Student Research Opportunities

You do not need a fully developed research question. Start by identifying one or two interests in each category:

• Topic: health equity, mental health, chronic disease, infectious disease, maternal and child health, aging, environmental health, physical activity, health policy or another public health issue
• Population or setting: children and families, older adults, workers, healthcare systems, local communities or global populations
• Type of work: data analysis, interviews, surveys, laboratory work, literature reviews, community engagement, GIS, policy analysis or program evaluation

Combine your choices into a starting statement:

“I am interested in [topic] among [population or setting], and I would like to gain experience with [type of work].”

Use those terms when searching ForagerOne or the SPH faculty directory. If you are unsure, review faculty profiles, research centers and recent Public Health Research Day projects to see which questions capture your attention.

For example:

“I am interested in the effects of climate change on local communities, and I would like to gain experience with data analysis or GIS.”

Browse SPH faculty profiles and identify faculty members whose work aligns with your interests. You can also ask professors and academic advisors about available projects.

In your message, briefly introduce yourself, explain your interest in the faculty member’s work, describe relevant skills or experience and state how much time you can commit. Attach a résumé or CV when appropriate.

Before accepting an opportunity, clarify the responsibilities, expected hours, duration, location, supervision and required training. Ask whether the position is paid, volunteer or eligible for academic credit and whether it may include opportunities to analyze data, present findings or contribute to publications.