The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) invites qualified applicants to apply for the 2026 cohort of the Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP). This is a competitive, two-year, full-time fellowship designed to train professionals in applying informatics principles and methods to improve public health practice and health outcomes.
PHIFP combines practical, hands-on experience with didactic training, supporting fellows to become leaders in public health informatics across federal, state, and local health departments, as well as other health-focused organizations.
About the Program
The PHIFP is a service-learning fellowship where participants actively engage in solving real-world public health problems using informatics. Through partnerships with health departments and public health institutions across the United States, fellows help design, develop, implement, and evaluate information systems that improve the detection, prevention, and control of diseases and other health conditions.
Fellows are placed at host sites—such as CDC headquarters in Atlanta, state or local health departments, or other public health institutions—and are supervised by experienced mentors throughout the program.
Key Highlights of the PHIFP
- Duration: 2 years (full-time)
- Start Date: Summer/Fall 2026 (exact date to be confirmed)
- Location: Varies by assigned host site; relocation is required
- Training Areas Include:
- Public health surveillance systems
- Electronic health records and data standards
- Data analytics and visualization
- Health information exchange
- Outbreak response and emergency informatics
- Application of machine learning and AI in public health
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria by the start of the fellowship:
Educational Qualifications:
- A doctoral or master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in one of the following fields:
- Public health
- Health informatics
- Computer science
- Epidemiology
- Information systems
- Biostatistics
- or a related discipline
Professional Experience:
- Demonstrated experience in public health, informatics, or related applied research.
- Familiarity with electronic health data systems, programming languages (e.g., R, Python, SQL), data management, or statistical analysis tools is strongly preferred.
Other Requirements:
- U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status (specific eligibility rules apply).
- Willingness to commit to a two-year, full-time fellowship.
- Willingness to relocate to the assigned host site location.
- Ability to travel for training, site visits, or emergency response (when necessary).
Note: Refer to the Check Eligibility page for full eligibility criteria.
Fellowship Experience
Fellows in the PHIFP benefit from a combination of field placement, applied projects, professional mentorship, and technical training. They will:
- Work alongside CDC experts and local health professionals
- Participate in high-impact informatics initiatives
- Contribute to the design of interoperable data systems and tools
- Learn to lead informatics innovation in health emergency response
- Publish and present work in professional journals and conferences
Career Outcomes
Graduates of PHIFP go on to occupy roles such as:
- Public health informaticians
- Epidemiologists with a focus on health technology
- Chief data officers
- Health IT consultants
- Technical advisors to government and multilateral agencies
They contribute to advancing data-driven public health in the U.S. and globally.
Application Process
Timeline:
- Application Opens: August 2025
- Deadline to Apply: Specific deadline to be announced on the PHIFP Application Portal
- Interviews and Placement: Late 2025 to early 2026
- Fellowship Start: Mid-to-late 2026
How to Apply:
- Visit the official PHIFP Application Portal.
- Complete the online application form.
- Submit the following documents:
- Updated CV or resume
- Personal statement outlining interest and experience
- Academic transcripts
- At least two letters of recommendation
Incomplete applications or submissions outside the portal will not be considered.
About CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the United States’ premier public health institution, protecting the nation’s health through disease prevention, outbreak response, and policy guidance. As an agency deeply invested in workforce development, CDC’s fellowship programs like PHIFP prepare the next generation of public health innovators to tackle complex challenges with data and technology.
Apply today to become a leader in public health informatics and drive transformative change in population health.
Visit official website for more information
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
