Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Office of Public Health Practice and Training
Lipitz Public Health Policy
Student Awards 2013-2014
REQUEST FOR STUDENT APPLICATIONS
Applications due November 27, 2013
I. Purpose
The Office of Public Health Practice and Training is pleased to announce this Request for
Applications for the 2013-2014 Lipitz Public Health Policy Awards. The awards provide financial
resources in support of innovative, applied public health policy projects led by graduate students at
the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Preference is given to projects focusing
on U.S. public health policy.
Up to five grants for student-led public health policy projects will be awarded as follows:
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Up to $1,000 for masters-level projects in public health policy (e.g., Capstone or other
special studies projects); and
Up to $3,000 for doctoral-level projects in public health policy (e.g., thesis work).
II. Award Objectives
The Lipitz grants aim to promote innovative, interdisciplinary projects that will advance public
health policy via engagement in the policy process, dissemination, field research, and/or public
health practice. This award program seeks to support students who engage with government
agencies/officials, community-based organizations, or other partners to contribute to the
development of policy solutions to public health problems. Projects may concentrate on any phase
of the policy process, including policy development, implementation, or evaluation, as well as
promotion of evidence-based public health policies. Projects should focus on public health
policies that arise through legislation, regulation, or the court system, at the local, state, or
federal level.
III. Eligibility Requirements
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Applicant is currently a full- or part-time student in a JHSPH graduate degree program
(doctoral students must have successfully completed their school-wide preliminary oral
examination to be eligible).
Proposed work includes collaboration with policy makers, colleagues or organizations
outside of JHSPH.
Proposals may be submitted by individual students or a group of students.
Students may submit only one application.
Recommended project length is six to twelve months. If the timeline for a project exceeds
one year, justification for the additional time must be provided.
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IV. Use of Award Funds
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Funds are intended for student-led projects for academic credit (e.g., Capstone projects or
special studies projects) or thesis work at either the masters or doctoral levels. Funds may
not be used to support final papers or projects for academic courses at JHU or any other
academic institution.
Funds are to cover direct project costs only (e.g., travel, printing materials, transcription
of interviews, etc.).
Funds cannot be used for lobbying activities, salary, or retrospective payments (e.g., travel
or other costs that have already been incurred).
V. Grant Recipient Requirements
All award recipients are expected to commit to the following:
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Sign and adhere to the Grant Recipient Agreement Form
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Provide a biographical statement for posting on the Office of Public Health Practice and
Training website
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Submit brief progress reports at three month intervals (a progress report template will be
provided)
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Submit to the Office of Public Health Practice and Training a brief final report (up to 5
pages) that outlines the project accomplishments including impacts on public health policy
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Provide a summary of use of grant funds at project completion
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Notify the Office of Public Health Practice and Training of any specific outcomes from the
project (e.g., passage of legislation, presented papers, collaborations, awards, additional
funding secured, etc.)
Note: the Office of Public Health Practice and Training will work with each award recipient to
determine the final timeline associated with the award of the funds for their project.
VI. Application Components
There is no need to include a cover letter. All pertinent information should be included in the
application, which must include the following:
COVER PAGE (1 page)
Title of the proposal
Contact information for the student applicant(s)
Proposal summary of no more than one paragraph
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PROPOSAL
Length: Approximately 2-3 pages, 5 pages maximum
Spacing: Double-spaced
Font: 12 point
All proposals must include the following sub-sections, separated by easily
recognizable section headers:
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Introduction
Specific project aims (please use italics to highlight the project aims)
Approach / Methods
Collaboration(s)
Expected outcomes
Policy significance of the proposed project. This section must include a discussion of
how the project potentially advances public health policy, as described in the award
objectives.
A brief statement of how the project fits with the applicant’s career goals
IRB review status (e.g., approval or exemption status). IRB approval must be received
in advance of the project start date. If an exemption has been granted, please attach the
exemption letter from the IRB office.
Applicant’s CV as an attachment
For doctoral research, a statement indicating that you have successfully completed your
school-wide preliminary oral examination.
Note: if the proposal is part of a larger, previously funded research effort, please indicate
why this project should receive additional funding, and clearly distinguish how the new
funds will be used for distinct purposes from existing funds. (If necessary, you may have
up to one additional page for this discussion).
BUDGET DESCRIPTION AND JUSTIFICATION
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Please provide a general description of the intended use of funds and how the
expenditures will contribute to the project.
PROJECT TIMELINE
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The recommended timeline for projects is six to twelve months. If the project timeline
exceeds one year, justification for the additional time must be provided. Note:
Additional funds will not be awarded if the project timeline exceeds one year.
LETTER(S) OF SUPPORT
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Letter of support from the student’s academic advisor (or from the group project
advisor)
Letter(s) of support from collaborator(s) confirming their support of and role in the
project. One collaborator support letter is required; an additional support letter may be
included if available.
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VII. Application Review Process
All applications will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary review committee, composed of members
of the JHSPH faculty. The applications will be judged on the following criteria:
1. Project aim, design, approach, and originality
2. Appropriateness and value of collaboration(s) to the project aims
3. Degree to which the proposed work will:
 Promote evidence-based public health policy development, implementation,
and/or evaluation
 Contribute to developing policy solutions to public health concerns
4. Potential public health policy impact
5. Adequacy and appropriateness of intended use of funds
VIII. Questions
If you have questions or would like additional information, please email [email protected]
(please use the following subject heading: “Lipitz Public Health Policy Student Award
QUESTION”).
IX. Application Submission
Completed applications must be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern time) on Wednesday,
November 27, 2013, emailed as a Microsoft Word document to: [email protected] (please use
the following subject heading: “Lipitz Public Health Policy Award STUDENT APPLICATION”).
Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by the end of second term
(December 20, 2013).
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