SOP help regarding area of interest/research proposal for PhD in Epidemiology (advice from all fields welcome!)

[garcb321]

I know that it is ideal to mention a specific topic for intended research upon admittance to a PhD program but I have multiple areas of interest that I would like to eventually examine. These areas of interest are: spatial (GIS) infectious disease epidemiology; health disparities and inequalities in relation to SES, gender, race, etc.; and the unforeseen rise in emergence of diseases (both infectious and chronic in nature) due to modern technological advances (e.g. perceived virtual relationships/social support and their impact on health and health behaviors; increase in chronic diseases such as carpal tunnel occurring at younger ages due to excessive use of computers/phones; electronic cigarettes and the danger they pose in the spread of transmissible respiratory diseases such as TB). The question then is: do you think I should mention all three of these areas of interest in the essay or mention the topic that best fits the research interests among the faculty at each individual university? Normally I would say the latter is more preferable but I don’t want a really narrow topic of research that will seem limiting to a university and therefore result in my rejection of admittance if for instance I am compatible with one professor’s area of interest but they are no longer taking on additional students.

 

In addition, these are only areas of interest. I don't actually have a specific project in mind. Is it okay to only mention areas of interest? Do I need to have a specific proposal for a project?

 

If this helps, I have a background in public health (graduating in June with BS) and psychology (minor). I don't come from a university where research opportunities are readily available or promoted for that matter but I will be assisting one of my psychology professors with her research in January by analyzing and collecting cortisol samples from participants of a study that looks at health disparities caused by stress based on social exclusion. I'm fascinated by diseases but I also like the idea of combining public health/epi with psychology.

 

It should also be noted that the SOP for each school (3 total) would have to be slightly different from each other in that there is no single area of interest mentioned above that is represented in the research among faculty across all three universities. So should I provide 3 different SOPs to my recommenders or just one general one that mentions all three of the above areas of interest? My goal here is to make it as easy as possible for them.

 

Any help on how to approach this situation would be greatly appreciated!

 

And sorry for all the questions....this is what happens when you're a lost, first generation college student. The stress is real, guys.  

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

It's your call, but I personally included my broad and specific areas of interest. What you're trying to demonstrate is a good understanding of the field and that you think like a scholar/academic. If a school you're applying to doesn't have anyone working on spatial infectious disease epidemiology (for example), then don't emphasize it obviously (though you could say - In addition to these (faculty-supported) research interests, I am also interested in...").