Scholarships & Financial Support

Student Grants & Writing Awards

Currently, graduate students enrolled in the industrial hygiene and ergonomics specialty areas at Berkeley, Agricultural Safety and Health at UC Davis, the occupational and environmental health nursing program, the occupational medicine health nursing program, and the occupational medicine residency at San Francisco, are eligible for NIOSH traineeships which pay tuition, fees, and a modest stipend that varies each year according to availability of funding and the number of occupational health trainees enrolled in the funded programs. The Northern California ERC gratefully acknowledges its support from NIOSH.

Unless otherwise stated, the following writing and research awards are available to graduate students enrolled in a COEH Academic Program. 

For more information or help with the application process, please contact COEH at coehce@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

Robert C. Spear Internship Scholarship

The Robert Spear Internship Scholarship was established to honor the teaching and mentorship of Dr. Robert Spear, and aims to foster the next generation of OSH professionals with experience and commitment to working directly with grassroots worker and community groups.

Apply to the Robert Spear Internship Scholarship to: 

  • Participate in a paid OSH internship for 9-10 weeks, national or international
  • Immerse yourself in organizations striving to improve workers’ occupational health and safety
  • Learn to apply your academic knowledge in a professional setting
  • Receive mentorship from an OSH expert  
  • Network with experts and stakeholders in the field
  • Present your experience at COEH annual symposiums

The Robert Spear Internship aims to foster the next generation of OSH professionals with experience and commitment to working directly with grassroots worker and community groups.

Interns will get the opportunity to provide leading community-based organizations with information and technical assistance to increase their capacity to promote and facilitate worker health in safety in global supply chains and in national industries.

 Interns will get to impact a growing number workers and community members with the knowledge and skills needed to speak and act to protect their own health, safety and rights.

Interns will get to build relationships with labor and community based organizations in the United States and globally.

To learn more click here!

Health Equity in the Workplace Research Award

Bi-Annual Award: Up to $5,000 for a Student Project, recognition in the COEH newsletter, and presention at the COEH Fall Gathering.

Notice of Award: Friday, February 7, 2025 at the COEH Builds Bridges / Lela Morris Symposium in Berkeley, CA

Workplace health is public health. This research to practice award is designed to highlight the role of work as a social determinant of health, and to support research and drive action to improve health outcomes in cooperation with vulnerable or marginalized populations.

Projects can include, but are not limited to: qualitative and quantitative needs assessments and structured interviews, documenting the impact of health and safety hazards, developing proactive practices and policy solutions, unpaid research/internships with a non-profit and/or community organization, designing/delivering a community intervention, or evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. 

The purpose of this award is to encourage students to think creatively about how to advance workplace equity, build the capacity of workers and community groups to take action, and enhance interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills. This award is offered by the Northern California Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Continuing Education Program. 

Expected Outcomes

The award recipient will be expected to author a final report, and to present your research/project via a one-hour, online webinar hosted by COEH Continuing Education. 

Eligibility

Funding is available for matriculated public health students at UCB, UCD, and UCSF. Student stipends can be used for equipment, supplies, and participant compensation. University overhead, mentor support, or tuition support are ineligible expenses.

Allowable Expenses 

The award may apply to stand-alone or bigger project support. Project costs may include equipment, supplies, and travel. This award may not be used for faculty / mentor support, tuition payment, or university overhead.

Review Criteria

Research projects will be judged on scientific merit. Teaching, service, community intervention, and policy projects will be judged on their impact on the target audience.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted via Google Form. Applicants will need to prepare the following materials to apply: 

  • Background (3 paragraphs - write the problem statement(link is external))

  • Research Aims (1-3 research objectives/aims(link is external))

  • Methods (2 paragraphs - describe your research approach)(link is external)

  • Personal Reflection (How will this research support your personal development?)

  • EHS Affiliation (Identify an Eligible Academic Program or Mentor)

  • Reference List (Names, Titles, Relationship, and Emails for 2-4 Professional / Academic references)

  • Timeline and Milestones (Provide an overview of proposed research timeline prepared with dated bullet points)

  • Budget + Budget Justification (How will you plan to spend the $5000 and why these expenses are necessary) 

Applications are due by Friday, January 31, 2025

Application is now closed.

M. Donald Whorton Writing Award

In honor of Dr. M. Donald Whorton

Annual Award: $500.00, recognition in the COEH newsletter, and presention at the COEH Fall Gathering.

Notice of Award: Friday, February 7, 2025 at the COEH Builds Bridges / Lela Morris Symposium in Berkeley, CA

Don Whorton was an internationally-recognized occupational health physician and workplace epidemiologist, with long ties to COEH. He graduated with honors from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine's first graduating class in 1968 and went on to receive his masters degree in public health with a focus in environmental medicine from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Harvard Service Boston City Hospital and his residency in internal medicine at Baltimore City Hospital. He was board certified in occupational and internal medicine, an elected member of the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine, and a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine.​

Don Whorton advanced the field of occupational medicine through epidemiological studies that led to a greater understanding of workplace exposure. Notably, he discovered the link between workplace exposure to the nematocide DBCP and male infertility. He was the founding director of the COEH’s Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP) at U.C. Berkeley, where he worked until he went into private consulting in 1978.  Don continued his involvement with COEH, through teaching and serving on the COEH Advisory committee.​

Don continued his important work in occupational and environmental health until his death in 2008.

The M. Donald Whorton Writing Award is offered by the Northern California Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. The award program strives to honor the late Dr. Whorton by encouraging and recognizing important new voices in occupational and environmental research.

Review Criteria: 

The paper will be evaluated by a review panel designated by COEH. The papers will be judged based on the following criteria: 

A. Addresses a significant issue/problem in the field of occupational and environmental health (20 points) 

     The significance should be illustrated by one or more of the following:

  1. Originality

  2. Public health significance

  3. Severity of the hazard addressed

  4. Contribution to understanding and addressing health disparities

  5. Sheds light on an under appreciated problem or emerging issue in occupational or environmental health

B. Strength of findings (30 points)​

  1. Quality of research design or approach

  2. Quality of data

  3. Quality of interpretation of results

C. Analysis by author makes a significant contribution to the field of occupational and environmental health, indicated by at least one of the following: (25 points)

  1. ​Provides new insights

  2. Suggests new strategies for prevention of occupational and environmental injuries, illnesses, and/or hazardous exposures

D. Quality of writing (25 points)

  1. Well-organized

  2. Use of clear, concise writing style

Eligibility

NIOSH ERC Trainees, UC Berkeley EHS students, and recent alumni (within two years of graduation) from any of the COEH-affiliated programs are eligible to submit a manuscript for consideration for the M. Don Whorton Writing Award. Papers may be co-authored; however the student/alumnus must be first or senior author. To be considered, papers must be recently published or accepted for publication.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted via Google Form. Applicants will need to prepare the following materials to apply: 

  • Title, name of author(s) and author contact information

  • Both self-nominations and nominations by others will be accepted.

  • An electronic copy of the paper must be attached.

  • COEH Affiliation - Identify Eligible COEH Faculty Advisor / Mentor

Applications are due by Friday, January 17, 2025

Application is now closed. 

Llewellyn Student Project Award

Annual Award: Up to $5,000 for a Student Project, recognition in the COEH newsletter, and presention at the COEH Fall Gathering.

Notice of Award: Friday, February 7, 2025 at the COEH Builds Bridges / Lela Morris Symposium in Berkeley, CA

​The Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) invites applications from UCB and UCSF graduate students and medical residents wishing to conduct a multidisciplinary research project in occupational or environmental health. Teaching, service, community intervention, and policy projects will also be considered. The purpose is to encourage students to work in teams with students from other disciplines in order to better address real-world problems.

Eligibility

Any currently enrolled COEH Program student, resident, or trainee working on an OEHS (occupational/environmental health & safety) or vulnerable population project. One of the students’ faculty advisors must be affiliated with COEH. Students are expected to meet with their faculty advisors on a regular basis to obtain input and keep them informed of their progress. Faculty advisors are expected to actively mentor the project and approve the final report.

Allowable Expenses 

The award may apply to stand-alone or bigger project support. Project costs may include equipment, supplies, and travel. This award may not be used for faculty / mentor support, tuition payment, or university overhead.

Review Criteria

Research projects will be judged on scientific merit. Teaching, service, community intervention, and policy projects will be judged on their impact on the target audience.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted via Google Form. Applicants will need to prepare the following materials to apply: 

  • Background (3 paragraphs - write the problem statement(link is external))

  • Research Aims (1-3 research objectives/aims(link is external))

  • Methods (2 paragraphs - describe your research approach)(link is external)

  • Personal Reflection (How will this support your learning and development as a student?)

  • COEH Affiliation (Identify Eligible COEH Faculty Advisor / Mentor)

  • Reference List (Names, Titles, Relationship, and Emails for 2-4 Professional / Academic references)

  • Timeline and Milestones (Provide an overview of proposed research timeline prepared with dated bullet points)

  • Budget + Budget Justification (How will you plan to spend the $5000 and why these expenses are necessary) 

Applications are due by Friday, January 17, 2025

Application is now closed.