Minority Health and Health Disparities International Research and Training (MHIRT) Program
Study Abroad Research Internship Award
Sponsored by
Center for International Rural and Environmental Health (C I R E H),
Iowa Biosciences Advantage (IBA) Program, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
PURPOSE OF AWARD
Because of the significant disparity in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality and survival rates in minority populations as compared to the health status of the general population, there is a national need for increasing the number of well-trained minority scientists in the fields of biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and health services research.
Eight undergraduate awards and two graduate/professional awards are available to enable minority students to gain international research experience in a health related area. Priority will be given to students enrolled in a degree-seeking program [at the time of application] at the University of Iowa or the University of Northern Iowa who demonstrate interest in research pertinent to reducing and/or eliminating health disparities.
MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY
The Center for International Rural and Environmental Health is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to research, training and education concerning global issues in public health, especially those related to environmental and occupational health. CIREH focuses on countries with substantial agrarian economies and countries with new democracies.
The Iowa Biosciences Advantage (IBA) program mission is to maximize diversity in the biosciences. Science majors with an interest in diversity gain research experience with cutting-edge faculty and benefit from professional development seminars and a strong community of people with similar interests.
CIREH and IBA have teamed up their resources in order to recruit and place qualified students interested in the health sciences in exciting international research internships.
ELIGIBILITY
- Participants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence (i.e. possess a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or other legal verification of such status). Non-citizen nationals are generally persons born in outlying possessions of the United States (e.g. American Samoa). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible to participate in the MHIRT program.
- Participants must be from health disparities populations that have been determined to be under-represented in basic science, clinical, biomedical or behavioral health research, including, but not limited to: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and the medically underserved (i.e., socio-economically disadvantaged individuals in rural and urban areas). For more information on the definition of a medically underserved area, please contact our office or refer to the HRSA website: http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/HPSASearch.aspx.
- Undergraduates must have completed three years of coursework in a major related to biomedical or behavioral health science. Participants must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program, or provide proof of imminent acceptance to a degree-seeking program, at the time of submission of the MHIRT application.
Terms of the Award
Interns will be placed primarily in countries in Eastern/Central Europe and Africa, although other country sites will also be considered.
Duration: Ten weeks, beginning (TBD)
Covered Expenses:
- Round trip airfare
- Monthly stipend
- Housing costs at host institution
- Passport, immunization, and insurance expenses
For More Information or Application Questions
Kristina Venzke
University of Iowa
100 Oakdale Campus, 160B IREH
Iowa City, IA 52242-5000
319/335-4135
Jodi Linley
Iowa Biosciences Advantage
419 Gilmore Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
319-335-7830
DOWNLOAD & PRINT AN APPLICATION
DEADLINE: TBD
Click to Download MHIRT Application
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