Applying for Funding

EXCHANGE TO CHANGE

Shaping health at home and beyond…

A little bit about me

• Emily Pingel, M.P.H.• HBHE Alum• Project Director, PRC – Flint Adolescent Study,

Sexuality Lab• Qualitative Methods specialist

Why apply for internship funding?

• To fund an unpaid internship • To fund an internship in a resource-poor

setting

Where to look for funding resources• FExO Website– www.sphfexo.wordpress.com

• Global Health Research and Training (GHRT) website– GHRT no longer provides funding for students but they

list other resources– http://ghrt.psc.isr.umich.edu/grad/funding.html

• University of Michigan Website– Search funding possibilities in other schools, departments, programs, etc.

• Google

Sources where HBHE students typically apply

• School of Public Health Global Health Funding – March 5

• HBHE Internship Awards (3)• International Institute Individual Fellowships –

February 15• Rackham International Research Awards (RIRA)

– February 1• Center for Global Health Awards (2) – February

1

What does the application entail?

• Each source has different requirements but typically you will be asked to provide:– Funding Essay– Resume/CV– Letter of invitation from host organization/mentor– Unofficial transcript– Letter of recommendation from Faculty Advisor– Budget

How do I make a budget?• Check out travel websites for typical airfare prices• Look at travel books for internship site city or country and see what

they say about how much tourists typically spend per day on food, transportation, etc.

• Look at online newspapers from internship site to see how much housing typically costs

• Ask someone who lives there or has been there how much things are

• Inquire at internship organization if there will be any associated costs (i.e. parking fees, supplies, etc.)

• Check State Department International Travel Info. Website for visa and immunization requirements/costs– http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis_pa_tw_1168.html

• Be sure to include a budget justification

What is a funding essay?• Each funding source has different

criteria but typically you will be asked:– Background and public health

significance– Relevance of the internship project

to source’s aims, mission, values– Description of host organization

and/or mentor– Description of student’s role and

specific duties– Information on how this experience

will benefit the applicant's academic program and his or her future career plans

Tips for writing a funding essay

• Create a strong narrative – even if you don’t know exactly what you will be doing, make it sound like you do

• Each funding source asks for similar and different information – use an essay you have already written but make sure its answering all the questions the funder is asking

• Also make sure you highlight aspects of your internship that are relevant to the funding sources’ mission

• Proofread! Ask friends and family members to read it for coherence and grammar mistakes

Why applying for funding is a good experience

• At some point in your academic or professional career, you will likely have to apply for funding so this is good practice

• Improve your writing skills– Writing a short yet precise essay requires different

skill sets than writing a research paper• Reward matches effort– If you work hard and put together a strong application

to many different sources, you will get funded

Take a deep breath…

• And try to tap into the passion that brought you to public health in the first place

• Keep in mind that all of the HBHE students applying for international funding in the past received it