Breadcrumb
Conducting Student Research Abroad
Many CPH students have an interest in global research projects, and the Global Public Health Initiative is here to support those goals. Since the needs of each project are different, we advise any student interested in international research to begin the preparation process immediately, as it might take up to a year to finalize all the details.
Below is a summary of the first steps you should take. Not all of these steps will be relevant to all projects.
Step 1: Speak with your faculty advisor
When it comes to research abroad, whether it’s your own or as part of a larger faculty research project, students are advised to work closely with their faculty advisor or research mentor regarding project content. We recommend discussing the possibilities of global research with your faculty advisor to help you determine if an international project is the correct fit for your academic goals and timeline.
Items to discuss:
- Your research topic
- Your travel dates (i.e. time you plan to be abroad)
- How this project will impact your graduation plan, academic goals, and GRA status
- Travel locations (if specific to research topic)
Please note: Students traveling under the affiliation of the University of Iowa must adhere to travel safety restrictions as determined by the central administration. For liability reasons, students are not allowed to travel to countries with a travel safety rating of 3 or 4. In exceptional circumstances, select students may apply for a travel waiver for locations with a travel safety rating of 3. You can check the current travel safety status of any country at travel.state.gov/destination.
Step 2: Meet with the Global Public Health Office
After you have spoken with your faculty advisor and determined a research topic, you should meet with the CPH Global Health Coordinator. The coordinator will help you with the logistics of traveling within the university system. Factors such as funding, mandatory travel insurance, and pre-departure orientation are required for all students traveling on behalf of the university and are overseen by the Global Public Health office. The Global Public Health office can also assist in identifying partner universities, NGOs, and research mentors abroad if needed.
During this meeting, the Global Health Coordinator will advise you on the appropriate next steps and a timeline for preparing for your trip. Students can schedule meeting with the Global Health Coordinator by logging in to MyUI and clicking on Advising Appointments.
Step 3: Write your project proposal
Step 4: Identify and connect with international research partners/institutions (if necessary)