Hard-to-Reach Populations Training Program

• Orientation day (1 session, mandatory): September 1, 2023
• H2R sampling course (10 sessions, mandatory): September 5-15, 2023
• Population size sampling course (8 sessions, elective): October 2-27, 2023
• Bias analysis course (8 sessions, elective): October 30 to November 30, 2023 (no class November 20-24)
• Community engagement research course (4 sessions, mandatory): December 4-15, 2023
• 2-month H2R research project to explore H2R methods and relevant skills (weekly session, mandatory): January to February 2024

• Ali Mirzazadeh MD, PhD, MPH (Lead)
• Willi McFarland, MD, PhD, MPH&TM, (Sampling Course Director)
• Paul Wesson PhD (Population Size Estimation Course Director)
• Thomas Hoffmann PhD (Quantitative Bias Analysis Course Director)
• Sean Arayasirikul, PhD (Community-based Participatory Research Course Director)
• Drs. David Glidden, Elizabeth Fair, Sunghee Lee, and Erin Wilson (Program faculty)
• Maeve Forster (Program Manager), Ming Zhou (Grant Manager)

Anyone in the United States with a bachelors degree or equivalent public health work experience are eligible to apply to the H2R program.

People can join the program in one of the following capacities:

• As a scholar (“scholars” are any persons who conduct or anticipate conducting research or monitoring and evaluation of programs for hard-to-reach populations, including graduate students of public health, social welfare, or other relevant degree programs)
• As a mentor (“mentors” are any persons who supervise, mentor, or teach persons who conduct research or monitoring and evaluation for hard-to-reach populations)

Scholars will be selected based on review of the following eligibility criteria:

• Availability to complete the 6-month program requirements.
• A statement of interest that provides a compelling description of how participation in the program will help them advance their training and career goals, with an openness to pursue education and future research among hard-to-reach populations.
• A research topic targeting at least one of the hard-to-reach populations.
• If currently a student, a letter of support from an academic advisor or Dean’s office attesting to the scholars’ good academic standing and future promise as researchers among hard-to-reach populations. A minimum GPA is not required.

Scholars will be required to:

• Participate in the 6-month program schedule as described above.
• Meet with their mentors and faculty at least twice a month during the 6-month program either in-person or virtually.
• Complete for a H2R population either a (1) draft independent research proposal, OR (2) draft sampling protocol, OR (3) analysis of data and make publishable tables and/or figure(s) for a manuscript.

Scholars will apply for either Track A or Track B

• Track A: This is for scholars who are doing hard-to-reach population research as part of their work, research, capstone, dissertation or an already funded research project. During the 6-month period, mentorship will focus on designing, piloting and troubleshooting the sampling, recruitment and engagement of participants in their H2R population research projects. Scholars will also be supported and mentored for data monitoring and diagnostics and data analysis.
• Track B: This is for scholars who do not have an already approved or funded H2R research project. The H2R Program provides several avenues to gain research experience, including secondary analysis for first-author publications, hands on experience with primary data collection, integration of ancillary studies into their faculty’s on-going research, and the design of their individual research projects focusing on methods of sampling, counting and engagement of participants for the 6-month H2R research project activities. Scholars will work with their mentors and faculty to choose an existing hard-to-reach population dataset.

By the end of this program, Scholars will have:

• Gained knowledge and skills to design and implement research studies among hard-to-reach populations.
• Received hands-on research and data analysis experiences.
• Prepared for a H2R population either (1) a draft independent research proposal OR (2) a draft sampling protocol OR (3) publishable tables/figures resulting from the analysis of data.
• Developed an individual career plan with educational goals.
• Participated in networking opportunities with faculty, mentors, senior researchers, and scholars with similar research interests.

Eligible mentors will be selected based on review of the following eligibility criteria:

• Assistant professor, public health directors, or research specialist within 5 years of completing their terminal research degree or is within 5 years of completing medical residency or the equivalent.
• Availability to complete the 6-month program requirements.
• A statement of interest that provides a compelling description of how participation in the program will help them advance their training and career goals, with an openness to pursue education and future research among hard-to-reach populations.
• A letter of support from an academic or career advisor attesting to their interest and future promise as researchers among hard-to-reach populations.

Mentors will be required to:

• Participate in the 6-month program schedule as described above.
• Meet with up to three assigned scholars twice a month during the 6-month program either in-person or virtually.
• Collaborate monthly with other program mentors in Mentorship Skill Development Workshops.

By the end of this program, mentors will have:

• Gained knowledge and skills to design and implement research studies among hard-to-reach populations.
• Received support from a faculty and observed as a role-model on how to provide mentorship and support to a scholar doing research studies among hard-to-reach populations.
• Improved their mentorship skills and understanding.

Each scholar receives $5000; each mentor receives $4500. This is for your time and the costs associated with participating in the program. Applicants can identify if they want to be considered for this financial support during the application process.