The Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) program by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a four-year national leadership development initiative for second-year, full-time doctoral students in research-focused, nonclinical disciplines. The program fosters leaders committed to advancing antiracism, structural change, and health equity by leveraging policy as a transformative tool. HPRS provides mentorship, leadership coaching, and training in health policy, systems change, and actionable research to improve health outcomes and address inequities.
Eligibility requirements include being a second-year doctoral student in fall 2025 with at least three academic years remaining in the program, a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or an individual with DACA or TPS status. Applicants must be at least 21 years old by September 1, 2025, come from marginalized backgrounds, and align with the program's mission. Participants cannot be recipients of fellowships prohibiting concurrent participation in programs like HPRS.
Applications must be submitted online by March 11, 2025, at 3 p.m. ET, including references. Optional informational webinars will be held on January 14, 2025, from 2–3 p.m. ET. Semifinalist interviews will occur in May 2025, with finalists notified by mid-June 2025. The program begins on September 1, 2025, and participants are required to attend onboarding meetings, a fall institute in October 2025, and a summer institute in June 2026 in Baltimore, MD.
Up to 40 scholars will be selected for the 2025 cohort, the program’s final group. Each scholar will receive an annual award of $30,000 for up to four years or until the completion of their doctoral program, whichever comes first. Home institutions will receive an additional administrative fee of $1,000 per year to manage the grant.
For more details, interested applicants are encouraged to review the full application, FAQs, and other resources on the program website, HealthPolicyResearch-Scholars.org. Additional queries can be directed to Keshia Pollack Porter at [email protected].
