IMSD at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health

Purpose

The purpose of the Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (IMSD) program at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health is to increase the number of historically underrepresented students who receive doctoral training in public health.  The ultimate goal of the IMSD program is to develop a research and scientific workforce that includes members of groups who are underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

The IMSD program provides a number of developmental activities designed to strengthen research skills and to facilitate the transition into research careers.  These include: 

• a seminar course that provides workshops on:  research methods, statistical analyses, scientific writing, techniques and coping strategies for success in graduate school, and research career and professional development
• research placements characterized by strong mentoring relationships with faculty members in the school of public health
  
• subsidized attendance at scientific conferences

Eligibility Criteria:
To be considered for funding by the IMSD program, students must be:

• accepted for full-time enrollment in any of the public health doctoral programs of the Mailman School (i.e., DrPH or PhD programs in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, or Sociomedical Sciences)
• citizens or permanent residents of the United States, and
• committed to developing a research workforce that includes members of groups who are underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences.

The IMSD program is designed for students with a strong interest in pursuing research careers.  It is anticipated that upon graduation, students who complete the IMSD program will enter academic and research-oriented careers in the fields of public health or the behavioral or biomedical sciences. 

Application forms and more information on the IMSD at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health

Frequently Asked Questions

If you would like to request an application form, or if you have any additional questions, please contact us:

  Ana Abraído-Lanza, PhD
  IMSD Program Director
  telephone:  212-305-1859
  email: aabraido@columbia.edu

  Pamela Collins, MD, MPH
  IMSD Program Co-Director
  telephone:  212-342-0446
  email:  pyc1@columbia.edu

  Naa Oyo A. Kwate, PhD
  IMSD Program Coordinator
  telephone:  212-305-5736
  email:  nak2106@columbia.edu

Summer research opportunities for undergraduate students interested in Public Health

Although the IMSD program does not provide educational activities for undergraduates, we encourage college students who are interested in public health to apply for Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences' (GSAS) Summer Research Program for Students from Historically Underrepresented Groups. The GSAS program provides:  faculty seminars on areas of graduate research, weekly conferences for students to discuss their projects, a final public conference at which the students present their projects; and workshops on the tools of research, the graduate school admission process, and preparing for the Graduate Record Examinations. A limited number of openings are available for summer research internships with faculty mentors at the Mailman School of Public Health.  For more information about the summer research program, please contact the GSAS Office of Minority Affairs at 212-854-3791 or email:  gsasoma@columbia.edu.