Draft 9/25/14
A Proposal from I2PH to promote Interdisciplinary Project Planning and Execution
The goal of the Interdisciplinary Innovative Hub (I2PH) is to address the ever-changing
issues of global health by increasing the quality of innovative research and learning that impacts
these issues. It serves as a training incubator where students, faculty and staff can gather to
collaborate on projects, mentor and educate each other, discover new opportunities, and share
knowledge and innovative ideas. Accordingly, as TUSPHTM is one of the key players in public
health education in the country and globally, we are one of the very few universities that offers
such a specific interdisciplinary program for its students, faculty and staff; however, we would
like to expand upon our current programmatic offerings.
In an effort to increase interdisciplinary work and understanding in the graduate student
population of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, I2PH would like
to propose a new grant opportunity for graduate students, in conjunction with faculty advisors, at
this time. This grant would allot the chosen students and faculty a space, in the I2PH suite, and
other necessary resources to work on a major public health issue through the lens of multiple
disciplines. The grant would bring together two to three students and their faculty supporters
from different departments through their own application process and choice of issue in October.
These students would then be given a small amount of monetary support for supplies and other
non-compensatory essentials to complete their project, which they would have already allocated
in their budget with their application. This budgeted money would be used for data collection,
transportation, licensing, software and the like to create an innovative project. Throughout the
process, they would be advised by their chosen and relevant faculty, who would provide fair and
unbiased ideas, advice and support to their students, in an equal, collaborative relationship.
Students would have the option to use their project towards their practicum or culminating
experience, if they would prefer, and it aligns with their department policies. At the end of the
project, the students would have the opportunity to present their work in a school wide
interdisciplinary lecture on their topic, appealing to the multiple departments’ angles of
understanding and allowing others to see the value and interest of innovative projects across
discipline boundaries in public health. Following their presentation, the students would receive
an award certificate for their efforts.
This will provide a deliberate attempted effort on the part of graduate students to receive
an interdisciplinary training in their approach to solving public health problems.
Draft 9/25/14
An Interdisciplinary Resaerch Funding Opportunity for Graduate Students:
The I2PH Research Grant
The goal of the Interdisciplinary Student Grant is to create a student-faculty team
research project, whether it be a program, a campaign, analysis and/or the aligning monitoring
and evaluation, or otherwise that encapsulates a large public health issue across disciplines.
Students would have the opportunity to present on their work at an I2PH Lecture. Any graduate
Tulane SPHTM student from any department is eligible, but they must be enrolled in school. If
an SPHTM students wants to collaborate with a student from another school, that is appropriate,
but the SPHTM graduate student must be the primary applicant. Students may apply only in
groups of two or three via one joint application with different components for each discipline,
with two to three appropriately chosen and supportive faculty members, and their declared
project interests must span at least two departments. We hope to fund five to seven teams.
To apply for the first ever Interdisciplinary Student Grant, your two to five page double
spaced application must include the following parts:

Title of the project

An outlined plan of what you would actually work on – short abstract

Objective/Research Goal of the project, Specific Aims, Approaches

Itemized budget (maximum $3000) and detailed justification– This must not include
compensation (e.g. stipends) for the applicants and may be used solely for research and
research related expenses.
In addition, we will require the following (not included in the two to five pages):

Main faculty mentors involved with the students on the project, and their letters of
support

Supplemental Information Application (see next page) for each applicant

A resume for each applicant (maximum of 2 pages) with relevant information and career
goals
The applications will be accepted from December 1st-31st, as an electronic pdf sent to
i2ph@tulane.edu. Any questions regarding the application process or grant should be directed to
Dr. Geetha Bansal, Director I2PH, or Aubree Thelen, Program Manager, at i2ph@tulane.edu
Draft 9/25/14
The I2PH Research Grant
Name of Applicant :
Student ID number:
Program Enrolled in (MPH, PhD, ect):
Department:
Expected Graduation Semester:
Contact Information:
Preferred Phone Number:
Physical Address:
Email Address:
Faculty Members Associated with the Grant (Please list):
Signatures: ______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Other Students Associated with the Grant (Please list):
Signatures:______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Brief Description of Each Person’s Role in the Project:
The applications will be due by December 1st, at 5 PM to the box inside the door of the
I2PH Suite (1714 Tidewater), as well as an electronic copy sent to i2ph@tulane.edu. Any
questions regarding the application process or grant should be directed to Dr. Geetha Bansal,
Director I2PH, or Aubree Thelen, Program Manager, at i2ph@tulane.edu