Join the Lab

Doctoral students join this lab primarily through Duke’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience. Applications are reviewed by the department, and students are usually admitted to work with specific faculty mentors. 

Faculty are not able to recruit in every application cycle, so please check the department website for updates on whether Dr. Puffer is recruiting in a given year. The department updates its information for prospective applicants in the Fall ahead of each cycle.

Dr. Puffer unfortunately cannot meet individually with prospective applicants given the volume of inquiries and wanting to maximize equity throughout the process. However, if you have questions, please feel free to reach out over email and she will do her best to respond.

Dr. Puffer does not anticipate admitting a doctoral student in the next application cycle.

Doctoral students at Duke in any department, and from any other institutions, are also welcome in the Global Mental Health Trainee Community.

Clinical Psychology program
For prospective students
Global Mental Health Trainee Community

Students in the Master of Science in Global Health at the Duke Global Health Institute are matched with faculty advisors after they matriculate, during the first year. The process begins with the students receiving information about the faculty who have opportunities that year, and they apply to the positions that interest them. Faculty then select students to interview, and both faculty and students evaluate the fit between the student’s interests and skills with the opportunity available. The Program then matches students and advisors on that basis.

You cannot arrange an advisor before you apply, but you are welcome to read about faculty research before you arrive. Dr. Puffer does not usually meet with students before they come to Duke, but will try to respond to specific questions via email. Note that faculty across the university with global mental health interests are listed among the affiliates of the Duke Center for Global Mental Health, and some of them often have opportunities for students.

Students at every level can also join the Global Mental Health Trainee Community, or write to the Center through its contact page.

The lab works with Duke undergraduates regularly, and most project teams include undergraduate students. We often work with students interested in psychology, in global health, or in the intersection of the two, and particularly with students drawn to work with families in community settings.

How many students we can take on depends on where projects are in their life cycle. We open positions when a project has genuinely engaging work to offer, which means availability changes through the year.

The first step is to read about the current projects on this website and consider whether they match your interests and goals. If they do, write to Dr. Puffer at eve.puffer@duke.edu, copying lead research assistant Wilter Rono at wilter.rono@duke.edu. Include a paragraph describing your interests and any relevant coursework or experience, and attach a resume if you have one.

We also encourage you to look at opportunities elsewhere at Duke. Muser lists research projects across the university, Bass Connections places undergraduates on interdisciplinary research teams, and the affiliates of the Duke Center for Global Mental Health include faculty across schools and departments whose interests overlap with ours.

Undergraduates are also welcome in the Global Mental Health Trainee Community.

Trainees at every level and at other institutions can join the Global Mental Health Trainee Community, led by the Duke Center for Global Mental Health. It connects more than 200 students and early-career researchers at Duke and partner institutions worldwide, through skills workshops, guest lectures, and networking events.