Graduate Scholars in MCH Research

Next Call for Abstracts:     Monday, January 24, 2022

Application Deadline:        Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 5:00 PM EST.

Scholars Notified:               Monday, April 11, 2022

Overview

The Graduate Scholars in MCH Research is a merit-based scholarship funded with support from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The MCH Scholars Program provides support for up to four outstanding graduate students to pursue research in areas related to the health and well being of mothers, children, and adolescents. Each Graduate Scholar is awarded $3,000, and the funding can be used for salary, supplies for data collection and analysis, travel, and other research-related costs essential for the project’s completion.

    Pregnant woman looking at the camera

    Eligibility Requirements

    • Currently enrolled master’s or doctoral student in the Arnold School of Public Health
    • Enrollment: Applicants must have completed at least 1 year (minimum 12 credit hours) of graduate coursework*
    • Student must be enrolled as an ASPH student at the time of the application and throughout the funding period
    • Minimum graduate cumulative UofSC GPA: 3.0
    • Student will identify a faculty mentor within the Arnold School of Public Health

    *If you are a first-year student, please contact the Program Director about your interest in applying

    Application Materials

    1. Three-page research proposal (details below)
    2. Applicant’s Curriculum Vitae
    3. Budget and justification: Provide a budget with justification for how the award money will be allocated to support your research plan.
    4. Letter of Support – written and signed by applicant’s MCH faculty mentor.
    5. UofSC transcripts (can be unofficial)
    6. If you have prior MCH research experience, provide a sample of previous MCH work your participated in on the topic of MCH. Examples are a published manuscript, book

    Three-page Research Proposal Details

    1. Proposal narrative should include the following:
      1. Title
      2. Specific aims
      3. Background and significance
      4. Project description
      5. Design
      6. Approach
    2. Clearly state the significance of this funding to your future career goal
    3. All figures and tables must be included in the page limi
    4. No appendices are permitted.
    5. References/bibliography are limited to 2 additional pages and are NOT included in the three-page limit.
    6. Use Arial 11-point font with at least 0.5-inch margin (top, bottom, left, and right) for all pages.
    7. Applications that do not adhere to any one of the above guidelines will not be reviewed.

    Expectations of Scholar Awardees

    • The scholars are expected to complete the research project within one year of receiving the funding.
    • If the project requires IRB review, funding will not be provided until the project receives IRB approval.
    • All expenses are approved by the MCH Graduate Scholars Program Director, Dr. Jihong Liu and the faculty mentor.
    • MCH Graduate Scholars are expected to present their work at local, state or national conferences.
    • MCH Graduate Scholars are expected to submit a manuscript(s) based on their research project for publication, preferably within one year.
    • To develop a multidisciplinary cadre of students with interests in MCH, MCH Graduate Scholars are expected to participate in selected activities organized by the Maternal and Child Health Student Association (MCHSA) during the award period.

    Applications are submitted electronically via email to the MCH Catalyst Deputy Director Dr. Linda Hazlett, Graduate Director of Epidemiology. Please include the words “MCH Scholars Application” in the Subject Line of your correspondence.

    Deadline for Research Completion

    Awardees chosen in Spring 2022               May 31, 2023

    Awardees chosen in Spring 2021               May 31, 2022

    Awardees chosen in Fall 2020                    December 15, 2021

    Questions?

    All questions about the Graduate Scholars Program should be directed to the MCH Graduate Scholars Program Director, Dr. Jihong Liu (MCHCatalyst@mailbox.sc.edu). Please include the words “MCH Scholars Application Question” in the Subject Line of your correspondence.