The University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) is inviting applications for its PhD in Public Health program at the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, beginning in Fall 2026. Designed for students who are eager to advance public health research and translate knowledge into impactful solutions, the program provides full funding for up to five years and offers world-class faculty mentorship.

Located just 10 miles from the beach, UC Irvine combines rigorous academic training with a collaborative and supportive research environment, all within one of the top 10 public universities in the United States.

About the Program

The PhD in Public Health is offered through the Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention. The program provides comprehensive research training, preparing graduates for independent and collaborative careers in academia, government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector. Students will develop deep expertise in theoretical foundations, advanced methodologies, and applied research addressing today’s most pressing public health issues.

Graduates are well-positioned to generate new knowledge, inform policies, and promote healthier communities locally and globally.

Concentrations

Students in the PhD in Public Health program select from three distinct concentrations:

Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Health

This concentration explores the ways in which social, cultural, psychological, and biological factors influence physical health outcomes. Students study pathways such as neuroimmune processes, the autonomic nervous system, and human genomics. The goal is to uncover the mechanisms linking mind and body and apply this understanding to solving urgent public health challenges.

Learning objectives include:

• Understanding theoretical and methodological foundations of biobehavioral research.

• Investigating relationships among biological, psychological, and social factors.

• Formulating original research that connects biobehavioral mechanisms to public health outcomes.

Disease Prevention

The Disease Prevention concentration emphasizes strategies to reduce disease risk and promote health across diverse populations. Using an ecological model of prevention, students explore determinants of health at the individual, community, and policy levels.

Key objectives include:

• Examining how health behaviors and vulnerabilities contribute to disease.

• Applying theories of health behavior to disease prevention strategies.

• Conducting original research on interventions to mitigate risk in vulnerable populations.

Global Health

Students in this track analyze the global burden of disease and develop solutions to improve population health worldwide. The concentration focuses on risk, vulnerability, and knowledge translation across diverse cultural and economic contexts.

Key objectives include:

• Comparing health status across regions and populations.

• Investigating strategies to adapt successful interventions to underserved settings.

• Generating evidence-based solutions to reduce disease burden globally.

Faculty Mentorship and Research Environment

Each student is paired with a primary faculty mentor from the Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, with the opportunity to collaborate across departments. Students benefit from interdisciplinary expertise in fields such as epidemiology, behavioral science, environmental health, and global health.

The program emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and professional growth, offering mentorship from faculty who are leaders in their fields and opportunities to engage with pressing public health issues such as food security, climate change, health disparities, and disease prevention.

Program Length and Career Pathways

The PhD in Public Health typically takes five years to complete. During this time, students gain the expertise required to become leaders in research and higher education.

Graduates are prepared for careers in:

• Research universities and academic institutions.

• Government agencies focused on health policy and disease prevention.

• Nonprofit organizations working in health advocacy and development.

• Private sector institutions such as hospitals, research institutes, and foundations.

Application Information

• Start date: Fall 2026

• Funding: Fully funded for up to 5 years

• Application deadline: December 1, 2025

• GRE: Not required

Applications must be submitted through UC Irvine’s online system. Candidates are encouraged to apply early and prepare their application materials in advance.

VISIT HERE for more information.

Why UC Irvine?

UC Irvine offers students the best of both worlds: academic excellence and an enviable quality of life. With year-round mild weather and a campus located close to the California coast, students benefit from a vibrant, diverse environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and wellbeing.