GSH Training Grant

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This application requests continued funding for a unique and highly successful predoctoral research training program, now in its 15th year, located in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences (SMS) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. SMS offers the nation’s only Ph.D. level training in both public health and multiple social science disciplines, preparing students to conduct rigorous, high-impact research on historical, social, cultural, and psychological dimensions of gender and sexuality as they impact reproductive and sexual health and the health of gender and sexual minorities, both nationally and globally. Nationally, sexual and reproductive health indicators continue to lag behind those of other developed countries, with substantial racial disparities both in HIV and in maternal mortality. Gender and sexual minorities experience especially high rates of serious physical and mental illness. Globally, the burden of disease and death associated with HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and maternal and infant mortality represent urgent problems. This application requests funding for 5 trainees. We guarantee funding for up to 5 years, but the majority of trainees secure other external funding for their dissertation work. The program has a strong track record of success in terms of trainee diversity, productivity, and post-graduate accomplishments: all 12 trainees appointed to this program who have earned PhDs continued on to careers in biomedical research. Trainees follow a theoretically and methodologically rigorous curriculum consisting of (1) disciplinary training in anthropology, sociology, psychology, or history comparable to that received by Ph.D. candidates in Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; (2) a two-semester course in the major traditions in social theory that undergird contemporary research and practice in the sociomedical sciences; (3) epidemiology and biostatistics; (4) a minimum of two additional courses on contemporary theoretical approaches and substantive topics in gender, sexuality, and health; (5) an ongoing faculty-trainee seminar in gender, sexuality, and health; (6) a required course in research ethics and responsible conduct of research; (7) a research apprenticeship with program faculty; (8) doctoral research on a topic in gender, sexuality, and health. This program’s highly- accomplished training faculty are drawn from the fields of Sociology, Anthropology, History, Epidemiology, Population and Family Health, Economics, Bio-behavioral Sciences, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nursing, Emergency Medicine, Neurology, Psychiatry, and Social Work. Innovations in this application include new NICHD-funded training faculty, enhancing the program’s already strong alignment with NICHD-wide research priorities including maternal and child health, as well as Population-Dynamics- Branch-specific priorities (contraceptive use and non-use, HIV/AIDS).