Applying for Funding

1. Applying for Funding

2. A little bit about me • Emily Pingel, M.P.H. • HBHE Alum • Project Director, PRC – Flint Adolescent Study, Sexuality Lab • Qualitative Methods specialist

3. Why apply for internship funding? • To fund an unpaid internship • To fund an internship in a resource-poor setting

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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