Minority Health & Health Disparities International
Research and Training (MHIRT)

Sponsored by the Center for International Rural and Environmental Health (CIREH), Iowa Biosciences Advantage (IBA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose of award

Because of the significant disparity in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality and survival rates in minority populations as compared to the health status of the general population, there is a national need for increasing the number of well-trained minority scientists in the fields of biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and health services research.

Eight undergraduate awards and two graduate/professional awards are available to enable minority students to gain international research experience in a health related area. Priority will be given to those who are interested in research pertinent to reducing and/or eliminating health disparities.

Eligibility

• Participants must be citizens, non-citizen nationals or lawfully admitted to the US for permanent residence.
• Participants must be from health disparities groups that have been determined to be underrepresented in basic science, clinical, biomedical or behavioral health research, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and rural Appalachians.
• Undergraduates must have completed three years of coursework in a major related to biomedical or behavioral health science.
• Minimum GPA of 3.O
• Demonstrated evidence of exceptional scientific research interest and talent.
• Undergraduate and graduate/professional students with senior status are eligible provided they can comply with the obligations to MHIRT.

Terms of the Award
Interns will be placed primarily in countries in Eastern/Central Europe and Africa, although other country sites will also be considered.

• Duration: Ten weeks, beginning May 23, 2009
• Covered Expenses:
  • Round trip airfare
  • Monthly stipend
  • Housing costs at host institution
  • Passport, immunization, and insurance expenses  

Questions can be directed to:

Kristina Venzke
University of Iowa
100 Oakdale Campus, 160B IREH
Iowa City, IA 52242-5000
319/335-4135
kristina-venzke@uiowa.edu

OR

Jodi Linley
Iowa Biosciences Advantage
24E Phillips Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242
319-335-7830
jodi-linley@uiowa.edu

DEADLINE for Summer 2009

5:00 P.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2009