Behavioral & Social Science Research Pre Doctoral Training Program

Stanford’s Department of Epidemiology and Population Health is pleased to continue offering its NIH‑funded Behavioral & Social Science Research Pre‑Doctoral Training Program. We are seeking motivated predoctoral students for this distinguished program, which bridges data science and population health research. The program has a strong track record: all graduates have found research positions in academia or the private sector. This renewal phase sharpens the focus on training for real‑world data analysis in social science and public health.

Why Join Us?

The program provides a rich and dynamic training environment that includes interdisciplinary mentorship, where each trainee is guided by two mentors—one focused on their disciplinary field (such as economics, psychology, or sociology) and another on methodological or quantitative expertise (such as statistics, informatics, or computer science). Trainees engage in a cutting-edge, tailored curriculum that builds on their background and offers hands-on experience with intensive longitudinal data (from mHealth, sensors, and EHRs) as well as large, complex datasets from sources like administrative records, social media, and citizen science. The program emphasizes experiential learning through dry-lab rotations at Stanford and short-term internships with Silicon Valley partners. A strong team science environment fosters design thinking, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and innovative problem solving. Additionally, trainees benefit from robust professional development opportunities, including forums for intellectual exchange and training in grant writing, communication, and research collaboration.

Fully Funded: Trainees receive full funding while earning a doctoral degree at Stanford, including:

  • Full tuition in the PhD program in Epidemiology and Clinical Research
  • A stipend
  • Full coverage of Cardinal Care health insurance (four quarters per academic year)
  • Additional funding for conference travel and childcare costs
     

Who Should Apply?

We invite passionate and motivated candidates who meet the following criteria:

  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Applicants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are strongly encouraged to apply. Must be pre-doctoral students (PhD track) in a relevant field.
  • Skills: Candidates should have strong quantitative or computational skills, or a solid foundation and desire to build those skills.
  • Research interest: Should have an interest in social science and population health, a desire to address prevention or treatment of heart, lung, blood, or sleep disorders, and be open to using large or complex datasets not designed for research.
  • Commitment: Must commit to a minimum of two years of participation in the training program.

Impact & Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be well‑positioned to:

  • Lead research that uses novel data sources (digital health, sensors, social media, and administrative datasets) to reveal new insights about HLBS (heart, lung, blood, and sleep) disorders.
  • Work across disciplinary boundaries, combining quantitative and social science methods to address public health challenges.
  • Translate methodological rigor into prevention, treatment, or policy interventions.
     

How to Apply

Ready to advance your academic career and contribute to groundbreaking research? We encourage you to apply!

Submit your application, including:

  • CV
  • Statement of purpose
  • Relevant supporting documents

Details and application link: https://med.stanford.edu/epidemiology-dept/education/phd-ecr2/phd-apply.html

For more information about the program or application process, please contact epiadmissions@stanford.edu.

Let’s create a healthier future – apply today!