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Frequently Asked Questions (as of June 2008))

Eligibility
Application Process
Review and Selection Process
Other

Eligibility Questions

  1. What field do I have to be in to apply? What degree do I need?
  2. Is experience or a background in health or health policy research required?
  3. I am a medical doctor. Am I eligible for the Scholars Program?
  4. Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status?
  5. Can I apply to the Program again, if I am not accepted this year?

What field do I have to be in to apply? What degree do I need?
You must have a PhD in economics, political science, or sociology received after January 1, 2004 and before July 15, 2009 to be eligible for the 2009 -2011 cohort.

Is experience or a background in health or health policy research required?
No. The Scholars Program is not a fellowship for individuals who already have an extensive background in health, health care, or health policy. In fact, preference is given to applicants who have not previously worked extensively in health. The goal of the Program is to foster a new generation of creative, health policy thinkers and researchers within the disciplines of economics, political science, and sociology. The Program is designed, therefore, to recruit talented individuals with little or no health background, introduce them to the field of health policy research, and, in this way, influence them to include health-related topics in their future research agendas.

I am a medical doctor. Am I eligible for the Scholars Program?
To be eligible for the Scholars Program, you must have a PhD in economics, political science, or sociology. Individuals with professional degrees, such as an MD or JD, but who do not hold a PhD in a requisite social science discipline are not eligible for the Scholars Program. Other Robert Wood Johnson Foundation programs may be more suitable, for example, the Health & Society Scholars Program or the Investigator Awards in Health Policy Research Program.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency status?
Yes. At the time of application, you must be a citizen of the United States or its territories or have permanent resident status. If selected as a finalist, proof of citizenship will be required within ten days.

Can I apply to the Program again, if I am not accepted this year?
Yes, you may apply again if you are not selected this year. However, you must complete and submit a new application.

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Application Process Questions

  1. When will this year's application be available?
  2. What does the application consist of?
  3. What will I need to submit along with my application form and reference forms?
  4. I have been coauthor on several publications. Can I submit a coauthored paper as my writing sample?
  5. What is the application deadline?
  6. Should I state a site preference at the time of application?

When will this year's application be available?
The on-line application for the 2009 - 2011 cohort will be available in August 2008.

What does the application consist of?
The application contains the following: (a) the online Application Form; and (b) a section for 3 confidential references (required). A new Call for Applications brochure and descriptions of resources available at each of the three universities will be available in August 2008 on this web site.

What will I need to submit along with my application form and reference forms?
You will need to provide:

  • An objective statement regarding program participation, describing the reason(s) for your interest in this program and what you hope to gain by participation in it;
  • a statement regarding your interest in health policy research;
  • a summary of your dissertation research in terms that a broad audience would understand; and
  • a solely authored, 25-page writing sample that you consider to be representative of your research and analytic ability. This sample need not be health-oriented and may be a chapter from your doctoral dissertation, a reprinted journal article, a paper currently under journal review or unpublished work.

I have been coauthor on several publications. Can I submit a coauthored paper as my writing sample?
Only solely authored articles and writing samples will be accepted.

What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the 2009 - 2011 cohort is Wednesday, October 22, 2008 (5PM EDT).

Should I state a site preference at the time of application?
No. It is to your advantage that your application be considered by all three universities. If, however, you wish to limit your choice because of a significant personal or family consideration, you may indicate that on the application.

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Review and Selection Process Questions

  1. Who will review my application?
  2. How will my application be evaluated?
  3. What are my chances of being selected?
  4. When will you let me know if I've been selected or not?

Who will review my application?
All applications are screened by the National Program Office (NPO) and forwarded to members of the National Advisory Committee (who are recognized experts in the social sciences and health policy research), the program site directors, and RWJF staff for extensive review.

How will my application be evaluated?
Evaluation criteria include:

  • The applicant's potential to contribute creatively as a social scientist to future U.S. health policy thinking – either by identifying emerging health policy issues and problems or by bringing new insight to the examination and analysis of existing issues and problems.
  • The applicant's commitment to a career consistent with the program's purpose and goals.
  • The quality of the applicant's past research, including dissertation research.
  • The capability of the applicant to undertake this challenging program.
  • Recommendations by faculty and other individuals with whom the applicant has studied or worked.

What are my chances of being selected?
Each year, between 90 and 125 applications are received. Approximately 25 finalists are selected for interviews with faculty at one or more of the participating universities. From the interviewed finalists, the Foundation selects up to 12 Scholars distributed across the three disciplines - approximately 4 economists, 4 political scientists, and 4 sociologists per Scholar cohort.

When will you let me know if I've been selected or not?
Finalists will be notified by mid-December about interviews in January. Offers will be extended in mid-February.

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Other Questions

  1. Are you the same as the RWJF Health & Society Scholars Program?
  2. How is the RWJF Scholars in Health Policy Research Program different from the Health and Society Scholars Program, and can I apply to both?
  3. Are Scholars required to reside at the sites for the full two years?
  4. In addition to the Scholar stipend, what benefits do Scholars receive?

Are you the same as the RWJF Health & Society Scholars Program?
No. The RWJF Scholars in Health Policy Research Program and the RWJF Health and Society Scholars Program are two separate fellowship programs of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Information about the RWJF Health and Society Scholars Program is available on its web site: http://www.healthandsocietyscholars.org

How is the RWJF Scholars in Health Policy Research Program different from the RWJF Health and Society Scholars Program, and can I apply to both?
The RWJF Health and Society Scholars Program (HSS) is also a post-doctoral program sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The HSS Program is a training program for researchers interested in and committed to building the field of population health. The RWJF Scholars in Health Policy Research Program (SHPR) is intended to develop a new generation of creative health policy thinkers and researchers from the disciplines of economics, political science and sociology.

The two programs are different in several ways, and we suggest you review the Call for Applications for both programs as well as contact the National Program Offices to answer any questions.

For more information about the SHPR Program, please contact:
Phone: 617-353-9220, email: rwjf@bu.edu

For more information about the HSS Program please contact:
Phone: 212-419-3566, email: hss@nyam.org

If you meet the eligibility requirements of both programs, you may apply to both. If you are selected as a finalist by both programs, you will be notified in December and, at that time, you will need to decide between the two programs. Candidates will be allowed to interview for only one program.

Are Scholars required to reside at the sites for the full two years?
Generally, yes. We believe residency is critical to fostering a sense of community and to facilitating cross learning and interdisciplinary research. On occasion, a Scholar's research requires field work and thus some time is needed off site. Such details are worked out with the site directors. In addition, there have been a few Scholars who have arranged with future employers to start the new job after 18 months in the Program (typically, the second semester of the second year). Such arrangements must be negotiated (in writing) with approval from the National Program Office, the Program site, and the prospective employer.

In addition to the Scholar stipend, what benefits do Scholars receive?
Scholars have access to the full range of university resources, such as faculty, libraries, and computers. In addition, they receive office space, administrative staff support, a research budget, travel support, health insurance, and a moving allowance.

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