Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards
The School of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health and the university offer fellowship, scholarship and award opportunities to qualified graduate students.
Opportunities are available for focused study of cancer epidemiology, infectious disease, and occupational safety and health.
On this page:
Specialized Fellowships and Grants
Cancer Epidemiology Fellowships
Fellowships funded by an NCI R25T training grant are available for qualified students in the cancer epidemiology track within the PhD program. All fellows are involved in interdisciplinary research, working with a mentor in epidemiology and in a second field of research. Fellows receive a stipend and funds for tuition, research and related activities and items (attendance at scientific meetings, memberships, books, etc.). Students are generally accepted into the training program at the end of their first year of study. Learn more about UB’s cancer epidemiology fellowships by contacting Terri Raimondo at traimond@buffalo.edu or 716-829-5363.
Occupational Safety and Health Fellowships
Funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), training fellowships are available for qualified, full-time master’s students interested in a multidisciplinary training approach to advance occupational safety and health practice in Western New York. Learn more about the fellowships and how to apply.
Department of EEH Scholarships and Awards
Julie Baker Award
The award in honor of Julie Baker, a graduate of the epidemiology MS and PhD/MD programs, provides a stipend of $1,500 per semester for one year to a newly admitted MS or MPH student. All applicants to these graduate programs will be considered for funding at the time of admission. There is no separate application which must be completed.
Robert O’Shea Student Travel Award
Established in 2005 to honor Robert O’Shea, PhD, associate professor emeritus and first director of graduate studies in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine from 1977 to 1997 (now named Epidemiology and Environmental Health).
Students may submit a written request to the department’s finance committee to support their travel to present research findings at professional meetings, and are strongly encouraged to submit for approval prior to abstract submission. Those students who are supported by a faculty member’s research funding for travel may also be eligible for the award.
Saxon Graham Research Award
The late Saxon Graham, PhD, was chair of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine from 1981-1991 (now named Epidemiology and Environmental Health) and was a leader in the field of nutritional epidemiology. His work on diet and cancer was instrumental in our growing understanding of what causes cancer and its prevention.
This award provides funds to support research activities that are being conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation. Eligible students are candidates in the PhD in epidemiology degree program who have passed the preliminary examination. Awarded funds are applied towards research activities such as participant recruitment, clinical specimen analysis, travel to meet with collaborators, etc.
Saxon Graham Award
This annual award to a student graduating with a PhD in epidemiology was established in 1997 to honor the excellent leadership provided by the late Saxon Graham, PhD, professor emeritus and chair of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine from 1981 to 1991 (now named Epidemiology and Environmental Health).
Eligible students are those who have defended their dissertation by February 1 of the year of the award. To be eligible, students must gather epidemiologic data fairly extensively during their career (primary data collection), either for dissertation or other epidemiologic purpose. Nominations come from the student’s major professor, committee member or other departmental faculty. The award is for excellence as a doctoral student; the topic of dissertation should include epidemiology and the prevention of disease, and is not limited to cancer.
SPHHP/EEH Masters Student Scholarship Program
An award sponsored by the School of Public Health and Health Professions and the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health provides a stipend of $3,000 per year for two years, contingent on remaining in good academic status, to a newly admitted MS or MPH student. There will be up to one recipient per degree program (MPH epidemiology, MPH environmental health, MPH health services administration, MS epidemiology and MS clinical research). All applicants to these graduate programs will be considered for funding at the time of admission. There is no separate application which must be completed.
Wactawski and Wende Family Endowment
This endowment fund helps support exemplary doctoral students in the School of Public Health and Health Professions' Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health.
This fund will be granted to one incoming EEH doctoral student each year, with preference given to exceptional applicants who are interested in pursuing research in women’s health. This support will be in addition to typical salary and course credit provided to PhD students. The Wactawski and Wende Family Endowment fund will cover non-tuition, ancillary expenses to further the education of the recipient, such as meeting or training travel; data collection; books; society memberships; conference registrations; research; and other activities related to his/her UB doctoral program not covered by the department.
The Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health will administer the fund through the department, based on a recommendation from the Admissions Committee. The recipient must remain in good academic standing throughout their graduate career.
School of Public Health and Health Professions Scholarships and Awards
Dr. Michael F. Noe Diversity Scholarship
The Dr. Michael F. Noe Diversity Scholarship provides scholarships to students from historically underrepresented populations, including Native Americans, who demonstrate academic excellence and financial need. It is intended to promote educational diversity, equity, and inclusion consistent with the values of the School of Public Health and Health Professions.
The vision for the Dr. Michael F. Noe Diversity Scholarship not only is to financially support students who are pursuing a degree in the SPHHP, but also to attract and retain the best candidates, foster student growth outside of the classroom, and ultimately benefit diverse populations that the school serves. A service requirement is highly recommended and will be determined by the Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
SPHHP Awards to Promote Student Diversity
The School of Public Health and Health Professions (SPHHP) offers stipends and tuition scholarships to students who have been admitted to a master's-level graduate program or the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, who will be enrolled on a full-time basis, and students who will contribute to the diversity of the student body in the graduate or professional program in which they will be enrolled. Applicants to the BS/MS in occupational therapy may also apply for a tuition scholarship which is awarded for the MS portion of the degree (final 2 years).
Students who will contribute to the diversity of their program and their field based on sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, religion, socio-economic status, veteran status, first-generation status, or experience of exclusion are encouraged to apply for these awards. Students who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education are especially encouraged to nominate themselves.
Students apply for a diversity award when applying for admission to the program of their choice. However, information shared in the diversity award application is not used for admission decisions.
Max Villatoro | 2021 Recipient
"As a first generation Hispanic student, I was extremely honored to receive the SPHHP diversity award. This award helped reduce barriers of coming from a low income family and helped me accomplish my dream of becoming a physical therapist at an excellent DPT program."
SPHHP Student Diversity Fund
The goal of this fund is to reduce barriers to attending SPHHP professional programs among students from diverse backgrounds and support pathway programs.
SPHHP's learning community is enriched by differences in perspectives and background. A diverse student body, faculty and staff is instrumental in promoting cultural competence in public health and clinical practice. The school therefore is taking action to increase diversity among students, faculty and staff, with first in family to attend college, sex, nationality, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, religion, socio-economic status, veteran status, students who have experienced social exclusion, and to support the specific needs of international, first-generation, transfer and returning students.
The fund will provides tuition support to professional and other graduate students from diverse backgrounds.
Hamilton Wilson Student Support Fund
History of the Fund
In Spring 2018, Greer Hamilton, MSW ’16, and Danise C. Wilson, MPH ’14, launched the Hamilton Wilson Student Support Fund to promote diversity and representation within their professions and health and human service workforce. As graduates of the University at Buffalo MSW and MPH programs, they recognized the need to support students to ensure their success during school and within their career.
Fund Overview
The Hamilton Wilson Fund provides $1,000 in support for a student who is a member of a traditionally underrepresented population enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at the University at Buffalo. The award is meant to be used towards school-related expenses such as books, field placement, transportation and other needs awardees may have. Students may apply in any year of their program as long as they are enrolled in MPH courses in the semester during which they apply. A call for applications is typically circulated in September.
Donor Stories in AtBuffalo
UB Diversity Scholarships for Graduate Students
Nationally Competitive Diversity Scholarships and Awards
Global Health
University at Buffalo Awards and Fellowships
Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship
Sponsored by New York State, this fellowship offers support for historically underrepresented students in graduate programs across the university. Schomburg Fellows participate in conferences and seminars and present papers in their respective disciplines. Learn more about the Schomburg Fellowship eligibility and nomination requirements.
University at Buffalo Presidential Fellowship
This fellowship is aimed at recruiting outstanding graduate students. Students are considered for this award at the time of admission; there is no additional application required. To be eligible, a nominee must be a new applicant to a PhD program with at least one of the following:
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or higher OR;
- A two-component combined GRE test score (the sum of the scores of the verbal and quantitative components of the GRE General Test revised format subsequent to Oct. 1, 2002) of 1270 or higher AND a score on the new analytical writing component of 4.5 or higher OR;
- A score on the relevant GRE Subject Test in the 75th percentile or higher.
Graduate Opportunity Program
The Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP; formerly GEOP) provides tuition scholarships to graduates of certified Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP); and CUNY Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) programs within New York State who wish to pursue further education at the graduate level on a full-time basis (12 credits each semester). All disciplines are eligible. The GEOP receives a limited amount of funding each year. Therefore, tuition scholarships are not guaranteed to all students who apply.
Visit the UB Graduate School for more information.
