Researchers

Research careers in Global Mental Health focus on understanding the causes, consequences, and treatment of mental health conditions across diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts. Researchers in GMH design studies, analyze data, test interventions, evaluate health systems, and generate evidence to inform policy and practice. Their work helps close global treatment gaps and guides the development of scalable, culturally responsive solutions. Research roles span a wide range of disciplines—including psychology, psychiatry, nursing, epidemiology, anthropology, sociology, and social work—and often involve mixed-methods work, field-based data collection, and collaboration with local partners.

Epidemiologist/Statistician

Epidemiologists study patterns of mental health conditions in populations, identify risk and protective factors, evaluate interventions, and inform policy. In global mental health, they work on surveillance systems, community-level studies, implementation research, and randomized trials across diverse settings. 

What It Requires in the United States

  • Master’s degree (MPH, MSc) or PhD in epidemiology, public health, or biostatistics 
  • Strong quantitative skills (study design, statistics, data analysis) 
  • Experience with statistical software (R, Stata, Python)
  • Knowledge of global health systems and ethical research practices 

Steps to Get There

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree in a related field (public health, biology, psychology, statistics). 
  2. Earn an MPH or MSc in epidemiology or a closely related field. 
  3. Gain research experience (research assistant, data analyst). 
  4. Develop specialization in mental health epidemiology or implementation science.
  5. Pursue a PhD for advanced or academic positions. 

Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical Research Coordinators manage the day-to-day operations of research studies, including participant recruitment, data collection, regulatory compliance, and communication across research teams. In global mental health, they often work on intervention trials, longitudinal cohort studies, and community-based research. 

What It Requires in the United States

  • Bachelor’s degree (any health or social science field) and likely a Master’s degree in public health, global health, or a related field 
  • Knowledge of research ethics, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and study protocols 
  • Strong organizational and communication skills
  • Certification (e.g., SOCRA or ACRP) is optional but beneficial 

Steps to Get There

  1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, public health, nursing, or related fields. 
  2. Gain research experience (RA positions, internships). 
  3. Apply for roles in academic centers, hospitals, or NGOs. 
  4. Pursue GCP training and optional certifications.
  5. Advance to senior CRC, project manager, or research operations roles. 

Research Professor

Research professors conduct research, publish scholarly work, mentor students and trainees, teach courses in their discipline, lead grants and partnerships (including global collaborations), and engage in community and policy work depending on their focus. Below are several specific disciplines related to global mental health work:

  • Psychology: Psychology research professors study mental health processes, intervention effectiveness, implementation strategies, and cultural, biological, and behavioral factors shaping mental health. Work includes designing studies and interventions, analyzing data, training clinicians, and contributing to global mental health research networks.
  • Psychiatry: Psychiatry research professors investigate biological, psychological, and social determinants of mental health. They study treatment effectiveness, psychopharmacology, service delivery systems, and global mental health interventions. Many also balance research with clinical work.
  • Nursing: Nursing research professors examine mental health interventions, task-shifting, maternal mental health, and culturally responsive care delivery. They often conduct global fieldwork, lead implementation research, and train future mental health nurses and nurse researchers.
  • Sociology: Sociology research professors explore how social structures, inequality, culture, networks, and institutions shape mental health outcomes. In global mental health, they often research social determinants of health, stigma, community systems, and policy impacts.
  • Anthropology: Study cultural, societal, and behavioral factors affecting mental health; often involves ethnographic fieldwork, applied anthropological work, and community engagement.
  • Social Work: Social work research professors focus on mental health services, community-based care, trauma, family systems, and structural factors influencing mental health. Their work often involves participatory methods, social policy, and stakeholder engagement.

Requirements Across Disciplines

  • Doctoral degree (PhD, Ed.D, or MD/DO or equivalent) 
  • Research experience with publications in peer-reviewed journals 
  • Postdoctoral or equivalent advanced research training (common in most fields)
  • Grant-writing experience and mentorship skills 

Typical Steps to Become a Research Professor

  1. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field 
  2. Doctoral degree (PhD, Ed.D, MD/DO, or equivalent) 
  3. Postdoctoral training or advanced fellowship 
  4. Build a publication and grant record
  5. Apply for research faculty positions 

Other positions to consider including: data manager, research assistant, outreach/recruitment
coordinator, statistician, ethnographer, social media coordinator, grant writer