Predoctoral Fellowship in Gender, Sexuality and Health
The first NIH-funded program to focus on gender, sexuality and health, the Fellowship prepares Sociomedical Sciences students for research and teaching careers in historical and/or social scientific approaches to gender and sexuality, with many of our fellows exploring how social and cultural aspects of gender or sexuality shape reproductive and sexual health. The department invites applications from individuals interested in a multidisciplinary program that combines rigorous graduate studies in anthropology, history, psychology or sociology with specialized courses and doctoral research apprenticeships in gender, sexuality and health. The department will support one or two fellowships annually for up to five years.
Fellowships are awarded to outstanding applicants admitted to the Sociomedical Sciences PhD program who demonstrate an interest in scholarship on gender, sexuality and health and who indicate on their application to SMS the desire to be considered for the Fellowship. NIH regulations stipulate that the Fellowship can only be used to support U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the PhD program. In 2012 the program was renewed for another five years of funding, with support from the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Development.
Students should apply directly to the SMS PhD program and should be sure to indicate interest in the fellowship on the External Funding section of the application. Applicants for the fellowship should also note on their 500 word personal statement their interest in gender and sexuality and briefly outline a prospective area of research for their doctoral dissertation.
Laura has worked on issues related to gender, sexuality, and health as a researcher, activist, and filmmaker since 2000. She earned a Thomas J. Watson fellowship to work with international sex worker rights organizations from 2000-2001. She has worked in HIV prevention and sexual health programs in the Dominican Republic, Peru, and most recently, Brazil from 2001-2010. Her dissertation is focused on the politics of prostitution, HIV prevention, and sex worker activism in Brazil and is being carried out under the supervision of Dr. Richard Parker.