Dissertation Awards

The Center for Qualitative Studies in Health and Medicine (CQSHM) Dissertation Enhancement Award supports doctoral students conducting dissertation research using ethnographic or other qualitative methods.

This award reflects CQSHM’s commitment to advancing high-quality, innovative qualitative research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Recognizing the time-intensive nature of such work, the award provides supplemental funding to enhance students' ability to carry out rigorous qualitative research.

 

Award Details 

  • Offers up to $2,000 per award
  • Each cycle typically awards around two grants.  
  • Two application cycles per year: one in the summer and one in the winter.
    • For the summer cycle, applicants must have completed their oral exams by July 1, with applications due by August 1 at 5:00 PM.
    • For the winter cycle, oral exams must be completed by January 1, and applications are due by February 1.

Eligibility

Applicants must be doctoral candidates (PhD, ScD, or DrPH) who have completed their school-wide oral exams by the respective deadlines. Advisor support is required.

Competitive applicants will have:

  • Completed at least one qualitative research course at BSPH (more is preferred)
  • A dissertation focused on or significantly incorporating qualitative research methods
  • Mixed methods projects must include a substantial qualitative component

Note: Primarily quantitative projects are not eligible.

Use of Funds

Award funds may cover:

  • Fieldwork costs
  • Research equipment
  • Participant reimbursements
  • Other project-related expenses

Note: Funds are paid directly to students (not reimbursed). Tax implications may apply.

Recipient Requirements

In accepting an award, the student agrees to:

  • Present the research to CQSHM faculty affiliates and other interested members of the University community prior to their dissertation defense;
  • Acknowledge CQSHM support in their dissertation and in publications resulting from the work;
  • Send the CQSHM copies of any papers or publications resulting from the supported work; and
  • Provide a brief summary of how the funds were used at the end of the award period.

How to Apply 

Submit the following materials to Dr. Susan Hannum (shannum1@jhu.edu):

  1. Proposal (1,500 words max) including:
    • The research proposal with clear description of  research questions and methods
    • Statement on how the award would enhance your ability to carry out the project
    • Description of any methodological innovation
    • Budget with breakdown of how funds will be used
  2. BSPH transcript (unofficial is acceptable)
  3. Advisor letter of recommendation confirming:
    • Support for the application
    • Relevance of qualitative/ethnographic methods to the dissertation

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by an interdisciplinary committee of CQSHM faculty affiliates. Proposals are evaluated on:

  1. The overall quality, innovation and creativity in the study questions and design, and rigorous application of qualitative or ethnographic methods.
  2. The ability of the student to carry out high quality research, to be assessed on the basis of the student’s training (including coursework), experience, academic performance, and the feasibility of the proposed project.
  3. Evidence that the funds would enhance the student’s work.

Applicants will be informed of funding decisions by approximately one month after the application submission deadlines.

Note: The CQSHM cannot provide feedback on individual proposals

 

 Additional Award Opportunities for Current BSPH Students 

Dissertation Grant Awardees

2025

Kirsten Siebach, International Health: Structural Stigma and Mental Health among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults Living in the Rural United States

Valerie Ganetsky, Health Policy and Management: Exploring buprenorphine beliefs, attitudes, and prescribing practices for pregnant and postpartum patients with opioid use disorder: A qualitative study of Maryland prescribers

T. Justin Garroutte, School-wide

Latham Avery, School-wide

2024

Laura Mata Lopez, School of Nursing

Shannon Fuller, Health, Behavior and Society

Rose Pollard Kaptchuk, International Health

Anna Batchelder, School of Nursing: Community Building in Group Antenatal Care in Blantyre, Malawi

Sara Soloman, Health Policy and Management: A Community-Engaged, Equity-Centered Adaptation of the Cure Violence Model in Southwest Philadelphia

Victoria Green, Mental Health: Characterizing the impact of Maryland psychiatric rehabilitation program environments on community integration among adults with serious mental illness: A multi-site case study approach 

2023

Arman Majidulla, International Health: What about the community? Examining cleaner cookstove research in the Peruvian Andes 

Molly Sauer, International Health: Exploring Maternal Immunization Decision-making, Demand, and Readiness in Advance of Future Vaccines in Pregnancy

Tara Maudrie, International Health: Nourishment through Cultural Values: Developing a Culturally Driven Approach to Nutrition for Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Communities 

Rachel Topazian, Health Policy and Management: Data privacy perspectives in the fire service 

Ashley Truong, Mental Health: Exploring experiences of drug use among people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in Baltimore City: An interpretative phenomenological analysis 

Deja Knight, International Health: Investigating structural, community, relationship, and individual correlates to PrEP awareness, interest, and preferences among Black cisgender women in Baltimore, Maryland 

Emily Hoppe, School of Nursing: Parents’ Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences and Their Parenting Practices in the Context of Neighborhood Safety 

Kathryn Spielman, International Health: Breastfeeding support and maternal breastfeeding decision-making and practices in Yucatan, Mexico 

2022

Abigail Winiker, Health, Behavior and Society: Multi-Level Sources of Coping and Resilience Among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Baltimore, MD: A Qualitative Study and Framework Development

Carolyn Ellison, Health, Behavior and Society: Exploring Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation Stigma in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dominique Guillaume, School of Nursing: Evaluating the influence of risk perception and cultural worldviews on HPV vaccination intention among Haitian immigrant women living with HIV 

Evan Eschlimab, Health, Behavior and Society: Investigating Redditors’ perceptions and experiences of structural stigma toward people who use opioids: A qualitative social media analysis 

Kathleen Ridgeway, International Health: Emotion regulation, ART adherence, and virologic status among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Zambia 

Erin Cooney, International Health: Pre-exposure prophylaxis engagement among transgender women in the United States 

2021

Abigail Baum, Health Policy and Management: Citizen Participation in Determining Public Safety Policy: Understanding the degree and effect of participatory governance in recent police reform efforts

Greg Rosen, International Health: Longitudinal viral load trajectories and dynamics among people living with HIV in Rakai, Uganda: A Mixed Methods Study

Debbie Wilson, School of Nursing: Enhancing caregivers and children's well-being through an evidence-based and culturally informed prevention intervention

Kaitlyn Harper, International Health: Diet quality and food-related behaviors in US adolescents experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic 

Laura Kroart, Health, Behavior and Society: Examining context of opioid use experiences, impact of services, and overdose risk among rural women on the Eastern Shore of Maryland    

Kaitlyn Atkins, International Health: Intersectional Stigma and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Continuation among Key Populations in Namibia

Holly Nishimura, International Health: Transactional sex and HIV incidence among men in Rakai, Uganda

Amelia Noor-Oshiro, Health, Behavior and Society: Intersectional Stigma, Belongingness, and Suicide: A Novel Approach for Minority Mental Health

2020

John Mark Wiginton, Health, Behavior and Society: Posttraumatic Stress and HIV Risk among Black Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who have Sex with Men

Kirsty Sievwright, International Health: Examining family and household factors related to HIV self-management among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Ndola, Zambia

Rachel Presskreischer, Health Policy and Management

Beata Debinski, Health, Behavior and Society: Applying Organizational Theory to Assess Intimate Partner Violence Prevention and Response in the Catholic Church: A Case Study of the Archdiocese of Chicago Domestic Violence Outreach Ministry

Michael DiStefano, Health Policy and Management

Yoona Kim, International Health

Samantha Tsang, Health, Behavior and Society

2019

Elizabeth Thomas, International Health: Piloting sustainable and scalable strategies to separate young children from poultry and poultry feces

Soim park, International Health: Experiences of Social Support and Mental Health among Adult North Korean Refugees

Tahilin Karver, Health, Behavior and Society: Exploring the role of quality of care and peer navigation on HIV treatment and care outcomes among vulnerable women in the Dominican Republic 

Yasmin Ogale, International Health: Improving and Expanding STI Diagnosis in a Low-resource Setting: Understanding Treatment Seeking Behavior and the Acceptability of Self-collected Samples for STI Testing Among Adults in Rakai, Uganda

Divya Mishra, International Health

Sarah Elaraby, International Health: Ecocultural Perspectives on Problematic Child Behavior: An Exploratory Qualitative Study in the Context of Urban Poverty in Egypt

Tuo-Yen Tseng, Health, Behavior and Society 

2018

Katherine Merrill, International Health: Violence victimization and HIV care and treatment practices among HIV-positive youth in Ndola, Zambia

Katie Heley, Health Policy and Management: Smokeless tobacco use, problematic opioid use, and serious mental illness and violence

Natalia Varallyay, International Health

Yonaira Rivera, Health, Behavior and Society: Identifying ways to effectively reach and educate Latinos on how cancer prevention and screening can reduce cancer health disparities

Erin Hunter, International Health: Bangladeshi schoolgirls’ self-efficacy in effectively managing menstrual hygiene    

2017

Jimmy Le, Epidemiology: A Patient-Centered Approach for Identifying Outcomes for Glaucoma Trials 

Laura Beres, International Health: Patterns and Factors Influencing Return to Care among Patients Living with HIV in Zambia 

Lauren Czaplicki, Health, Behavior and Society: A case study of the development and implementation of a menthol cigarette ban in retail stores within 500 feet of secondary schools

2016

Ann Herbet, Population, Family and Reproductive Health: The Growing Girls Project

Anna Leddy, Health, Behavior and Society: Gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV risk among female sex workers (FSW) in Iringa, Tanzania 

Danielle Edwards, Health Policy and Management: Factors Affecting Menu Development and the Effectiveness and Ethical Considerations of ‘Nudge’ Techniques Designed to Encouraging Meatless Eating in Rural Restaurants.  

Philip McNab, Health, Behavior and Society

Rachel Fabi, Health Policy and Management

Jessica Rothstein, International Health

2015

Azal Ahmadi, International Health: Migration and HIV medication adherence among HIV-positive female sex workers in Senegal

Bob Vollinger, Health, Behavior and Society: Assessing Attitudes and Beliefs regarding Developing and Implementing Policy to Reduce Secondhand Smoke in Multi-Unit Housing in Montgomery County, Maryland 

Karina Christiansen, Health Policy and Management: Reframing "Food Deserts": The History of Urban Supermarket Access and Its Public Policy Discourse

Kwame Sakyi, International Health: Experiences in HIV Care in The Postpartum Period in Ghana: The Role of Stigma, Birthweight, and Newborn Care

Leila Jamal, Health Policy and Management: Exploring Parental Involvement in Research for Rare Pediatric Conditions

Meike Schleiff, International Health: A Team-based Assessment of the Appropriateness and Role for Community Health Workers in Rural West Virginia

Radha Rajan, Health, Behavior and Society: Understanding “Engagement” and Factors Influencing Use of the SKATA Mobile Application for Family Planning in Indonesia

Sharon Tsui, International Health

Zoe Hendrickson, Health, Behavior and Society: Exploring the intersection of household gender dynamics, labor migration, and family planning in Nepal    

2014

Ginny Fonner, International Health: Triaging and Incentivizing Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for HIV Prevention in Rural Tanzania: Assessing Participants’ Experience

Molly Simmons, Health Policy and Management

Nasreen Jessani, International Health: Exploring the dual role of academic faculty in bridging the evidence to policy divide in Kenya

Sarah Beckham, Population, Family and Reproductive Health: "Like any other woman"? Pregnancy, motherhood, and HIV among sex workers in southern Tanzania

Simran Sabherwal, Population, Family and Reproductive Health: An Exploration of Son Preference and the Treatment of Daughters among Punjabi Sikhs in Northern California

2013

Elizabeth Rhoades, International Health: The hopi people and drought: observations, adaptations, and stewardship in a sacred land 

CQSHM Mailing List

Please contact Susan Hannum, the CQSHM center coordinator, to be added to the list.