Apply for CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) — Class of 2027

Application Deadline: November 6, 2026

About The Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program

Public health informatics is the systematic application of knowledge about systems that capture, manage, analyze, and use information to improve population-level health outcomes. PHIFP provides on-the-job training for professionals to apply expertise in computer science, data analytics, and data science to public health to address current and future public health needs. Informatics Fellows are assigned to host sites within CDC, where they work on advanced projects to enhance information systems and data projects to improve our nation’s health. Fellows share their expertise while also growing their skills through classroom and experiential learning.

Overview of The Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP)

PHIFP is a paid, two-year professional fellowship at the CDC that provides applied training in public health informatics through full-time assignments at CDC host sites. Fellows gain hands-on experience applying data science, information systems, and technology to improve public health while receiving mentorship and professional development. The program trains professionals in public health informatics competencies and places them in assignments at centers, institutes, and offices (CIOs) across CDC, where they engage in experiential training to enhance the agency’s informatics workforce.

What PHIFP Fellows Do

PHIFP fellows provide robust informatics capacity that also provides solutions for state and local health departments and international public health agencies. Fellows routinely perform the following activities:

• Work with teams involved in research and development of public health information systems
• Conduct informatics evaluations on complex public health information systems
• Contribute to CDC’s emergency response activities
• Provide technical assistance to state and local health departments and international public health agencies through short-term assignments, or Info-Aids

Orientation: In preparation for the real-world assignments and activities, fellows are required to attend a two-week orientation that provides background information about CDC, public health, and the role of informatics within the public health system.

Training and Learning Structure

PHIFP provides fellows with a two-year, competency-based training in public health informatics. Fellows receive experiential training to enhance the informatics workforce at CDC and serve other public health organizations through:

• Solving cutting-edge public health issues using computer science, data science, and information technology
• A training curriculum that consists of 90% on-the-job training and 10% coursework in informatics, data science, and public health
• Improving the implementation of information systems and conducting informatics evaluation

Benefits of the Programme

PHIFP fellows are full-time equivalent (FTE) federal government employees during the two-year fellowship. Key benefits include:

• Salary: Master’s degree fellows are paid at the GS 11, step 3 level; doctoral degree fellows are paid at the GS 12, step 3 level (range $84,238 – $100,964)
• Federal employee benefits: Health, vision, and dental insurance; retirement; annual leave; and sick leave benefits
• Salary increases: Fellows may be eligible for salary increases after the first year of their fellowship, based on performance and written recommendations
• Practical experience: On-the-job training in public health informatics, data science, and information systems
• Professional development: Research and professional development opportunities
• Placement: Assignment at a CDC duty station

Key Dates and Points

• The Class of 2027 fellowship application opens September 1 and closes November 6, 2026.
• Prospective applicants must meet the education, experience, relocation, and time requirements for the fellowship.
• The fellowship application timeline is provided for planning purposes.

Required Activities

PHIFP fellows learn through a combination of on-the-job training and coursework. As part of their requirements, PHIFP fellows:

• Work on public health informatics projects within the assigned host site (host site projects)
• Provide short-term technical assistance to federal, international, state, local, and territorial health departments and non-profit agencies through special requests (Info-Aids)
• Design, develop, implement, enhance, or evaluate an information system or artifact in the public health domain (capstone project)

Academic Background Relevant to PHIFP

The fellowship is designed for applicants with advanced academic qualifications in fields that can contribute to public health informatics. Eligible qualifying degrees can include:

• Doctoral-level degrees: PhD, MD, PharmD, DrPH, or equivalent doctoral degrees
• Master’s-level degrees: MPH, MS, MSc, or equivalent master’s degrees

The qualifying degree must be in an approved field, including public health, medicine, healthcare, health services research, computer science, data science, medical or public health informatics, statistics, epidemiology, engineering, or operations research.

Professional and Research Experience

Academic qualifications alone are not the only consideration. Applicants must also have at least one year of documented full-time work or volunteer experience in the same field as their qualifying degree (master’s-level applicants). Applicants should also document relevant research or evaluation experience completed during or after their academic training, such as academic publications, thesis writing and defense, poster presentations, research proposals, or evaluation proposals.

Note: Fellows are responsible for any relocation expenses for their two-year assignment. Remote work is not available.

Requirements

To apply to PHIFP, applicants must:

• Meet the educational, informatics, public health, and research experience requirements as described on the eligibility page
• Be willing to commit to a two-year, full-time fellowship
• Be willing to relocate to where the assignment is located

Additional requirements for master’s-level candidates: At least one year of documented full-time work or volunteer experience in the same field as the qualifying degree.

How to Apply

Application components include:

• Updated CV or résumé
• Academic and work history
• Personal statement of up to 1,000 words explaining your interest in public health and how the fellowship supports your career goals
• Three Standardized Letters of Recommendation (SLOR)
• Unofficial transcripts for all college degrees
• Credential evaluation for degrees earned outside the United States (must be from a NACES member)
• Self-assessment of skills

Important: Recommendation Forms have a separate deadline of November 15, 2026. All applications and supporting materials must be received by the application deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click here to apply