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Dissertation Awards

The Center for Qualitative Studies in Health and Medicine (CQSHM) Dissertation Enhancement Award supports dissertation projects that use ethnographic or other qualitative methodologies and approaches.

The award is one way the CQSHM promotes innovative and high-quality qualitative work at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The award recognizes that conducting research using these methodologies involves a considerable time investment. The award is designed to enhance students’ ability to conduct rigorous research and is a supplement to any current sources of support.

In this round, the Center will award approximately 2 research grants of $2,000 each for studies conducted in 2023-2024.

 

Eligibility

All doctoral (PhD, ScD, or DrPH) candidates who have successfully completed their school-wide oral exams before summer 2024 are eligible to apply for the awards. To be competitive, students should have taken at least one (and preferably more) qualitative research courses at Johns Hopkins and be planning or conducting dissertation research that relies on extensive use of qualitative methods. Students whose dissertation research is primarily quantitative will not be considered for this award. Mixed methods studies must contain a considerable component of qualitative research, and the funds requested should align with this aspect of the work.

Use of Award Funds

Funds may be used to cover the costs of fieldwork, equipment, participant reimbursements, and most other research-related expenses. Awards will be made as a payment to the student awardee; it is not possible for awards to be made on a cost-reimbursement basis. There may be tax implications of receipt of such an award, and if it is not possible/advantageous for a student to accept such a payment, this may be a reason not to apply for this award.

Grant Recipient Requirements

In accepting an award, the student agrees to:

  • Present the research to CQSHM faculty affiliates and other interested members of the University community prior to their dissertation defense;
  • Acknowledge CQSHM support in their dissertation and in publications resulting from the work;
  • Send the CQSHM copies of any papers or publications resulting from the supported work; and
  • Provide a brief summary of how the funds were used at the end of the award period.

Application Process

To be considered for an award, please submit the following materials to Susan Hannum, PhD, CQSHM Center Coordinator. 

  • A proposal (1,500 words or less) that details the following:
    • The research proposed or under way. Include a clear description of your research questions and methods.
    • A statement about how the award would enhance your ability to carry out the project.
    • A description of any methodological innovation involved in your dissertation research.
    • A detailed budget of how funds will be used to support the dissertation research.

All applicants should also provide a complete JHSPH transcript (unofficial is acceptable) and a letter of recommendation from their advisor. The letter should comment on the overall dissertation project and attest to the centrality of qualitative approaches to it.

The next award cycle will launch in summer 2024. 

Review Process

Proposals will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary committee of CQSHM faculty affiliates. Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

  • The overall quality of the proposed project, including innovation and creativity in the study questions and design, and rigorous application of qualitative or ethnographic methods.
  • The ability of the student to carry out high quality research, to be assessed on the basis of the student’s training (including coursework), experience, academic performance, and the feasibility of the proposed project.
  • Evidence that the funds would enhance the student’s work.

Unfortunately, CQSHM cannot provide feedback on individual proposals.

Previous Dissertation Grant Awardees

 

Ann Herbert, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health

  • Project Title: The Growing Girls Project
  • Mentored by: Anne W. Riley, M.S., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health

“Ann is conducting qualitative research with adolescent girls in Baltimore to gain an in-depth understanding of puberty experiences of girls growing up in Baltimore’s low-income, predominantly African-American, urban environment. This understanding will inform the creation of puberty educational tools that reflects the voices and needs of girls growing up in Baltimore today.”

Anna Leddy, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Health, Behavior and Society

  • Project Title: Project Title: Gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV risk among female sex workers (FSW) in Iringa, Tanzania
  • Mentored by: Deanna Kerrigan, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor, Department of Health, Behavior & Society  

“Anna’s research utilizes qualitative methods to understand the role that alcohol plays in both HIV and GBV-related risk in the context of venue-based female sex work (FSW) in Iringa, Tanzania. An additional aim of this research is to qualitatively describe FSWs' experiences accessing justice for GBV and how social cohesion among sex workers facilitates this.”

Danielle Edwards, Doctoral Candidate, Health Policy and Management

  • Project Title: Factors Affecting Menu Development and the Effectiveness and Ethical Considerations of ‘Nudge’ Techniques Designed to Encouraging Meatless Eating in Rural Restaurants.
  • Mentored by: Jeffrey Kahn, PhD, MPH, Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management

“Danielle’s research utilizes in-depth interviews to explore factors that rural restaurant owners, managers, chefs, and servers consider when creating a menu and structuring customer choices, and their attitudes regarding meatless offerings. Information obtained from the interviews will be used to develop and test a locally acceptable intervention designed to nudge customers toward meatless options. The interviews will also inform an analysis of

CQSHM Mailing List

Please contact Susan Hannum, the CQSHM center coordinator, to be added to the list.