Apply to be A SCOPE Fellow
Application deadline for the 2027 SCOPE Travel Fellowship is November 19th, 2026 at 11:59 PM (Pacific Time)
About the Fellowship
The SCOPE Travel Fellowship is a 6-month fellowship with a 6-8 week travel opportunity to learn firsthand about fostering interdisciplinary approaches to addressing global health challenges.
LOCATION & DURATION: Fellows will be based in Seattle with an opportunity to travel to Ethiopia for 6-8 weeks to conduct global health fieldwork, research, practicum or thesis work depending on the successful applicant's availability and the SCOPE program's needs. If travel conditions permit, in-country work will be in Gondar, Ethiopia; if conditions do not allow travel to or extended stays in Gondar, the Fellow will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Upon completion of the fellowship, fellows are invited/encouraged to support transition and continuity of the work and to serve as mentors for future fellows.
PREFERRED SERVICE DATES: Spring or Summer 2027
ELIGIBILITY: Open to UW graduate students in good standing in public health, nursing, medicine, and other health-related disciplines. Preference is for students who will use their fellowship to meet academic requirements, e.g., practicum, capstone, thesis/dissertation.
BACKGROUND: Despite tremendous growth and advancement of the health system in Ethiopia in the last two decades, challenges remain in securing coverage for some critical health services including mental health and obstetric fistula. Community-based interventions that train and mobilize faith leaders to identify, counsel, and refer parishioners to care may be an effective intervention for improving outcomes for these health challenges. SCOPE's mission is to unite medical and faith communities to improve health through innovative partnership, leadership development, and measured impact. SCOPE works with communities in the Amhara region of Ethiopia where there is an opportunity to partner with faith leaders from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church to leverage the robust influence and strong community networks of the church to improve health for women and children.
OVERVIEW: The 2027 SCOPE Travel Fellow will support research and evaluation in community mental health and/or obstetric fistula. In mental health, SCOPE is developing a faith leader–engaged community mental health model in Gondar, informed by formative research with community members, priests, and community health workers. Potential fellowship activities include supporting a scoping review, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and preparing reports, manuscripts, and dissemination materials. Fellows may also support research, program evaluation, and data analysis through SCOPE's emerging collaboration with Healing Hands of Joy (HHOJ), including activities related to obstetric fistula prevention, treatment referral, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The specific scope of work will be agreed upon with the selected fellow, considering project priorities, available activities, and the fellow's skills and interests.
SCOPE Fellows are mentored by Global Health faculty at the University of Washington, the University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences, and members of the SCOPE Board to define a full scope of work (SOW) before the start of their fellowship in spring or summer quarter of 2027. Fellows will also work closely with and receive guidance from collaborating organizations, such as Healing Hands of Joy. Fellows are responsible for completing all deliverables in the specified timeline. SOWs that fulfill an academic requirement (practicum, capstone, thesis) are highly encouraged, and fellows will be supported in submitting relevant works for publication.
The program will cover coach airfare to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia along with a one-time stipend of $4000-$5000 (depending on duration of fellowship) to cover expenses such as housing, meals and incidentals, ground transportation, passport and visa, FRILA, travel insurance, travel health consultation, immunizations, and medications. SCOPE will assist with identifying housing while in Ethiopia.
ACTIVITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
General responsibilities of UW SCOPE Fellows include:
Working with the relevant SCOPE partners, including the University of Gondar and/or Healing Hands of Joy as appropriate, to coordinate activities outlined in the agreed scope of work (SOW)
Submission of brief weekly progress reports to the SCOPE Director of Programs and Grants
Summarizing findings in a written final report and presentation to the SCOPE Board
Attend SCOPE project meetings, seminars, and other team meetings as necessary
Depending on fellow's interest and project needs, the SOW may include advancing SCOPE’s work focused on community-based mental healthcare delivery models and evidence-based prevention of and rehabilitation for obstetric fistula, including but not limited to: literature reviews, mental health needs assessment, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, community stakeholder workshops, data analysis, and funding application support.
Desired Skills (Strengths in one or more of the following)
Coursework and/or work experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
Demonstrated interest in global mental health or women’s and children’s health
Entry-level skills in research and/or project management
SELECTION
Applicants will be selected based on the following considerations:
Relevant work experience and technical skills
Demonstrated interest and experience in maternal-child health, mental health, and/or global health
Interest in or experience with collaborations between faith and medical communities
Ability to work independently and with a group with diverse perspectives and experiences
Excellent written and oral communication skills
how to apply
Only complete applications will be reviewed. Application packets must include:
A complete application cover sheet
Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
A 1-2 page letter describing interest in the program and skills, experience, abilities, and perspective individual will bring to the project
One letter of recommendation from an individual who can attest to the professional skills and qualities of the applicant
Unofficial Transcript
Link to the SCOPE Travel Fellowship 2027 Application below; the Application Deadline is 11: 59 PM, November 19, 2026.
Questions can be sent to SCOPE at scopeet@uw.edu and copy Dr Dieudonne Hakizimana at dhakiz@uw.edu