Health Policy Research Scholars is a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Apply your doctoral
research to build
healthier communities
“My experience in the HPRS program has significantly enriched my doctoral studies. The programming has given me skills that have helped further my goals of impacting policy change through research, equipped me with the tools I need to connect with different audiences through various mediums, and has connected me to brilliant scholars who I continue to learn from daily.”
Chioma Woko
PhD Student, Health Communication,
University of Pennsylvania
Who is Health Policy Research Scholars for?
Doctoral students from a variety of disciplines—such as urban planning, political science, economics, anthropology, education, social work, geography, and sociology—who are committed to using policy change to advance population health and health equity.
Applicants must be:
- Full-time doctoral students who are starting the second year of their programs in fall 2023 and do not expect to graduate before spring/summer 2026.
- From historically marginalized backgrounds and/or populations underrepresented in specific doctoral disciplines.
- Pursuing a research-focused discipline that can advance a Culture of Health.
- Interested in health policy and interdisciplinary approaches.
What do scholars receive?
- Annual award funding of up to $30,000 for up to four years or until they complete their doctoral program (whichever is sooner).
- Mentoring and training in health policy and leadership.
- Professional ties to public health and policy leaders and innovators from diverse fields.
- Opportunity to compete for an additional dissertationgrant of up to $10,000.
- Membership in a network of scholars and alumni for research and advocacy collaborations.
Health Policy Research Scholars is a national leadership program for doctoral students in any academic discipline who are starting their second year of study and want to apply their research to help build healthier and more equitable communities.
But don’t get hung up on our name, because we’re not just looking for students who do health policy research. We’re looking for doctoral students whose research has the potential to impact health and well-being: The economics student examining how the marketplace drives decisions that create barriers to good health. The engineering student studying systems that better support wellness. The agriculture student who pursues research while keeping an eye on how it impacts long-term health. The goal of the program is to train doctoral students to use their discipline-based research training to advance health equity to build a Culture of Health, one that enables everyone to live longer, healthier lives.
We need far greater diversity in future generations of researchers and policymakers. With more voices in the conversation, policies and solutions can be more inclusive and relevant to a broader range of communities.
That’s why we intentionally designed Health Policy Research Scholars for students from underrepresented populations and/or historically marginalized backgrounds—students whose race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, or other factors allow them to bring unique and diverse perspectives to their research.
HPRS scholars gain access to the tools, insights, and diversity of mentors needed to accelerate and distinguish their research. And because we know that pursuing a graduate degree is intense and time-consuming in and of itself, we provide annual award funding to give the scholar added research funds, or simply greater financial stability.
Alumni from this program carry the unique distinction of being a graduate of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation leadership program and become a part of a tightly knit network of visionary change agents across sectors and disciplines.
See the Health Policy Research Scholars in action
Health Policy Research Scholars
Meet our current scholars who are collaborating to advance a Culture of Health. These scholars are leading innovative, discipline-spanning work across the country and taking bold steps to change the status quo and achieve greater equity in their home communities.
JASON ASHE
PHD STUDENT, HUMAN SERVICES PSYCHOLOGY
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Faith/Religion
- Public, Population, and Community Health
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
ANTON L.V. AVANCEÑA
PHD STUDENT, HEALTH SERVICES ORGANIZATION AND POLICY
University of Michigan
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Health Care Value
- Health Care Quality
ASIA SADE IVEY
PHD STUDENT, SOCIOLOGY
University of California, Davis
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Behavioral and Mental Health
- Health Care Access
- Violence and Trauma
DESTINY M.B. PRINTZ PEREIRA
PHD STUDENT, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
University of Connecticut
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
- Violence and Trauma
- Behavioral and Mental Health
- Children and Families
Our partners include:
Leadership Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Health Policy Research Scholars is just one of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s leadership programs offering high-level training and funding for people interested in applying their expertise—no matter what their discipline—to help make our country healthier and more equitable.
CULTURE OF HEALTH LEADERS
Collaborate. Innovate. Transform Communities.
Individuals working in every field and profession receive $20,000 per year to advance a Culture of Health—one that enables everyone in America to live longer, healthier lives.
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH LEADERS
Collaborating to Advance Community Change.
Teams of three—two researchers and one community partner—come together to use the power of applied research to strengthen communities, with annual support of $25,000 per person and a one-time research project grant of up to $125,000 for the team.
