Seeking post-master’s applicants for a Fellowship with a focus on water-related environmental hazards and public health
Application Deadline: April 2, 2023
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Aquatic Sciences Center (UW), home to the University of Wisconsin Water Resources and Sea Grant Institutes, and in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) seek recent Master of Public Health graduates interested in tackling timely challenges related to public health and water-related hazards in Wisconsin. Together, these programs will fund a fellowship position which places a recent graduate with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services full-time for up to two years, with the Fellow bringing technical skills to address water-related public health challenges while receiving valuable real-world experience from the resource professionals who serve as mentors. This partnership will benefit Wisconsin communities as well as provide valuable training opportunities for new professionals entering the workforce. Community-engaged science and public health relies on building a relationship with a community, developing trust, and working together to support informed decision-making. The Fellow gains experience working at this interface, experimenting with approaches that may be effective (and also learning through those that might not be), and learning how best to translate their strengths into actions that will be beneficial to partners and communities.
The Fellow will work closely with WDHS staff, other state and federal agencies such as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and professionals from a variety of fields to tackle the important public health challenges of environmental hazards. The fellowship mentor team will include Drs. Roy Irving and Sarah Yang from WDHS, as well as Dr. Jennifer Hauxwell from UW.
There is significant flexibility in the specific questions and approaches that the Fellow will tackle and employ, and we seek applicants from a variety of backgrounds including public health/epidemiology, water resources, climate sciences, social sciences, communications, etc. The Fellow should be prepared to pursue projects and opportunities according to their interests within the fellowship in addition to gaining experience addressing immediate programmatic needs. There are many opportunities for the Fellow’s work to help communities facing hazardous conditions. Some specific opportunities include:
• Assisting in the development, implementation, and evaluation of mini-grants to support local efforts to address drinking water and housing hazards
• Assisting in the development, implementation and evaluation of training and resource supports for local health departments to address drinking water and housing hazards
• Support public health data analysis – projects may include ArcGIS mapping and/or environmental health hazard tracking database
• Assist with tasks related to evaluating risk at sites of environmental contamination.
The Fellow will have opportunities to work with a variety of stakeholders such as other state agencies, local partners, and members of the public. Through this project, the Fellow will gain a better understanding of and experience serving in the role of an applied scientist in public health practice. The Fellow will also have the opportunity to expand their science and risk communication skill sets, learning best practices to effectively convey technical information to a broad range of audiences. In addition to the core priorities above, the fellowship provides flexibility in pursuing other projects uniquely suited for the Fellow related to environmental health hazards research, outreach, and/or policy.
This Fellow is intended to be stationed in downtown Madison at the WDHS (1 W. Wilson St.). Most DHS staff members work hybrid schedules, and a similar work arrangement may be available to the fellow, with the expectation that the fellow is regularly available for in-office work and meetings. The position requires occasional travel, including overnight stays.
More detail on the fellowship is below. If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Jennifer Hauxwell at jennifer.hauxwell@aqua.wisc.edu
Eligibility
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States) on or before the effective date of appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position. Any work-eligible student or postgraduate who will have graduated in the past five years with a Master’s degree in an applicable field (see above) is encouraged to apply. Fellows must have completed all degree requirements before starting the fellowship.
Stipend and Expenses
Annual stipends are dependent on the Fellow’s academic background, with post-master’s Fellows earning $42,000/year with additional benefits (see – http://www.ohr.wisc.edu/benefits/new-emp/grad.aspx). Fellows will be allotted funds to cover fellowship-related travel and can include conferences. Additional travel associated with the fellowship may be covered by the host agency at the agency’s discretion.
Application Requirements
Application packages should be sent to jennifer.hauxwell@aqua.wisc.edu at the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute and should include:
1. A personal statement that describes your background and abilities, your expectations from the fellowship experience and how this experience fits with your career goals (2 pages or fewer)
2. Curriculum vitae with relevant educational, professional and volunteer experience (no length limit)
3. Copies of all undergraduate and graduate student transcripts
4. Up to 4 writing samples, both formal and informal (e.g., journal articles or other technical documents, popular articles, web resources, etc.)
5. A list of two professional references with contact information, including a faculty member from your graduating institution familiar with your academic record
Please use the naming convention “Last name – description of file” for all files associated with the application (e.g. “Yang – cover letter”, “Yang – cv”, “Yang – transcripts”, etc.).
Selection Process
University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin Department of Health Services staff will identify a short list of candidates for interviews. Interviews will be conducted by a panel with representatives from both programs to determine the best fit for the position. It is expected that applicants will possess strong analytical skills, an ability to manage projects and work independently, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Priority will be given to candidates expressing interest in a two-year placement.
Length of Assignment
The length of assignment is up to two years with an anticipated start in May 2023. This timeline may be adjusted to accommodate academic semester needs or the needs of the candidates or funding institutions.
Timeline
April 2, 2023 – Deadline for submission of applications
early April – Interviews
May 2023 (approx.) – Fellowship begins
