Health Policy Research Scholars

About Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. Since 1972, they’ve supported research and programs targeting some of America’s most pressing health issues—from substance abuse to improving access to quality health care—and they have witnessed great progress. They have also noticed that the nation has worked to improve health by focusing primarily on the health care system when in fact, people’s health is influenced significantly by where they live, learn, work, and play. Time and time again, they have come to recognize that no matter the issue, no single organization or sector can change the trajectory of America’s health alone. RWJF is working alongside many others to build a national Culture of Health. The organization’s goal is to help raise the health of everyone in the United States by placing well-being at the center of every aspect of life to bring about meaningful change, now and for generations to come.

About the Opportunity 

Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) is a four-year national leadership development program for full-time doctoral students from nonclinical, research-focused disciplines—who see policy as a key lever for change and are committed to ensuring their research is aligned with the health needs of communities. The program aims to include doctoral students motivated to improve health, well-being, and equity; challenge long-standing, entrenched systems; exhibit new ways of working; and collaborate across disciplines and sectors, while bolstering their leadership skills.

RWJF will select up to 40 scholars who will receive a stipend of $30,000 each per year paid to their home institutions, for up to four years or until they complete their doctoral program (whichever is sooner). Scholars will also be eligible for competitive dissertation grants of up to $10,000 each, as well as competitive conference and research dissemination grants, awarded by the national program center directly to the scholars.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, HPRS scholars should:

• Be equipped with extensive knowledge of a Culture of Health, health policy, leadership, systems change, and communication
• Understand how to apply research and interdisciplinary collaboration skills to engage multiple sectors (e.g., policy, education, business, communities, institutions, and agencies)
• Know how to use strategies to leverage diverse interdisciplinary networks of researchers
• Have the opportunity to establish meaningful and sustained relationships and collaborations with HPRS and other RWJF leadership programs and participants
• Know how to contribute to research and a national dialogue on the policy changes necessary for a Culture of Health

Eligibility

Applicants must be doctoral students, from historically marginalized backgrounds and/or populations underrepresented in specific doctoral disciplines, who are beginning their second year in fall 2021 and do not expect to graduate before spring/summer 2024.

Applications are due by March 17, 2021.