Sociomedical Sciences

Predoctoral Fellowship in Gender, Sexuality and Health

The nation’s first multidisciplinary doctoral training program in gender, sexuality, and health, the Predoctoral Fellowship in Gender, Sexuality and Health fellowship leads to a PhD degree from Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). This unique undertaking is designed to prepare students for research and teaching careers focusing on the role of gender and sexuality in shaping reproductive and sexual health, both in the U.S. and abroad. The program serves as a model for the Department’s future direction in developing support for doctoral studies and is funded by the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Development.

Please see detailed program information on the predoctoral fellowship.

Behavioral Science Training in Drug Abuse Research

The Department is an academic partner with National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI) in developing research in behavioral science on drug use. NDRI offers both pre- and postdoctoral programs in which a number of SMS doctoral students have participated. Currently there are six doctoral students in the program. For more information please visit NDRI Education & Training.

Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) Program

This program seeks to increase the number of underrepresented students who receive doctoral training in public health. The program is available to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. In order to be eligible for the IMSD program, students must have been accepted into any of the public health doctoral programs of the Mailman School (i.e., DrPH or PhD programs in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, or Sociomedical Sciences).

The IMSD provides partial tuition coverage, a graduate research assistantship placement with a faculty mentor, and travel to one scientific conference per year. Students in the IMSD program attend a bi-weekly seminar course that provides workshops on research methods, statistical analyses, scientific writing, techniques and coping strategies for success in graduate school, and research career and professional development. A separate application is required. For more information, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Ana Abraído-Lanza, at 212-305-1859, or visit the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) website.