Newborn Screening Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Fellowship

​​​​​​The application for the Newborn Screening Bioinformatics and Data Analytics Fellowship is now open:

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Newborn Screening programs are faced with new challenges due to the expansion in the number of newborn screening disorders together with the adoption of more sophisticated biochemical and molecular technologies used to improve disease detection for newborns with heritable diseases.

These challenges include:

• Accurate interpretation of complex genomic information.
• Development of analytic and interpretative tools for genetic testing.
• Effective approaches for laboratory data management. 

In addition, there is a need for harmonization of results across complex testing platforms that would greatly aid in biomarker result interpretation. 

As we move forward to incorporate more complex testing, the analysis of newborn screening test results will require 21^st century data analytic solutions to improve the positive predictive value of test algorithms while reducing the number of false positives.

To address this unmet need in newborn screening laboratories, APHL, in collaboration with the CDC​ Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch​, is offering exciting fellowship opportunities for graduates of bioinformatics, epidemiology, human genetics, molecular biology and related programs. 

The newborn screening bioinformatics and data analytics fellowship​ aims to train and prepare bioinformaticians to apply their expertise within public health and design tools to aid existing public health personnel in the use of bioinformatics and data analytics. The mission of the newborn screening fellowship is to provide a high quality training experience for fellows while providing workforce capacity to the public health laboratory community.​

Program Specifics

The program is a full-time working fellowship for post-masters or post-doctoral level professionals and provides the opportunity to apply their skills to a range of important and emerging newborn screening bioinformatics issues, while gaining experience in their fields.

Fellows are placed in state public health laboratories throughout the US to receive training in applications of bioinformatics within a public health laboratory, and assist with newborn screening laboratory operations and research. Fellows are supervised by an experienced mentor and work on real-world newborn screening projects proposed by the host laboratory. Fellows will also collaborate on CDC-directed initiatives. In addition to their project-specific work, fellows will participate in distance-based training and learning activities to achieve proficiency in select public health laboratory core competencies.​

Learn more about current fellows and their projects and watch a short video about the fellowship experience.

Program Benefits

Fellows receive:

• A competitive stipend

• Allowances for required medical insurance

• Allowances for professional development

• Complimentary student membership to APHL. 

The 2020 stipend is $54,095 for a post-master's-level fellow and $65,448 for a post-doctoral-level fellow. Both levels include an additional $500 monthly health insurance stipend.

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must have completed a master's or doctoral degree in bioinformatics or a related discipline by the start date of their fellowship.  Applicants are required to have demonstrated education and/or experience in bioinformatics. Fellows should plan on starting July 1, but some flexibility in start dates may be considered to allow for degree completion.​ At this time, we are able to consider U.S citizens or permanent residents for fellowship positions. 

Application Process​​​​

Applicants are required to submit an online application​ to APHL by the application deadline. The application includes:

• Narrative statement

• Resume or CV

• Three letters of recommendation 

• Transcripts from all degree-granting institutions. Official transcripts will be required upon acceptance.
  

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.

2021-2022 Fellowship Timeline​*

• November 2020 - Online applications available for prospective fellows

• March 8, 2021 - Deadline for receipt of application and supplemental materials to APHL

• March 2021 - Review process

• April 2021 - Applicants notified of status. Finalists invited to interview

• April - May 2021 - Interviews, matching process for finalists

• May 2021 - Final decisions and matches​ 

• July 2021 - Fellows report to host laboratories and begin fellowship (Start dates can be flexible)​
  

*This is a tentative fellowship application timeline and will be updated when applications open in fall 2021. 

​Host Labo​ratories