This student fellowship is a joint initiative between CGHE, the U-M Donia Human Rights Center (DHRC), and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), created to prepare future leaders who use rigorous research to advance justice, health, and health equity through a human rights framework.
Over 6 to 12 months, U-M graduate and professional students work closely with Michele Heisler, MD, PHR's medical director and Kutsche Research Professor of Internal Medicine and Professor of Public Health at the University of Michigan, to co-design and complete an independent research and advocacy project aligned with PHR's program areas.
This fellowship is open to currently enrolled U-M students only; it is not open to faculty, postdocs, or staff. Eligible applicants are U-M graduate (master's, PhD) and professional students (MD, JD, and equivalent) from any discipline and any U-M campus. Students must be enrolled for at least one regular academic term following their fellowship; the earliest possible graduation date depends on when a fellow's term begins and ends.
We seek students with a demonstrated commitment to human rights and global health, academic or professional interests aligned with at least one PHR program area, and prior research experience in their field. Our program mentor, Dr. Michele Heisler, does not supervise projects focused on children as the primary population, due to her areas of expertise.
Fellows work closely with Dr. Heisler on PHR-aligned research but do not represent PHR directly or serve as formal PHR staff; their work supports PHR's mission through independent research sponsored by the University of Michigan.
F and J students sponsored by the University of Michigan must have on-campus employment eligibility. Please consult the International Center ([email protected]) with questions about your status.
By the end of the fellowship, fellows will produce:
Applicants submit a brief application form (academic program, anticipated graduation date, thesis or dissertation advisor, and whether academic credit is needed or preferred), along with:
