Fellowship for Research to Advance Global Health & Human Rights

As part of the fellowship, students will:

• Develop and complete an independent research and advocacy project under the guidance of Dr. Heisler and present findings to stakeholders.
• Incorporate research findings into at least one PHR research report and a peer-reviewed paper, as well as possible op-eds, articles, amicus legal, and policy briefs.
• Participate in CGHE and DHRC communities of practice and programming (e.g., impact scholar sessions, research intern training).

Open to U-M graduate (Master's, PhD) and professional students (MD, JD, etc.) from any discipline and from any U-M campus (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint). Students must be enrolled for at least one regular academic term following their mentored research experience. Therefore, the earliest graduation date for students applying for the June-November 2026 would be May 2027, and the earliest graduation date for students applying for the January-June 2027 term would be December 2027.

International Students: F&J students sponsored by the University of Michigan must have on-campus employment eligibility. Please consult the International Center ([email protected]) if you have questions about your status.

We seek graduate students with demonstrated commitment to human rights and global health, with academic or professional interests that align with at least one of the program areas of Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). Applicants should have previous research experience in their field. Note that while applicants’ interests should connect to a PHR focus area, our program mentor, Dr. Michele Heisler, does not supervise projects focused on children as the primary population, due to her areas of expertise.

Please note: While fellows will work closely with Dr. Michele Heisler on PHR-aligned projects, they will not represent PHR directly or engage as formal PHR staff. Their work will support PHR’s mission through independent research sponsored by the University of Michigan.

• Program Duration: The fellowship can span 6 to 12 months, requiring an average commitment of ~10 hours per week across the time period. This can vary from week to week based on the student's schedule (e.g., a few hours some weeks and more others). Up to two students will be selected for the next grant period. If there are two, the fellowship can accommodate one student from June-November 2026 and one student from January-June 2027. Students may apply for one or both fellowship terms.
• Funding Structure: Graduate students accepted into the fellowship may receive up to $10,000 to support their research (for the six-month period). Fellows can request up to $6,000 as a stipend, with an additional $4,000 available for travel and research expenses. Alternatively, the entire $10,000 may be allocated solely for travel and research expenses, reducing or forgoing the stipend amount.
• Location: Fellows may work from allocated office space at the North Campus Research Complex (NCRC) Building 16, work remotely, and/or work at PHR’s office in New York City, depending on the fellow's preference.
• Deliverables: At the end of this fellowship, students will produce:
  • Authored research reports, articles, and/or policy briefs for PHR.
  • A draft of at least one research paper to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal
  • Program reflections and a final project report submitted to CGHE.

Through this fellowship, participants will:

• Gain knowledge of current topics at the intersection of global health equity, health, human rights, policy, and advocacy.
• Learn CGHE’s and PHR’s principles for building global partnerships, co-designing solutions for health challenges, documenting human rights abuses, building local capacity, and advocating for justice and accountability.
• Develop practical skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving across policy, law, science, medicine, forensics, and global public health.
• Expand professional networks within U-M, PHR, and global partners, opening pathways in human rights and global health equity.
• Receive mentorship in conducting and writing original research on selected topics.
• Participate in CGHE, PHR, and DHRC activities and present completed research in these fora.

Application Components:

• Application Form: Applicants are required to complete a brief application form that includes details about their academic program, anticipated graduation date, and the name of their thesis or dissertation advisor. Additionally, applicants should indicate whether they will need or would prefer to earn academic credit for this experience (e.g., directed research, independent study). This information will support both program planning and mentor alignment, ensuring an enriching academic experience tailored to the student’s academic goals and timeline.
  • Statement of Interest: Applicants will be asked to include a statement of interest (500 - 1,000 words) explaining their commitment to human rights and global health, detailing possible research areas or questions they are interested in exploring that fall within PHR's broad program areas. This statement should outline prior research experience but it is not a formal project proposal. Instead, it should provide a foundation for co-creating a research project with the program mentor upon selection.
  • Funding and Travel Overview: Applicants are not required to submit a detailed budget as part of their application; however, we ask that applicants briefly outline their possible plans for travel. Please indicate if your research goals include travel and specify any region or country of focus. Once selected, the fellow will co-design a research plan with the faculty mentor and finalize a budget.
• CV
• Transcript(s)
• One letter of recommendation from a faculty member or research supervisor

Application Deadline: CLOSED

University of Michigan students may apply by completing the application form and uploading their documents at this link.

Questions?

Contact us:
[email protected]

Partner Sites:

• U-M Donia Human Rights Center
• Physicians for Human Rights