How do I apply to the program?
Apply to the Health and Society Scholars Program through Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website at http://www.healthandsocietyscholars.org/about/howtoapply.phtml.
See http://www.healthandsocietyscholars.org/about/faq.phtml for frequently asked questions about eligibility, the application and recruitment process, and the terms and conditions of the fellowship. Staff at the H&SS office can also provide guidance on issues of eligibility and procedure, and can help potential applicants assess which of the Foundation's programs best fits their interests and background.
How can I find out more about the H&SS program at Columbia?
The Columbia H&SS website is a good source of information about program activities, and potential applicants are also encouraged to peruse the Columbia H&SS newsletter online. For further information about the program, contact Associate Director Kathryn Neckerman at kmn2@columbia.edu or at 212-854-3694.
How does the partnership between Mailman and ISERP work?
Columbia H&SS is a joint initiative of the Mailman School of Public Health – in particular the Center for the Study of Social Inequalities and Health (CSSIH) – and the Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP). The two partner organizations are at Columbia's medical campus (168th Street) and Morningside campus (116th Street) respectively, about 20 minutes away by subway. Key to the program’s success is balance and integration between these two campuses. There is a Director and Associate Director at each campus, and Scholar offices and administrative staff are located at each. Seminars and other events are held at both campuses. Scholars are connected to faculty both "uptown" and "downtown."
How are Scholars matched to mentors?
Most Scholars at Columbia work with several different faculty mentors/collaborators. These relationships often begin to form during recruitment, as the finalists visit campus and meet with faculty. Scholars usually take the initiative in approaching faculty with whom they’d like to work, although the Site Directors may also help them identify appropriate faculty and negotiate the collaborative relationship.
Can Scholars work with Columbia faculty who are not H&SS affiliates?
Yes. Faculty working with H&SS Scholars are usually invited to become H&SS affiliates.
What is the mentoring relationship like at Columbia H&SS?
Mentoring at Columbia most often occurs through collaboration on shared projects such as working groups or research studies. For instance, the Stigma, Discrimination and Prejudice working group was co-organized by Ilan Meyer, a faculty member in Sociomedical Sciences, and Jennifer Stuber, an H&SS Scholar. Columbia H&SS also supported collaborative research by Ruth Ottman, a faculty member in epidemiology, and Sara Shostak, an H&SS Scholar. A number of other Columbia H&SS faculty and Scholars have collaborated on working groups or research projects, often with support from our internal funding programs. In addition, the Site Directors advise the Scholars on career and research development issues including negotiating the job market, and help connect them to faculty at Columbia.
Do H&SS Scholars have to become affiliated with an existing research project, working group, or lab in order to join the program at Columbia?
No. Some Scholars choose to work with an established research group at Columbia, while others develop their own independent or collaborative projects. We encourage Scholars to develop new initiatives, often with support from our internal funding programs.
Is Columbia H&SS looking for Scholars with particular specialties or research areas?
No. Columbia University has strong faculty in a very broad range of disciplines and research areas. Columbia H&SS has promoted research activity on specific topics, such as urban health and neighborhood effects, health disparities, and stigma, which reflect the interests of Scholars as well as affiliated faculty who are particularly active. When Scholars with other research foci arrive at Columbia, it gives us a welcomed opportunity to expand the H&SS community in new directions.
