Health Communication Scholars Program

Launched in 2013, the Health Communication Scholars Program (HCSP) seeks to support graduate student research in health communication. HCSP was created by Dr. Mike Mackert within the Moody College of Communication and initially funded by the Provost’s Teaching Fellows program. HCSP specifically aims to provide grant writing experiences to graduate students interested in exploring topics related to health communication.

The program hosts a grant-writing workshop every fall in which faculty from across campus who have secured external funding provide their insights on writing effective grant submissions, details on the review process, and how to navigate early-career grant seeking. Each year, the program also offers an opportunity for graduate students to submit proposals to receive funding (up to $2,500) for their research. Interdisciplinary teams of graduate students are invited to submit proposals that parallel NIH or NSF submissions. All teams, regardless of funding, receive feedback on their proposals from a faculty review panel.

HCSP welcomes proposals from graduate students from all departments or schools at UT Austin as well as proposals focusing on any dimension of health communication (e.g., biological/physiological studies, interpersonal factors, patient-provider interactions, organizational contexts, health campaigns, etc.).

2024-2025 HCSP Details

The HCSP will be awarding selected proposals up to $2,500 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Dates and application materials have been updated throughout the website for this funding cycle.

Timeline for 2024-2025 HCSP Cycle

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024:
Grant writing workshop

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024:
Student teams interested in participating submit a 1-page letter of intent.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025:
Writing workshop for teams with submitted LOIs

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2025:
Deadline for submission of proposals.

FEBRUARY 2025:
A panel of faculty reviewers scores proposals and awardees are announced.

MARCH 2025:
Funded proposals begin their 1-year project.

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

Grant Writing Workshop

The 2024-2025 HCSP grant writing workshop will be Friday, October 18, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT.

WORKSHOP REGISTRATION

Time	Topic	Speaker
10:00-10:10	Welcome, Introductions, and Program Overview	René Dailey, Ph.D.
10:10-10:30	Insights on Health Communication Research and Funding from the Founding HCSP Coordinator	Mike Mackert, Ph.D.
10:30-11:15	Grant Writing Tips Session #1	Ashley Garling-Nañez, Pharm.D.
11:15-12:00	Grant Writing Tips Session #2	Kate Pounders, Ph.D.
12:00-12:30	Breakout Networking Session
12:30-1:00	Tips on Submitting Your Own HCSP Proposal	René Dailey, Ph.D.

Funded Proposals

Religion as Intervention in The Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework

Co-PI: Alexandra Nelson-Tomlinson (Religious Studies)
Co-PI: Braidyn Lazenby (Communication Studies)
Co-PI: Mackenzie Pike (Communication Studies)
Faculty mentor: Chad Seales, Ph.D. (Religious Studies)

Mental Health Stigma and the Impact of Parental Perceptions of Children's Readiness on Conversations about Mental Illness

Co-PI: Katherin Williams (Psychology)
Co-PI: Jacinta Tran (Communication Studies)
Faculty mentor: Katharine Tillman, Ph.D. (Psychology)

Applying Harm Reduction Model in Social Media for Improving Mental Health of Young Adults

Co-PI: Jee Yung Park (Advertising)
Co-PI: Sumin Lee (Sociology)
Faculty mentor: Matt Eastin, Ph.D. (Advertising & Public Relations)

Exploring Young Women's Perceptions, Attitudes, and Awareness of the Menstrual Cycle and Health Risks Associated with Personal Care Products

Co-PI: Ashlee Bushee (Advertising)
Co-PI: Kristen Sinay (Nursing)
Co-PI: Soojeon Kim (Journalism and Media)
Faculty mentor: Kate Pounders, Ph.D. (Advertising & Public Relations)

Enhancing Learning and Academic Well-Being through AI: An Interdisciplinary, Longitudinal SEM Study

Co-PI: Fan Wang (Communication Studies)
Co-PI: Hakeoung Hannah Lee (Education)
Co-PI: Yating Yang (Communication Studies)
Faculty mentor: Erin Donovan, Ph.D. (Communication Studies)

Evaluating a Peer Support Mental Health Program: Humor-Based Messaging and Stigma Among University Students

PI: Mansi Shah (Advertising)
Co-PI: Sophia Dove (Advertising)
Co-PI: Hannah Lunkenheimer (Psychology)
Faculty mentor: Lee Ann Kahlor, Ph.D. (Advertising & Public Relations)

When Comments are Disabled: Examining how Restricted Interactivity Impacts Online Health Campaigns

PI: Buduo Wang (Advertising)
Co-PI: Siyan Li (Advertising)
Co-PI: Zhao Chen
Co-PI: Yuhao Zang
Faculty mentor: Jeeyun Oh (Advertising & Public Relations)