Institute for Health Informatics Fellowships

The University of Minnesota Institute for Health Informatics is pleased to announce a call for applications for three fellowships for incoming PhD students. The purpose of this award is to identify exceptional students on a nationwide merit basis and support their doctoral studies at the Institute for Health Informatics for the duration of their Ph.D. studies (up to five years). The fellowship benefits include tuition, stipend, health insurance, support for conferences, and career development activities. 

To be considered for 2025 fall admission, candidates must submit their fellowship application(s) by March 20th, 2025.
More detailed information about the fellowships and eligibility criteria can be found below. Please check back soon for the application link.

Learn more about the IHI graduate program.

Fellowships and Goals

There are 3 types of fellowships for incoming students:

  • Expanding Opportunities and Pathways to Scientific Excellence Distinguished Fellowship
  • Excellence in Informatics Methods Innovation Distinguished Fellowship
  • Excellence in Applied Informatics Research Distinguished Fellowship

The primary goals for the fellowships are to attract and support exceptional talent and to foster inclusive excellence in the IHI academic and research program. 
 

Key Fellowship Benefits

  • 5-year funding (tuition + stipend + health benefits), contingent on annual review. The dollar amount of the funding may change annually based on the cost of attending posted by the graduate school.
  • Funding to cover travel costs for presenting scientific work at conferences.  
  • Computing equipment and work space.

Requirements for Obtaining a Fellowship

Requirements applied to all 3 fellowships

  • Meeting UMN/IHI graduate student eligibility requirements.
  • Evidence of excellence in prior academic performance and research experience.
  • Only incoming students to IHI’s PhD program are eligible to receive the fellowship.


Specific requirements for the Expanding Opportunities and Pathways to Scientific Excellence Distinguished Fellowship

  • This Fellowship is open to individuals with exceptional merit, scientific curiosity, and commitment to research but lacking established opportunities and pathways for a successful academic career.
  • Candidates need to submit a statement and/or supporting evidence to address questions such as the following: How would the fellowship help create new opportunities for you to establish a successful academic career? What do you intend to do with your PhD training?
     

Specific requirements for the Methods Innovation Fellowship

  • Methods Innovation Fellowship is open to candidates pursuing methodological innovations in informatics. 
  • Candidates need to submit evidence demonstrating their past educational or research experience with methodological innovations.
  • Candidate’s research plan needs to reflect their pursuit.


Specific requirements for the Applied Informatics Fellowship

  • The Applied Informatics Fellowship is open to candidates pursuing applied informatics research (i.e., research focused on practical application of informatics principles, methods, and technologies to solve real-world problems in health-related domains).
  • Candidates need to submit evidence demonstrating their past educational or research experience in applied research.
  • Candidate’s research plan needs to reflect their pursuit.

Fellowship Application

To be considered, candidates must submit their fellowship application for a specific admission cycle by the date announced on the IHI website. The application material should include the following:

  • A cover letter indicating the specific type of fellowship of interest. Candidates can apply for multiple fellowships, in which case separate applications need to be submitted.
  • A research plan. Fellows are not required to stick with the initial research plan.
  • A training/career development plan. Fellows are not required to stick with the initial training/career development plan.
  • IHI faculty member(s) they plan to work with. Fellows are not required to stick with the initial faculty selection throughout their fellowship.
  • Supporting materials for the specific fellowship (Requirements for Obtaining a Fellowship above).
  • Evidence of the candidate’s relevant research experience.
  • At least 2 letters of recommendation by relevant individuals (former teachers, mentors, employers, etc).

Requirements for Maintaining the Fellowship

  • Submit a progress report every 6 months (in March and September), prepared together with the primary adviser and reviewed by the monitoring committee. The report should describe training and research progress (e.g., courses taken, research activities, discoveries, papers, presentations, software, etc.) and set goals for the next reporting period.
  • Satisfactory academic progress as determined by the monitoring committee.
  • Active participation in seminars/peer groups.