Global Health Institute

Below is a list of the proposed research projects for the 2025 - 2026 Global Health Student Fellows. Once accepted to the fellowship program, the student will be matched with a faculty mentor.

Outbreak Preparedness and Response

The Center for Global Health Science and Security produces evidence to guide decision-makers on outbreak response, pandemic preparedness, and health security. The fellow will work with a multidisciplinary research team on manuscripts assessing the effectiveness of policies for outbreak preparedness and response.

Faculty Mentor: Rebecca Katz, Professor, School of Medicine and School of Foreign Service, Center for Global Health Science and Security
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Statistical analysis and data visualization

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The Science Politics Journal

Science Politics is a new publication blending academic writing and journalism to explore timely issues at the intersection of science, technology, and the environment. It serves as a platform for bold ideas and cutting-edge research on global challenges ranging from health to climate and security. The fellow will collaborate with scientists across campus to produce accessible writing on global health for policymakers and the general public.

Faculty Mentor: Emily Mendenhall, Professor, Science, Technology, and International Affairs
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Strong writing skills and the ability to translate global health research for a broad audience

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Global Health Law

Professor Lawrence Gostin is preparing the second edition of Global Health Law, originally published in 2014. The fellow will assist with manuscript completion, providing research and writing support during the revision process and in response to editorial feedback. The fellow will also support Professor Gostin’s ongoing publications on timely global and public health issues at the intersection of law and policy.

Faculty Mentor: Lawrence Gostin, Founding O’Neill Chair in Global Health Law, O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, Georgetown Law
Work Modality: Remote
Preferred Skills: Research and writing, with an interest in global health issues and the role of law in addressing them

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Financing Global Health

The fellow will be part of a research team that investigates innovative mechanisms for financing health care, aiming to identify sustainable and equitable strategies to strengthen global health systems. Areas of focus include blockchain technology, Social Impact Bonds, Development Impact Bonds, diaspora bonds, blended finance, venture capital, and other emerging models.

Faculty Mentor: Vincent Turbat, Associate Professor, Department of Global Health, School of Health
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Basic knowledge of health economics

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Liver Cancer Stigma Research in Thailand

Researchers at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center are studying how liver cancer–related stigma affects patients and high-risk populations in Thailand. The fellow will assist with data analysis, preparation of tables and graphs, literature review, manuscript writing, organizing and attending interdisciplinary meetings, and supporting the design of an intervention study to reduce stigma.

Faculty Mentor: Christopher Loffredo, Professor, Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: No specialized technical skills required

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The Global Health Podcast

Working with Professor Matthew Kavanagh and U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, the fellow will support the launch of a new podcast featuring leading thinkers in global health and social science. Responsibilities include concept development, topic research, episode idea generation, guest identification, scriptwriting, and communications plan execution. The main focus will be on guest relations, research, and scriptwriting.

Faculty Mentor: Matthew Kavanagh, Georgetown Law and Georgetown School of Health, Center for Global Health Policy & Politics
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Knowledge of politics and social science, strong organizational skills; no technical production skills required. Social media skills are a plus

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Health Systems in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands

The Center for Global Health Practice and Impact recently completed in-depth health systems needs assessments in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). The fellow will support dissemination of these findings and help expand collaborations for health systems strengthening in the region. Responsibilities include transforming technical reports into policy briefs, stakeholder presentations, and peer-reviewed manuscripts; engaging with local stakeholders, including the RMI and FSM Ministries of Health; co-designing follow-on research; and refining messages for donor communication.

Faculty Mentor: Katherine Robsky, Center for Global Health Practice and Impact
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Data presentation and visualization; experience with qualitative data collection or analysis is a plus

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Transformational Health Law

The Center for Transformational Health Law conducts cutting-edge work in global health security, universal health coverage, equitable access to medicines, and the development of international health legal and policy instruments, including the new pandemic agreement. The fellow will contribute to projects focused on expanding universal health coverage in Africa, developing a pathogen genomic data-sharing network, and supporting countries’ vaccine rollout plans, including initiatives for maternal, child, and infant health.

Faculty Mentor: Sam Halabi, Professor, Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Health
Work Modality: Remote
Preferred Skills: Proficiency in French or Portuguese is preferred but not required

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AI for Global Health: The Case Study of the World Bank Group

This research project analyzes the World Bank Group’s integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into global health governance and policy frameworks. The fellow will examine AI tools and initiatives, conduct document analysis and stakeholder interviews, and assess how governance strategies align with global health priorities, including health equity, system strengthening, and universal health coverage. The fellow will produce a comprehensive research report on the role of international financial institutions in shaping AI governance for global health.

Faculty Mentor: Jun Han, Adjunct Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy
Work Modality: Remote
Preferred Skills: None

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AI-Powered Hemoglobin Screening in Nigeria

This project evaluates a smartphone-based, non-invasive hemoglobin monitoring device compared with standard laboratory methods in nine health facilities across Nigeria. The fellow will assist with validation of device performance, usability assessment in clinical and community settings, refinement of the AI algorithm, and development of recommendations for integrating non-invasive hemoglobin screening into routine healthcare.

Faculty Mentor: Ibrahim Bola Gobir, Assistant Professor, Center for Global Health Practice and Impact
Work Modality: Remote
Preferred Skills: None

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Mental Health and Heat Stress in Bangladesh

HeatMind Bangladesh is a mixed-methods study investigating the impact of heatwaves on mental health and well-being in urban slum communities. The study conducts in-depth qualitative interviews at three time points (winter, late spring, and summer) with female participants and the primary male member of their household to explore the lived experience of heat on mood, emotions, impulsivity, aggression, spousal and family conflict, social disruptions, and overall mental health. The fellow will assist with qualitative data analysis, writing up results, and reviewing and synthesizing relevant literature.

Faculty Mentor: Shabab Wahid, Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Qualitative research experience; Bangla/Bengali language skills are helpful but not required

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Integrating Refugee Physicians into U.S. Health Care

This interdisciplinary project examines health care equity by focusing on refugee health and integrating international medical graduates into the U.S. healthcare workforce. The fellow will support qualitative and quantitative research, conduct interviews with refugee physicians, perform a scoping review of licensure barriers, and analyze workforce data. They will also contribute to programmatic initiatives and produce advocacy-ready outputs including scholarship, policy briefs, and program evaluation insights.

Faculty Mentor: Sarah Kureshi, MD, MPH, Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Family Medicine
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Experience with qualitative or quantitative research methods, literature reviews, or reference management tools; interest in refugee health, health policy, or workforce issues is a plus

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Mental Health Innovations in Senegal and Beyond

The fellow will collaborate on community-based mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries, including co-authoring a cost-effectiveness analysis in Senegal. Responsibilities may include adapting interventions for other contexts, conducting literature reviews, contributing to funding applications, and adapting content into audio/video formats. Fellows should be willing to work on basic quantitative analyses in Excel.

Faculty Mentor: Ellen Moscoe, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Global Health
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: French and/or Swahili language skills are a plus but not required. Interest in design and audio/video content is encouraged. Coding experience in Stata or R is helpful but not required

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Neonatal Deaths in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Neonatal deaths in the first month of life are high in low- and middle-income countries and are often misclassified, frequently recorded broadly as “complications of prematurity” rather than specific causes such as neonatal infections. Accurate classification is essential to inform national governments and key stakeholders, supporting data-driven decision-making to address these causes and predisposing factors, and ultimately reduce neonatal mortality in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3.2. The project will also explore the potential application of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve classification.

Faculty Mentor: Indira Narayanan, Adjunct Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Work Modality: Remote
Preferred Skills: Literature review and familiarity with artificial intelligence

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HIV and Non-Communicable Diseases in Eswatini

Digital health solutions, such as mobile health (mHealth) interventions, are increasingly used to improve antiretroviral therapy adherence for people living with HIV. The fellow will collaborate with the Eswatini Ministry of Health on a project to expand implementation of NotsA, an mHealth solution providing medication reminders via a mobile app, educational resources tailored to individual needs, and real-time communication between clients and healthcare providers.

Faculty Mentor: Samson Haumba, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Center for Global Health Practice and Impact
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Digital literacy, understanding of ethical considerations, strong communication and collaboration skills

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AI Chatbots for Health Information

This project will design, conduct, and analyze a cross-national online survey assessing the use of AI chatbots for public health information, trust in these tools, and critical appraisal of the health information they provide. The study focuses on the most populous countries in each of five continents—Nigeria (Africa), India (Asia), Germany (Europe), the United States (North America), and Brazil (South America)—covering over 2.3 billion people, nearly one-third of the global population. The fellow will assist with literature compilation and summarization, as well as building the survey questionnaire.

Faculty Mentor: Leticia Bode, Professor, Communication, Culture, and Technology
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Experience with survey software, desk research, or fluency in major languages spoken in the included countries is a plus

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Ending the HIV Epidemic

The Center for Global Health Practice and Impact is the technical assistance provider for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. project. The fellow will develop a research protocol to evaluate the outcomes of this program. Responsibilities include conducting literature reviews, refining research questions, identifying appropriate outcome measures and data collection approaches, and drafting sections of the protocol.

Faculty Mentor: Martine Etienne-Mesubi, Assistant Professor, Center for Global Health Practice and Impact
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Conducting structured literature searches using databases such as PubMed, synthesizing findings into evidence summaries, and familiarity with domestic HIV program indicators or other public health outcome measures

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Investing and Financing Africa’s Health

The African Union Development Agency and Georgetown University, through the Center for Global Health Practice and Impact and the Georgetown University Global Health Institute, are implementing the Program for Investing and Financing Africa’s Health. The collaborating center serves as a dynamic hub combining the roles of think tank, policy implementation accelerator, and catalyst for institutional strengthening. The fellow will conduct evidence synthesis on private sector market size in different countries, pricing of services, and monitoring of healthcare quality and outcomes in that sector. The work will contribute to peer-reviewed publications and white papers to inform policy changes in specific countries.

Faculty Mentor: Deus Bazira, Director and Associate Professor, Georgetown University Global Health Institute and Center for Global Health Practice and Impact
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Analytical skills and familiarity with health market functioning in low- and middle-income countries

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Innovating on Infectious Disease Interventions

The IN Lab explores how infectious disease programs—including those targeting neglected tropical diseases—can be delivered more equitably, integrated into national health systems, and sustained over time. The fellow will support 2–3 applied research projects and contribute to Lab operations, including organizing external learning conversations, developing web content, and strengthening communications. This opportunity is ideal for students interested in the intersection of health systems and infectious disease control, and in the real-world delivery of global health programs. The fellow will meet regularly with Dr. Baker and other students and will have opportunities to engage with global peers and senior experts.

Faculty Mentor: Margaret Baker, Associate Professor, Department of Global Health, School of Health
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Coursework or background in global health, public health, health systems, or health policy; strong skills in synthesizing academic literature and clear written communication

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The Faith and Global Health Initiative

The Georgetown University Global Health Institute’s Faith and Global Health Initiative (FGHI) works to build relationships between faith and global health communities, exploring how beliefs shape health and strengthening trust, investment, and delivery of health services. The fellow will contribute to FGHI’s research and convening activities, including its flagship project, the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health. Responsibilities include conducting background research, drafting policy and academic outputs, and assisting in convenings with policymakers, faith leaders, and public health practitioners.

Faculty Mentor: Diana Rayes, Program Director, Georgetown University Global Health Institute
Work Modality: Hybrid (remote and in-person)
Preferred Skills: Literature review and writing for academic, policy, and public audiences; familiarity with qualitative research methods or policy analysis; interest in global health, faith-based organizations, or cross-sector collaboration