Program Information | Health Research Institute

What Makes Us Different?

Truly Transdisciplinary by Design: Unlike programs centered within a single department, ours integrates 14 departments across engineering, computing, and the sciences. This structure breaks down academic barriers and ensures you learn to solve problems with a holistic perspective from day one.
A Focus on Technology and Rural Health: As a technological university, we prioritize creating and engineering novel solutions. Located in the rural Midwest, we provide a unique, practical setting for developing technologies that address community health needs.
A Supportive, Cohort-Based Experience: We combine world-class research infrastructure with a close-knit environment. You will be part of a dedicated cohort, ensuring you receive personalized mentorship and build strong peer relationships. You will be a valued member of a focused collaborative community.
Unparalleled Access to Instrumentation: Our trainees have direct, hands-on access to world-class equipment and facilities, including the H-STEM complex and electron microscopes within the ACMAL facilities. This opportunity to master cutting-edge technologies provides an advantage for your research and career.

Funding Breakdown

Our program offers a comprehensive support package. The first 2 years of funding are provided directly through the NIH T32 training grant, and you will receive funding through the rest of your PhD.

As a T32 trainee, you will receive a comprehensive support package that includes:

Annual Stipend: A yearly competitive stipend to cover living expenses, set at the established MTU rates. You can view the current stipend levels for MTU.
Full Tuition Coverage: The program covers your full graduate tuition.
Health Insurance: You will be covered by the university’s medical insurance plan. Vision and dental plans are available as supplemental options at your own expense.
Travel and Training Allowance: An allowance for training expenses will be provided, which can be used for travel to scientific conferences or professional development workshops.

Funding FAQs

Is the entire PhD funded?

Yes, this is a fully supported PhD program.

What are my out-of-pocket expenses?

Your tuition and health insurance are fully covered. You are only responsible for minor university fees (like the graduate activity fee).

What is the allowance for travel and training?

You will receive an HRI travel and training allowance. Additional resources, like travel grants, are available in the Student Resources.

Training and Research Preview

Trainees benefit from a structured curriculum, mentorship from multiple faculty members, and professional development activities that strengthen technical expertise and transferable skills.

Research and Mentorship FAQs

How do I find a faculty mentor?

Explore our list of T32 faculty preceptors and contact faculty with matching research interests to discuss potential projects.

What kind of research will I do?

Your research will focus on creating solutions for health challenges. Projects designed by you and your mentor are highly varied and can range from developing new materials and medical devices to building computational models of disease.

Why is there a graduate certificate?

It provides the formal structure for your T32 training. It ensures you complete key coursework in grant writing, research ethics (RCR), and statistics.

Graduate Certificate

All pre-doctoral trainees will receive a graduate certificate in Health-Integrated Technologies by the end of the program. Reference the course description below to learn more.

Health-Integrated Technologies Graduate Certificate

This 10-credit graduate certificate provides a formal structure for your transdisciplinary training. The curriculum is designed to complement your PhD coursework and focuses on essential research and professional skills.

Core Requirements (minimum of 6 credits in coursework and 3 credits in research)

Advance Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) (1-2 credits): Fulfill the NIH requirement for advanced RCR training by selecting from a list of pre-approved courses covering topics in research ethics, rigor, and reproducibility.
Applied Statistical Methods (3 credits): Establish a strong foundation in experimental design and data analysis through a graduate-level statistics course.
Grant Writing Capstone (2 credits): Learn how to conceptualize and draft a grant proposal suitable for an NIH F31 submission.
Doctoral Research Credits (3-4 credits): Plan, conduct, analyze, and present a research project.

Workshop and Enrichment Activities

Beyond formal coursework, trainees participate in a variety of enrichment activities. Through a combination of academic sessions, cohort-building activities, and outdoor experiences in the Keweenaw Peninsula, trainees gain the foundation needed to navigate graduate school and build supportive professional and social networks.

T32 Orientation

The NIH T32 program at Michigan Tech includes a three-hour orientation that introduces trainees to program requirements, research expectations, and the graduate school process while fostering a strong sense of community.

Annual Summer Bootcamp

A three-day, hands-on workshop on a topic chosen by the trainees, such as 3D printing for biomedical applications, FDA regulatory requirements, or entrepreneurship.

Monthly Luncheon Program

Trainee-led meetings focused on professional development topics for the broader HRI graduate student community.

Built-In Mentorship

Each trainee will have at least two mentors in addition to their PI. The programmatic mentor will offer a biannual check-in with the trainees that will confirm that the trainee is making progress towards their degree. The second mentor will be a graduate student who will provide more direct advice on navigating graduate school and resources for their PhD program, along with T32.