Application Deadline: November 14, 2022
The Vital Strategies Healthy Food Policy Fellowship is an initiative to combat an important barrier to addressing global obesity—a dearth of research expertise to guide national policies.
The fellowship, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, supports outstanding Ph.D. candidates who are residents of Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico or South Africa and are committed to pursuing a field of study and research that will enable them to contribute to healthier food environments through public policy.
Strong preference is given to candidates who are committed to work in their country after they complete their program, and who demonstrate that they will apply their experience, skills and knowledge in disciplines such as health economics, nutrition epidemiology, marketing or health behavior. Applicants who can establish their past background or future interest in contributing to research of national-level importance are encouraged to apply.
Successful applicants are awarded a multiple-year fellowship for the duration of their Ph.D. (up to four years) program to support their studies at top universities in their home country or abroad. Some recipients may combine study in their home country with complementary coursework in another country. Although candidates in the process of applying, or already accepted, to a Ph.D. program for the upcoming semester can apply for the fellowship, the award will only be disbursed to an applicant once they have been enrolled in a Ph.D. program and has satisfied all legal requirements.
Requirements
The Healthy Food Policy Fellowship program is open to candidates who meet the following selection criteria:
- Reside in one of the focus countries: Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, South Africa. (“Reside” includes people who are non-citizens of a country and who have long-term residency in that country.)
- Demonstrate a commitment to improving public policy for a healthier food environment in their country of residence.
- In the process of applying, or already accepted, to a Ph.D. for the upcoming semester in a field that will allow them to contribute to healthier food environments through public policy—health economics, nutrition epidemiology, marketing, health behavior, etc.—from a university that meets the desired combination of theoretical coursework and practical, field-based research.
- Have a background in healthy food policy or experience in one of the aforementioned academic areas of interest.
- Have no conflict of interest, including no affiliation with sugary drinks, ultra-processed foods or tobacco industry.
Benefits:
- The fellowship will cover tuition, living expenses (only rent, local public transport and utilities), health insurance (in most cases it should be the plan recommended by school, and is limited only to the fellow, and not dependents), travel and one-time costs such as a laptop, software and books.
How to Apply:
Step 1: Check if you meet the selection criteria.
Step 2: Click here to download the application form.
Step 3: Request two referees to submit letters of recommendation in English to fellowships@vitalstrategies.org with the subject “Recommendation Letter_Applicant name_Country of residence”. The letters must be submitted directly by the referees before the application deadline. The referees should be very familiar with the candidate’s work and professional experience, and/or might be the candidate’s current or potential mentor.
Step 4: Submit your completed and signed application form along with curriculum vitae in English to fellowships@vitalstrategies.org by no later than midnight (New York time) November 14, 2022. Your curriculum vitae must mention your academic background, research/work experience, publications, and academic presentations.
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