About

Fellowship Program

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Fellowship Eligibility

Who is Eligible to Apply?

The fellowship is open to Emory doctoral students who are enrolled in one of the participating  programs and in good standing. They must also meet all requirements listed below. Those who do not meet eligibility requirements may consider the TADA Certificate program, open to all Emory doctoral students.

Participating TADA Programs:

  • Behavioral, social, and health education sciences
  • Health policy and management
  • Sociology (health track only)
  • Biostatistics and bioinformatics
  • Epidemiology
  • Global health
  • Biomedical informatics/computer science

Additional Requirements:

  • Comprehensive exams passed or scheduled for the near future
  • Outstanding record of academic accomplishment 
  • Established history of engagement in research and interventions into SUDs or related harm
  • Commitment to research career using advanced data analysis methods to study/intervene in SUD-related harms
  • In-state residency during the first year of fellowship
  • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Fellowship Funding

TADA is funded by a training grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the purpose of developing the careers of promising junior researchers. 

Each funded trainee has access to up to $3,000/year to support dissertation-related research and training expenses and TADA-related travel, as well as $3,000/year in reimbursement for eligible childcare costs. 

Funding is projected for three years. After year one is awarded, subsequent funding is contingent on satisfactory trainee performance and continuation of grant funding.

Fellowship Competencies

  1. Integrate rigorous, ethical SBS and data science approaches to generate actionable evidence about distributions and determinants of substance-related harms, overall and for high-prevalence populations.
  2. Integrate rigorous, ethical SBS and data science approaches to generate actionable evidence about the effects of policies and programs on substance-related harms, overall and for high-prevalence populations.
  3. Effectively communicate results to diverse groups to strengthen efforts to prevent substance-related harms.
  4. Critically apply principles of the ethical and responsible conduct of research to projects on substance-related harms that blend SBS and data science. 

Fellowship Requirements

Required Activities

The following TADA activities are designed to be completed across three years. Some requirements may be completed in advance through the certificate program.

Visit the TADA Courses Page to learn more about the courses required for TADA fellows.

TADA fellows are required to set academic and professional goals for their fellowship training. The individual development plan (IDP) is part of the fellow’s professional responsibility to chart goals and success in the TADA program and assist with ensuring timely progress.

Within two to three months of starting the TADA fellowship, fellows should:

  • Complete a first draft of the IDP on the TADA-specific template
  • Meet and discuss the IDP with TADA mentors
  • Schedule one meeting with both TADA mentors and directors present
  • Revise the IDP as necessary after meeting with mentor(s)
  • Sign and submit the completed IDP to TADA leadership

IDPs are reviewed by the program directors every six months thereafter.

TADA co-directors will match each trainee with two TADA-certified mentors: one with substantive expertise in SBS approaches to studying or intervening in SUD-related harms, the other with expertise in an advanced data science methods. 

View the full list of TADA mentors

Trainees will complete two TADA Mentee Training Sessions. These should be completed within the first six months of appointment, depending on when it is offered.

The Jones Program in Ethics is typically completed through Graduate School before starting TADA, but the minimum requirement is to have completed this before the end of the fellowship.

When offered, all trainees will take part in the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory’s community-based participatory action research training to learn how to establish equitable partnerships that actively engage communities in all aspects of the project and that uplift communities and participants.

Each year trainees complete at least one conference/training/workshop related to the chosen TADA methods track. This can be virtual or in-person and must be approved by mentors and TADA directors.

Each year, trainees complete a two- to three-semester mentored research experience (MRE). This is a focused opportunity to apply the substance and approaches learned from courses in real-world research projects.

Trainees dedicate about 25% of their time to this work. TADA mentors embed trainees in one of their research projects to provide them with abundant opportunities to concretely apply their SBS and data science skills, within their methods track, to substance-related topics.

In either year two or year three, TADA trainees will complete a single-semester TADA-funded MRE in which they can either work with a public health agency or complete a grant proposal. This MRE elective replaces the standard MRE for one semester.

  • Interdisciplinary Team Science Trainings
  • Communication Workshops
  • Community Engagement with TADA-Affiliated Centers
  • LGS Dean of Professional Development Events
  • TADA half-day writing retreat

At least one aim must focus on big data science, and one aim (or the same aim) on a drug-related outcome.

Fellowship Application

TADA Fellowship Application

Fellowship applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but slots are limited to four funded fellows at a time. You are encouraged to apply for the certificate program as soon as possible in your PhD candidacy to begin to complete TADA requirements, some of which may overlap with program electives.