Empowering future leaders to lead and build healthier food environments.
The Vital Strategies Healthy Food Policy Fellowship aims to address a critical barrier to building a healthier food environment—the dearth of research expertise to guide life-saving policies.
The fellowship, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, supports outstanding Ph.D. candidates who are residents of Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico or South Africa and are committed to pursuing a field of study and research that will enable them to contribute to healthier food environments through public policy.
Strong preference is given to candidates who are committed to work in their country after they complete their program, and who demonstrate that they will apply their experience, skills and knowledge in disciplines such as health economics, nutrition epidemiology, marketing or health behavior. Applicants who can establish their past background or future interest in contributing to research of national-level importance are encouraged to apply.
Overall, the goal of the Healthy Food Policy Fellowship is to strengthen the focus countries’ health systems by developing research expertise—creating a pool of people who are qualified to design, conduct, analyze, present and promote research—to bridge existing research gaps and guide national policies for healthier food environments in Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico and South Africa.
Successful applicants are awarded a multiple-year fellowship for the duration of their Ph.D. (up to four years) program to support their studies at top universities in their home country or abroad. Some recipients may combine study in their home country with complementary coursework in another country. Although candidates in the process of applying, or already accepted, to a Ph.D. program for the upcoming semester can apply for the fellowship, the award will only be disbursed to an applicant once they have been enrolled in a Ph.D. program and has satisfied all legal requirements.
In general, the fellowship covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance and study-related travel, if appropriate. Each fellowship is tailored to the needs of the recipient and the country of residence/school and is bound by the funder’s financial parameters.
How to become a Healthy Food Policy Fellow
Follow the instructions on how to apply to Vital Strategies’ Healthy Food Policy Fellowship Program
Note: We are not currently accepting applications for the Healthy Food Policy Fellowship.
Step 1: Check if you meet the selection criteria.
Step 2: Download the application form.
Step 3: Request two referees to submit letters of recommendation in English to fellowships@vitalstrategies.org with the subject “Recommendation Letter_Applicant name_Country of residence”. The letters must be submitted directly by the referees before the application deadline. The referees should be very familiar with the candidate’s work and professional experience, and/or might be the candidate’s current or potential mentor.
Step 4: Submit your completed and signed application form along with curriculum vitae in English to fellowships@vitalstrategies.org. Your curriculum vitae must mention your academic background, research/work experience, publications, and academic presentations.
Watch
Kristine Momanyi from Bloomberg Philanthropies discusses the Health Food Policy Fellowship.
Meet our Healthy Food Policy Fellows
News about our Fellows
Podcast: Hear how Healthy Food Policy Fellows are transforming food environments in South Africa, Colombia and Brazil.
On our Vital Stories Blog – The Future of Food: How Healthy Food Policy Fellows Are Transforming Food Environments in South Africa, Colombia and Brazi
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Am I eligible for this fellowship?
The Healthy Food Policy Fellowship program is open to candidates who meet the following selection criteria:
- Reside in one of the focus countries: Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, South Africa. (“Reside” includes people who are non-citizens of a country and who have long-term residency in that country.)
- Demonstrate a commitment to improving public policy for a healthier food environment in their country of residence.
- In the process of applying, or already accepted, to a Ph.D. for the upcoming semester in a field that will allow them to contribute to healthier food environments through public policy—health economics, nutrition epidemiology, marketing, health behavior, etc.—from a university that meets the desired combination of theoretical coursework and practical, field-based research.
- Have a background in healthy food policy or experience in one of the aforementioned academic areas of interest.
- Have no conflict of interest, including no affiliation with sugary drinks, ultra-processed foods or tobacco industry. Read more here.
What level of financial support is available through this fellowship?
The fellowship will cover tuition, living expenses (only rent, local public transport and utilities), health insurance (in most cases it should be the plan recommended by school, and is limited only to the fellow, and not dependents), travel and one-time costs such as a laptop, software and books.
Will fellowship recipients be expected to conduct research?
Vital Strategies is seeking applicants who are passionate about sharpening their ability to design research studies, lead research projects, and analyze and present results. Applicants who can demonstrate that they will be pursuing studies that include a combination of classroom theory and field-based research will be favorably considered.
Once I complete my studies, how could I use my research skills?
National, subnational and local public health systems, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and other entities are in need of highly qualified people to help them develop policies and programs related to building systems that improve people’s diets and create healthier food environments.
Can I apply if I am not from one of the focus countries?
At this time, only applicants from or residing in Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico or South Africa will be considered.
Whom can I contact if I have questions about my application?
Send an email to: fellowships@vitalstrategies.org.
Disclaimers
Sugary Drinks and Ultra-Processed Foods Affiliation: Fellowship applicants confirm that they do not have an affiliation with the sugary drinks or ultra-processed food industry, its agents or associates, and have not had such an affiliation in the two years prior to their application; and that they currently do not accept and shall not accept financial or other support from any sugary drinks or ultra-processed food product manufacturer or the parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of a sugary drinks or ultra-processed food product manufacturer until at least five years after the completion of education. Failure to comply with this clause will constitute grounds for terminating the fellowship and require the return of any funds awarded under the fellowship.
Tobacco Affiliation: Fellowship applicants confirm that they have not had any business relationship with or knowingly received payment or other support from any tobacco product manufacturer or wholesaler, or from any e-cigarette or vaping manufacturer or wholesaler ( “These Industries”), or any parent, affiliate, subsidiary, organization, or foundation with majority support from These Industries, or any person, interest group, advocacy organization, or other business or organization (other than a law firm, advertising agency, or accounting firm) that represents the interests of the Tobacco Industry (collectively, “These Affiliates”) in the past two years prior to their application. Fellowship applicants and nominators currently do not accept and shall not accept financial or other support from These Industries or These Affiliates until at least five years after the completion of education. Failure to comply with this clause will constitute grounds for terminating the fellowship and require the return of any funds awarded under the fellowship.
Non-Discrimination: Vital Strategies does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, religion/creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, nonconformity, presentation or expression (including cisgender, transgender, non-binary or intersex status), sexual or reproductive health decisions, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), domestic partnership status, caregiver status, alienage or citizen status, disability, genetic information, familial status, marital status, or domestic violence victim status, arrest or conviction record, credit history, salary history, unemployment status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. This nondiscrimination policy encompasses the operation of all its programs and activities, including this fellowship.
Conflict of Interest: In the event that a potential conflict of interest arises during the fellowship process, Vital Strategies commits to deal with each conflict of interest in as open and appropriate a way as possible.
Where our fellows study
