The CDC Doctoral Degree Full-Time Opportunities 2026 provide a range of paid fellowship opportunities for doctoral graduates and, in some programs, professionals with master’s or bachelor’s degrees in public health, science, medicine, informatics, epidemiology and related fields.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists these fellowships as opportunities to gain practical experience while developing a career in public health. Many of the programs last one or two years and are paid.
The opportunities cover areas including bioinformatics, epidemiology, public health informatics, infectious diseases, environmental health, food safety, laboratory science, health policy, prevention, data science and public health research.
One of the currently active application opportunities is the Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP), whose Class of 2027 application opened on September 1, 2026 and closes on November 6, 2026.
CDC Doctoral Fellowships 2026 – Quick Summary
| Fellowship/Opportunity | Degree Level | Duration | Paid? | Application Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship | Master’s/Doctoral | 2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Biorisk Management Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Environmental Health Laboratory Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Food Safety Laboratory Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Informatics Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Quality Management Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| APHL-CDC Ronald H. Laessig Newborn Screening Fellowship | Bachelor’s/Master’s/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | Rolling |
| Applied Public Health Informatics Fellowship | Master’s/Doctoral | 2 years | Yes | December–February |
| ASA/NCHS Research Fellowship | Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | November–January |
| ASPPH/CDC Public Health Fellowship | MPH/Doctoral | 1–2 years | Yes | January |
| CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship | Master’s/Doctoral | 2 years | Yes | October–January |
| CDC Evaluation Fellowship | Master’s/Doctoral | 2 years | Yes | November–February |
| Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship | Doctoral | 2 years | Yes | September–January |
| Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program | Master’s/Doctoral | 2 years | Yes | September 1–November 6, 2026 |
The CDC’s current opportunities pages confirm that its full-time fellowships generally range from one to two years and span multiple education levels and public-health disciplines.
What Are the CDC Doctoral Degree Full-Time Opportunities?
The CDC offers several full-time fellowship programs designed to provide practical training and professional development in public health.
The opportunities are not limited to one academic discipline. Depending on the fellowship, applicants may come from fields such as:
- Public health
- Epidemiology
- Biology
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Computer science
- Data science
- Health informatics
- Environmental science
- Food science
- Genetics
- Medicine
- Engineering
- Statistics
- Health policy
The CDC describes these programs as hands-on experiences that can help participants develop a public health career.
1. APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship
The APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship is designed for professionals interested in applying bioinformatics skills to public-health problems.
Fellows can gain experience in areas including:
- Metagenomics
- Human genetics
- Algorithm and software development
- Microbial genomics
- Other related research areas
The CDC lists eligibility at the master’s or doctoral level in bioinformatics or a related discipline.
The fellowship lasts two years and is paid, with rolling applications and flexible start dates.
APHL’s current fellowship information also identifies bioinformatics and molecular biology among its public-health laboratory focus areas.
2. APHL-CDC Biorisk Management Fellowship
The APHL-CDC Biorisk Management Fellowship focuses on areas such as biosafety, biosecurity, laboratory safety, regulations, training and policies designed to reduce risks associated with biological materials.
Applicants can have a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in fields including:
- Microbiology
- Biology
- Public health
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Virology
- Laboratory science
- Medical technology
The fellowship lasts one to two years and is paid, with rolling applications and flexible start dates.
3. APHL-CDC Environmental Health Laboratory Fellowship
This fellowship prepares scientists for careers in public health laboratories and supports work involving environmental health and human chemical exposures.
The program may involve areas such as targeted biomonitoring and environmental health surveillance.
Eligible degrees include bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in:
- Public health
- Environmental health
- Environmental science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Related disciplines
The program lasts one to two years and is paid, with rolling applications.
4. APHL-CDC Food Safety Laboratory Fellowship
The Food Safety Laboratory Fellowship focuses on public health laboratory work related to food safety.
Fellows can gain experience in areas such as:
- Regulatory food testing
- Genomic characterization of enteric pathogens
- Foodborne pathogen outbreak detection
- Food laboratory accreditation
Applicants may hold bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in microbiology, biology, public health, virology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology or related scientific fields.
The fellowship is paid and lasts one to two years, with rolling applications.
5. APHL-CDC Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship
The Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship provides training for careers in public health laboratories and focuses on infectious-disease activities.
Fellows may work in areas involving:
- Testing
- Surveillance
- Research
- Disease-control measures
The fellowship is open to applicants with bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in fields such as microbiology, biology, public health, virology, chemistry and laboratory science.
It is a paid one- to two-year fellowship with rolling applications.
6. APHL-CDC Informatics Fellowship
The APHL-CDC Informatics Fellowship is particularly relevant for applicants with a background in technology and data.
The program addresses the need for stronger electronic capabilities in public health.
Eligible applicants may have bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in:
- Computer science
- Information science
- Healthcare informatics
- Clinical informatics
- Laboratory science with computer science coursework
- Health information technology
- Technical project management
The fellowship lasts one to two years and is paid, with rolling applications and flexible start dates.
7. APHL-CDC Quality Management Fellowship
This fellowship focuses on quality-related activities within public health laboratories.
Fellows may support:
- Quality assurance
- Quality control
- Quality management systems
- Quality system essentials
- Public health laboratory systems
Applicants can come from fields including public health, environmental health, microbiology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, virology and laboratory science.
The program lasts one to two years and is paid. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
8. APHL-CDC Ronald H. Laessig Newborn Screening Fellowship
The Ronald H. Laessig Newborn Screening Fellowship prepares laboratory scientists for careers in newborn screening and genetics research.
Applicants can have bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees in:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Related disciplines
The fellowship lasts one to two years and is paid, with rolling applications.
9. Applied Public Health Informatics Fellowship
The Applied Public Health Informatics Fellowship (APHIF) provides training in informatics, data science and laboratory capacity at state and local health departments.
It is intended for recent graduates with master’s or doctoral degrees.
The fellowship lasts two years and is paid, with an application period listed by CDC as December through February.
10. ASA/NCHS Research Fellowship Program
The ASA/NCHS Research Fellowship Program provides an opportunity for doctoral-level researchers to work on methodological problems and analytical issues relevant to National Center for Health Statistics programs, data and facilities.
Applicants must have a doctoral degree.
The fellowship lasts one to two years and is paid, with applications listed from November through January.
11. ASPPH/CDC Public Health Fellowship Program
The ASPPH/CDC Public Health Fellowship Program provides training and experience in areas including:
- Public health practice
- Prevention
- Informatics
- Policy
Applicants must have an MPH or doctoral degree before the beginning of the fellowship.
The fellowship lasts one to two years and is paid, with the application period listed as January.
12. CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship
The CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Program provides rigorous on-the-job training in applied epidemiology and public health at state or local health agencies.
Applicants need a master’s or doctoral degree in epidemiology or a related field.
The fellowship lasts two years and is paid, with applications listed from October through January.
13. CDC Evaluation Fellowship
The CDC Evaluation Fellowship places fellows within CDC host programs where they work on program evaluation activities.
The program combines practical experience with professional development and training in evaluation.
Applicants must have a master’s or doctoral degree.
The fellowship lasts two years and is paid, with applications listed from November through February.
14. Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship
The CDC Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship and Public Health Analytics and Modeling Track allows participants to apply quantitative methods to health protection, health promotion and disease prevention.
The program can involve evaluating the impact of public health interventions and programs.
Applicants must have a doctoral degree, with examples including economics, decision sciences, industrial engineering and operations research.
The fellowship lasts two years and is paid, with applications listed from September through January.
15. Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program 2026
One of the most time-sensitive opportunities in the current CDC listings is the Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP).
For the Class of 2027, the application opened on September 1, 2026 and closes on November 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
PHIFP is a two-year paid fellowship that applies computer science, data analytics and data science to public health. Fellows are placed at CDC host sites and work on projects involving public health information systems and data.
Who Can Apply for PHIFP?
The current CDC eligibility page says applicants may qualify with a master’s or doctoral degree in fields including:
- Public health
- Medicine
- Healthcare
- Health services research
- Computer science
- Data science
- Medical or public health informatics
- Statistics
- Epidemiology
- Engineering
Doctoral applicants can hold a PhD, MD, PharmD, DrPH or equivalent doctoral degree, while master’s applicants can hold an MPH, MS, MSc or equivalent master’s degree.
Applicants must also meet the program’s education, informatics, public-health and research-experience requirements and be willing to commit to a two-year full-time fellowship and relocate to their assignment location.
What Does PHIFP Provide?
PHIFP combines practical experience with coursework.
CDC says the training model consists of approximately 90% on-the-job training and 10% coursework in informatics, data science and public health.
Fellows may:
- Work on public health informatics projects
- Evaluate public health information systems
- Provide technical assistance
- Develop or improve information systems
- Complete a capstone project
- Support public health agencies
PHIFP fellows are full-time equivalent federal government employees during the two-year fellowship. CDC says master’s-level fellows are paid at the GS-11 step 3 level and doctoral-level fellows at GS-12 step 3, with federal employee benefits.
How to Apply for CDC Fellowships
There is no single application process for every CDC fellowship.
The CDC directs applicants to the individual fellowship pages because each program has its own eligibility requirements, application dates and procedures.
For example, applicants to PHIFP should prepare information about their:
- Education
- Graduate training
- Technical skills
- Work experience
- Volunteer experience
- Publications
- Presentations
- Grants
- Honours and awards
CDC specifically recommends updating a CV or resume and gathering this information before submitting the PHIFP application.
For APHL-CDC laboratory fellowships, applicants use the APHL application system. The current APHL portal states that it is the application portal for the Public Health Laboratory Fellowship and Internship Programs.
For all application information, click here.
Are CDC Fellowships Fully Funded?
The CDC source describes many of these opportunities as paid fellowships, but “paid” should not automatically be interpreted as “fully funded.”
The amount and benefits vary by program.
For example, CDC confirms that PHIFP fellows receive salaries and federal employee benefits, while APHL’s fellowship program describes stipends and benefits such as health insurance allowance, professional development funding and relocation reimbursement.
Applicants should therefore check the individual fellowship’s official page for the exact compensation and benefits before applying.
Are These CDC Fellowships Open to International Students?
Eligibility varies by fellowship.
The CDC’s general list contains many different programs operated by CDC and partner organisations, so applicants should not assume that every fellowship accepts international applicants.
For example, PHIFP has specific citizenship and eligibility requirements that applicants must review on its current eligibility page.
Similarly, some opportunities listed by CDC are administered through partner organisations and may have their own eligibility rules.
Students outside the United States should therefore check the official fellowship page before spending time preparing an application.
CDC Fellowship Application Deadlines
The opportunities have different application periods.
Some of the dates listed by CDC include:
- September–January: Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship
- September 1–November 6, 2026: Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program
- October–January: CDC/CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship
- November–January: ASA/NCHS Research Fellowship
- November–February: CDC Evaluation Fellowship
- December–February: Applied Public Health Informatics Fellowship
- Rolling: Several APHL-CDC laboratory fellowships
The dates can change, so applicants should always check the official program page before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the CDC Doctoral Degree Full-Time Opportunities?
They are full-time fellowship opportunities that allow doctoral graduates and, depending on the program, master’s and bachelor’s degree holders to gain practical experience in public health.
Are CDC fellowships paid?
Many of the fellowships listed by CDC are paid. However, compensation varies by program, so applicants should check the individual fellowship page for salary, stipend and benefits information.
What fields are eligible for CDC fellowships?
Eligible fields vary by fellowship and can include public health, epidemiology, biology, microbiology, chemistry, computer science, data science, health informatics, statistics, engineering, environmental science and other related disciplines.
Is the CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship open in 2026?
Yes. The CDC’s Class of 2027 PHIFP application opened on September 1, 2026 and closes on November 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
How long do CDC fellowships last?
The duration depends on the program. The CDC lists opportunities lasting from approximately one year to two years, while some programs have different durations.
Can master’s degree holders apply for CDC fellowships?
Yes. Several programs listed by CDC accept master’s degree holders. For example, PHIFP accepts qualifying master’s degrees such as an MPH, MS or MSc in eligible fields, subject to the program’s other requirements.
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