The UC Berkeley School of Public Health is excited to announce the launch of the UC Berkeley Global Public Health Fellows Program. Piloted in 2018-19 as the Gilead Fellowship for the Advancement of Global Public Health, the fellowship served 5 international fellows. In 2021, the revamped fellowship will support 29 international and domestic graduate fellows from the incoming 2-year residential MPH, DrPH and online/on-campus MPH programs. Each fellow will receive a $40k fellowship stipend package ($20k per year) to support two years of studies. The program is made possible by a generous $1.4m gift from Gilead Sciences, with four fellowships awarded to online MPH students based in India thanks to a generous gift from the Morris Family Fund.
Purpose and Values
We aim to build capacity for the global health workforce to meet the diverse public health needs of low-resource settings around the world. Our program and fellows are committed to:
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We prioritize awardees from underrepresented minority groups in the U.S. and students based in low and middle-income countries. We tailor support that will facilitate students’ academic and career success.
- Multidisciplinary capacity building. We support fellows covering many global health areas aligned with diverse courses of study at the UCB School of Public Health: Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology (IDV), Environmental Health Sciences/Global Health and Environment (EHS/GHE), Health Policy and Management, Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics.
- Scholarship. Fellows are supported by a world-class UCB faculty and research network so that they may leverage scholarly contributions for global health and the global good. Fellows are passionate about research, learning and evidence-based action.
- Leadership and Collaboration. Fellows have a goal of improving population health and health equity through a career in public health-related fields. They understand the importance of open collaboration, integrity, and knowledge sharing in improving population health.
- Innovation. A desire to disrupt and change the status quo to improve health in resource poor settings around the world.
Program Features
Global Health Training Fellowships
Fellows receive financial support of $20k per year for 2 years to embark on MPH studies equipping them with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively to pressing global public health challenges.
Robust Cohort Experiences
Activities will include field trips, workshops, and professional networking events that will link students with Bay Area global health organizations, healthcare providers, program implementers, policy makers, and health leaders.
Mentorship and Career Building
Fellows will be linked with advisors based on their research and career interests. After completion of their MPH, they will also have access to bridging activities such as formal mentoring and funding opportunities.
Summer Field Placements and Research Projects
Support to find global health specific placements, such as with nonprofits, private companies, and healthcare providers. Fellows will address a host of research areas such as TB, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.
Leandro Mendes
MPH student
This opportunity to expand my understanding of the dynamics of public health in a global perspective will be invaluable!
Application Details
In 2021, we will offer 29 fellowships (~15 from residential programs and ~14 from the OOMPH program). Students submitting a standard MPH, DrPH or OOMPH application will automatically be considered for the fellowship by admissions committees. Fellows are selected by admissions committees from SPH divisions and CGPH.
- Applying to 2-year MPH (applied by December 2020) or DrPH program for Fall 2021 start
- Applicants across all SPH Divisions will be considered
- Underrepresented minority groups* (URM) students will be given priority; Students from LMIC** also considered
- Selection criteria based on merit and alignment with fellowship purpose and values Internships: As per SPH guidelines, MPH students must participate in a summer internship. A small number of competitive summer internship scholarships will be awarded.
* Our URM definition includes groups underrepresented in health-related sciences in the U.S. This includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/LatinX (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South American origin), Southeast Asian (Filipino, Hmong, Vietnamese, Laotian), Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander. We also consider individuals who identify in two or more races, when one or more are from racial/ethnic categories aforementioned. We recognize that ethnicity and race, however, are not the only characteristics that affect inclusiveness and diversity. Socioeconomic status, privilege, family history of participation in higher education and of home ownership, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, nationality, religion, and military status are also key drivers. We will consider this in all aspects of the fellowship program, and in our aim to support public health education that is culturally aware and respectful of human rights. Individuals from racial or ethnic groups and backgrounds that can be demonstrated convincingly to be underrepresented will be considered.
** LMIC countries are based on World Bank classification.
- Applying to OOMPH program for May 1, 2021 deadline for Fall 2021 start. See the OOMPH application details here.
- Students based internationally in LMIC will be given priority
- Selection criteria based on merit and alignment with fellowship purpose and values
- Internship: OOMPH requires 3 weeks of on-campus instruction during Summer 2022 or 2023. Student visa fees/airfare (not lodging) covered by the fellowship.
- If you are an international applicant applying to the OOMPH program, please see fellowship details here.
