Kaela Farrise
By Kirsten onFOCUSAt the core of her work, Kaela hopes to interrupt intergenerational cycles of familial violence and trauma. Within her…
Hannah Isabel C. Shai
By Kirsten onFOCUSHannah is committed to addressing food and nutrition insecurity in the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) by highlighting potential improvements…
Quetzabel Benavides
By Kirsten onFOCUSQuetzabel Benavides aims to improve health access and reduce victimization among immigrant and Latina survivors of intimate partner violence…
Clarice J. Robinson
By Kirsten onFOCUSClarice is an interdisciplinary researcher who draws from education, public health, and social work. She seeks to bridge the…
Clara Alvarez Caraveo
By Kirsten onFOCUSClara's research motivation centers around the belief that everyone should have access to the basic requirements of healthy living.…
Tevin Middleton
By Kirsten onFOCUSTevin aims to facilitate student matriculation through K–20 education by bolstering school mental health (SMH). Addressing barriers impeding student…
Imani J. Belton
By Kirsten onFOCUSImani's research interests lie at the intersection of mental health, structural racism, and the built environment. Through community-based participatory…
Yui A. Chang Chusan
By Kirsten onFOCUSYui's vision is to level the playing field for everyone to thrive, which starts with creating opportunities for individuals…
Jasmine Hiroko McAdams
By Kirsten onFOCUSJasmine seeks to understand and highlight the disparities faced by incarcerated individuals as a result of power outages in…
Alexandra Maye
By Kirsten onFOCUSTo equalize the opportunity for good health outcomes, it is imperative to dismantle the barriers that hinder communities from…
Gabi Celia Ortiz
By Kirsten onFOCUSGabi Celia's research focuses on organizational systems' impact on transgender (trans) Latina women and other trans women of color.…
Brianna Ladd
By Kirsten onFOCUS Brianna is committed to conducting actionable research that explores the mental health experiences of Black adolescents and young adults…
Amanda M. Gutierrez
By Kirsten onFOCUS Amanda's research centers the lived experiences and voices of Latino communities to both better characterize inequities in access to…
Marcus A. Flax
By Kirsten onFOCUSMarcus' research interests center around the use of culturally responsive quantitative and qualitative research methods to conceptualize the lived…
Siqiao Austin Ao
By Kirsten onFOCUSSiqiao envisions a future where every member of marginalized communities is empowered with the information and knowledge necessary to…
Mirvais “Mir” Aminy
By Kirsten onFOCUSMirvais hopes to make higher education more accessible to individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. As a formerly…
Gloria Gomez
By Kirsten onFOCUSGloria's research seeks to reduce disparities in mental healthcare utilization that predominantly impact racially and ethnically minoritized communities. …
Rebecca Rasnake
By Kirsten onFOCUSRebecca's research challenges traditional approaches to suicide by examining the problem with a critical lens that shifts accountability away…
Alyssa M. Hernandez
By Kirsten onFOCUSAlyssa seeks to transform current systems of mental and behavioral healthcare that exclude minoritized communities and perpetuate inequities. Racially…
Shania Montúfar
By Kirsten onFOCUSShania's research lies at the intersection of demography, health, immigration, and gender studies. In particular, her research explores the…
The Program at a Glance
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.
