APHL-CDC Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship

This program is currently on hiatus. Please check back in 2020 for updates.

The Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship Program, sponsored by APHL and CDC, trains and prepares scientists for careers in public health laboratories and supports public health initiatives related to infectious disease research. The fellowship’s mission is to provide a high quality training experience for the fellow while providing workforce capacity to the public health laboratory community.

Program Specifics

The program is a one-year full-time working fellowship for master’s-degree level scientists. Fellows are placed in local and state public health laboratories throughout the US to receive training in bench-level laboratory skills and methods, and assist with high-priority infectious disease testing, surveillance, and control measures. Fellows may have opportunities to collaborate with federal (CDC) public health laboratories. All fellows participate in an orientation session to gain a general understanding of the public health laboratory system and how it related to infectious disease research, prevention, surveillance and control. Once in their host laboratories, fellows are supervised by an experienced mentor and work on bench-level projects proposed by the host laboratory. In addition to laboratory-specific work, fellows participate in distance-based training and learning activities to achieve proficiency in select public health laboratory core competencies.

Program Benefits

Fellows receive a stipend, allowances for: medical insurance, travel to the host laboratory, professional development and; complimentary student membership to APHL. For example, the 2017 stipend started at $41,000/year, with a cost of living adjustment for major metropolitan areas.

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents. Applicants to the program must have completed a master’s degree in a science-related discipline by the program start date. Applicants must be able to participate in the orientation session and start their appointment at the host laboratory following the program timeline (see below).

Applicants must hold (or expect to complete by the time of the fellowship) a recent master’s-level degree (for example, MS, MPH or MSPH) in biology, microbiology, virology, chemistry, public health or a related discipline. The degree must have been received within the last five years.

Application Process

Applications are not currently being accepted.

Applicants are required to submit an online application to APHL by the application deadline. The application includes a narrative statement, resume or CV, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts from all degree-granting institutions and proof of US citizenship or permanent residency. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all materials are received by APHL by the application deadline. Applications that are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be considered.

This is a general schedule for the application process, and is subject to change:

• November: Online applications available for prospective fellows and host laboratories
• February: Fellowship applications due
• March: Host laboratory applications due
• April: All applicants notified of status; finalists are invited to interview for program
• May: Interviews and fellow selection
• June: Host laboratory placements confirmed, fellow orientation
• July: Fellowships begin
  

Questions?

Please review our frequently asked questions about the program and the application process, or contact fellowships@aphl.org.

Host Laboratories

APHL member local and state public health laboratories interested in applying to host one or more ID Laboratory Fellows, please see the Host Laboratory Instructions and Application page.