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Spatial Health Research Group

Contact Information

Dr. Michael Emch
UNC-Chapel Hill
CB3220
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

All pictures courtesy of Research Team members

 

Prospective Students

Dear Prospective Student,

Thanks for your interest in doing graduate work in the Spatial Health Research Group, which is directed by me, Michael Emch. The main projects that group members work on for their graduate programs are described on the Spatial Health Research Group website. I work with Ph.D. students in medical geography/spatial epidemiology. I conduct research that uses geographic information systems (GIS), satellite remote sensing, and spatial modeling techniques. Most of my research has been on infectious diseases in the developing world including cholera, dysentery (shigellosis), visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar), dengue fever, avian influenza, acute lower respiratory infection, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and African sleeping sickness. Much of my work investigates neighborhood-level and local environmental and socio-demographic effects on health.

All of the information you’ll need to apply to the UNC geography graduate program is available online. Information about course and other departmental requirements is also on that page. Also, all students in the Spatial Health Research Group are required to apply to be a Predoctoral Trainee at the Carolina Population Center (CPC). All of the information that you’ll need to apply for that program is online. I suggest that you spend some time on the CPC website to learn about the research, training, and resources that are available at this world-renowned center. I also suggest you contact Jan Hendrickson-Smith (jhsmith@unc.edu), the CPC Training Program Coordinator, and set up a time for a phone conversation with her to discuss the training program and application process.

Please look at the CPC Predoctoral Requirements page, which describes the courses that are required beyond the geography department requirements. The program involves courses in diverse fields such as demography, biostatistics, epidemiology, and sociology, offering a well-rounded education in what some call Population Health with a specialty in medical geography/spatial epidemiology. The CPC predoctoral training program also involves a research practicum with me as your Preceptor. Some students get funding through the CPC training program and others get it elsewhere such as through teaching assistantships and research assistantships, but all Spatial Health Research Group Ph.D. students are required to complete the requirements of the CPC training program.

The best places to learn more about research with me and my group are the Spatial Health Research Group and my academic website. My website has a link to my curriculum vitae, which includes a list of my publications, grants, and pending project proposals. Most of my students work on parts of my ongoing projects for their dissertation research; thus it is important that you look at my research group materials and vitae so you know what part of my research program interests you. I seldom take on Ph.D. students directly out of undergraduate programs, although there are notable exceptions for extraordinary individuals. Most have either a Master’s degree or research or related work experience before they begin a program with me. We are a top Ph.D. program and successful applicants usually have very high grades and GRE scores as well as experience. If you decide to apply to work with me at UNC then before you complete your application, send me your resume and let me know a bit about your background and what sort of medical geography/spatial epidemiology issues you might be interested in pursuing. On your resume make sure to include your GRE scores including the percentiles in each of the three sections of the exam.  Also, list your point average(s) from your previous degree(s). Lastly, list particular research skills that you have such as GIS, statistical skills, and the software packages you use to implement them. I encourage your application.

Sincerely,

Michael Emch

Note: This information pertains only to people who want to pursue a Ph.D. in medical geography. Others who want to be part of the Spatial Health Research Group who will get their Ph.D. in another department should contact their home department about application information. Members of the Spatial Health Research Group who are not getting their Ph.D. in medical geography will have a dissertation advisor from their home department and Dr. Emch will often be a member of their committee.