Are you a master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral researcher passionate about global adolescent health? The CHAN Fellowship offers a unique, year-long opportunity to collaborate across cultures, conduct impactful research, and develop leadership skills.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
Advancing Adolescent Health and Strengthening Research Capacity through the China-Harvard-Africa Network (CHAN)
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University
Global health addresses critical challenges faced by populations worldwide, with a focus on achieving health equity and improving access to quality healthcare. Sub-Saharan Africa, with the world’s largest adolescent population of 226 million, faces issues such as malnutrition, infectious diseases, and limited healthcare access. Meanwhile, China, home to 170 million adolescents, is grappling with rising obesity rates, mental health concerns, and rural-urban disparities despite progress in education and healthcare.
The China-Harvard-Africa Network (CHAN) is an initiative within the Nutrition and Global Health Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH). Established in 2016, CHAN fosters collaboration between Chinese universities, particularly Tsinghua University, HSPH, and the Africa Research, Implementation Science, and Education (ARISE) Network. ARISE is a network of 22 member institutions from ten sub-Saharan African countries working to advance implementation science in priority research areas. CHAN leverages these partnerships to address health disparities and advance health equity in China and Africa through innovative research, capacity building, and leadership development. A key mission of CHAN is to develop future public health leaders by offering research and leadership training for master’s students, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers.
CHAN invites eligible candidates to apply for participation in a year-long fellowship program.
Fellowship Objectives:
- Enhance expertise in global adolescent health by providing comparative insights into intervention landscapes worldwide and equipping participants with advanced skills in research, program development, and policy analysis.
- Promote cross-cultural collaboration by fostering open communication and mutual understanding of shared health challenges among students from diverse backgrounds.
- Strengthen professional networks by establishing a platform for students to form lasting relationships and future research collaborations between Chinese universities, HSPH, and ARISE Network institutions.
- Cultivate leadership skills and critical thinking to inspire a global perspective and commitment to advancing adolescent health outcomes.
Program Structure:
The program consists of four components: virtual seminars, in-person training, research projects, and dissemination activities.
- Virtual Seminars: Four weekly sessions covering global adolescent health challenges.
- In-Person Training: A two-week immersive learning experience at HSPH in Boston in July 2025, including lectures, discussions, and proposal development exercises.
- Research Projects: Participants will collaborate in cross-cultural teams to conduct small-scale research projects at ARISE Network sites in Ethiopia, Tanzania, or China.
- Dissemination Activities: Fellows will develop publishable articles, hold virtual meetings to share results, and create outreach materials to foster collaboration. Fellows will work in pairs to develop and implement a research proposal, analyze findings, and produce a comprehensive report, supported by seed funding and mentorship.
Program Timeline:
- April 2025: Four weekly virtual sessions.
- July 2025: Two-week in-person training in Boston.
- January 2026: Up to a four-week trip to Ethiopia, Tanzania, or China for research field activities.
- February-April 2026: Analysis, report writing, and dissemination.
Applicant Qualifications:
This program is open to master’s or doctoral students, or postdoctoral researchers affiliated with Tsinghua University, Peking University, or Harvard University.
Ideal candidates should demonstrate:
- The ability to collaborate effectively in diverse, multicultural teams.
- Availability to attend in-person training in Boston in July 2025 and to travel to Ethiopia, Tanzania, or China in January 2026.
- A strong interest in global health, particularly in adolescent health and nutrition.
Costing for Harvard Participants:
Participants will be responsible for their living expenses and related costs while in Boston. The program will cover expenses for flight tickets to Africa or China, as well as costs in those countries, including visa, accommodation, living expenses (food and transportation), insurance, and site fees.
How to Apply:
To apply, candidates should complete the online application form (https://forms.gle/rNyZ14SyK6YNJUAB6) and upload a brief curriculum vitae (CV) (1-page).
Application Due Date: February 15, 2025
A selection committee will review all applications, and successful candidates will be notified by the end of February.
Also see full TOR here
For further information or inquiries, please contact:
Haley Newell ([email protected])
Subject: Application for CHAN Program
