project as a student investigator a least risky path. Getting an approval for de novo research is time consuming and raises a number of issues at the IRB that may jeopardize your award. Applicants who cannot provide an IRB approval at the time of award will forfeit their award.
Applications for the program will be accepted on March first of each year. Notification of acceptance will be sent out to applicants no later than two months following the application deadline. Research fieldwork should be completed by the end of the next calendar year following award. A research report on the experience and research findings is required within three months following the field experience and a presentation at a symposium or similar event is required during the academic year in which the final research report is submitted.
For more information contact:
Jackie Sofia
Program Associate
Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health
Hampton House 180
Tel: 410-502-9873
Fax: 410-502-9570
Email: jsofia@jhsph.edu Return to the GHFRA Program | 
