Apply for the CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) 2027 - a paid 2-year full-time fellowship in Atlanta & Washington, D.C.
Applications are officially open for the prestigious Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) - Class of 2027, hosted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Established to train next-generation "data detectives," PHIFP provides an immersive two-year, full-time experiential training opportunity for doctoral- and master’s-level informatics professionals, computer scientists, data analysts, epidemiologists, and software engineers to solve high-stakes public health challenges.
Headquartered primarily at the CDC Roybal Campus in Atlanta, Georgia (approx. 85% of assignments) and in Washington, D.C. (approx. 10% of assignments), fellows are embedded directly into CDC centers, institutes, and offices. Fellows spearhead the modernization of digital surveillance architectures, electronic laboratory reporting networks, infectious disease forecasting models, and cloud-scale health information systems that safeguard global and national public health security.
This is a fully paid federal fellowship offering competitive salaries commensurate with educational attainment, comprehensive medical and retirement benefits, professional travel allowances, and real-world deployment opportunities on emergency epidemiological investigations (Epi-Aids). Applications for the Class of 2027 close on November 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Quick Facts - CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Agency | U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
| Fellowship Track | Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) - Class of 2027 |
| Primary Duty Locations | Atlanta, Georgia (85%) & Washington, D.C. (10%), United States 🇺🇸 |
| Host Landmark | Atlanta Skyline & Piedmont Park Lake, Georgia 🇺🇸 |
| Program Duration | 2 Years, Full-Time (Commencing August 2027) |
| Funding & Compensation | Fully Paid Federal Stipend / Salary + Federal Health Benefits |
| Target Candidates | Master’s & Doctoral graduates in Informatics, Data Science, CS, Public Health, or Engineering |
| Experience Required | Minimum 1 year of documented professional or volunteer experience in qualifying field |
| Citizenship & Visas | U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents & Non-US Citizens with eligible work visas (OPT STEM, TN, J1, H1B) |
| Relocation Requirement | Mandatory relocation to assigned host site (no fully remote positions) |
| Application Deadline | November 6, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET) |
| Recommendations Due | November 15, 2026 |
| Fellowship Orientation | September 2027 (Following August 2027 host site placement) |
| Official Gateway | Official CDC PHIFP Application Portal |
About the CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP)
Public health informatics is the systematic application of information science, computer technology, and data analytics to the practice of public health research, disease prevention, and population-level health protection. In an era shaped by complex biological threats, antimicrobial resistance, and rapid global travel, robust real-time data systems are humanity's front line of defense.
The Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) bridges the gap between technical data engineering and epidemiological intervention. Throughout their 2-year tenure, fellows apply advanced computational thinking, database architecture, standards implementation (such as HL7 and FHIR), and machine learning pipelines to live public health programs. Known across the agency as CDC's "data detectives," fellows collaborate alongside world-renowned epidemiologists, medical officers, and bioinformaticians.
Core Fellowship Pillars & Responsibilities
During their CDC host-site assignment, PHIFP fellows lead and contribute to transformative initiatives across five fundamental areas:
- Surveillance Systems Modernization: Evaluating, designing, and upgrading national electronic disease reporting mechanisms, syndromic surveillance platforms, and automated laboratory registries.
- Interoperability & Data Integration: Implementing health data standards (HL7, SNOMED, LOINC, FHIR) to enable seamless data exchange between clinical electronic health records (EHRs) and public health departments.
- Advanced Analytics & Machine Learning: Deploying predictive models, natural language processing (NLP), and geospatial information systems (GIS) to detect emerging health threats and track disease transmission dynamics.
- Field Response & Epi-Aids: Providing on-site emergency informatics technical assistance to state, local, tribal, territorial, or international health agencies during active outbreaks and health emergencies.
- Policy, Strategy & Governance: Guiding digital governance frameworks, data privacy protocols, and ethical AI integration across federal health programs.
Comprehensive Fellowship Benefits & Support
As full-time fellows within the United States federal public health infrastructure, participants receive an exceptional support package:
- Competitive Annual Stipend / Salary: Fellows receive a competitive paid salary based on their educational credentials (doctoral vs. master's level) aligned with federal compensation scales.
- Federal Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance packages for fellows and eligible dependents.
- Paid Annual & Sick Leave: Standard federal paid holidays, annual leave, and dedicated sick leave allocations.
- Intensive Two-Week Orientation: Comprehensive onboarding curriculum in Atlanta covering federal public health operations, informatics competencies, and project management.
- Professional Development Allowance: Funding support for national conferences, specialized technical certifications, and publication fees.
- Direct Career Pathways: Alumni transition seamlessly into leadership roles across the CDC, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), state departments of health, global NGOs (WHO, Gates Foundation), and leading health tech enterprises.
Eligibility Criteria
Prospective applicants must satisfy rigorous academic and experiential requirements before the November 6, 2026 deadline:
1. Educational Qualifications
Applicants must hold a qualifying graduate degree from an accredited institution:
- Doctoral-Level Applicants: PhD, MD, PharmD, DrPH, DVM, or equivalent terminal doctoral degree.
- Master's-Level Applicants: MPH, MS, MSc, or equivalent master’s degree.
2. Eligible Disciplines of Study
The qualifying graduate degree must be earned in one of the following domains:
- Public health, medicine, healthcare delivery, or health services research
- Computer science, data science, software engineering, or biomedical informatics
- Medical informatics, clinical informatics, or public health informatics
- Statistics, biostatistics, or epidemiology
- Engineering, operations research, or applied quantitative systems
3. Professional Work Experience
Applicants must possess at least 1 year of documented full-time work or volunteer experience in the exact discipline corresponding to their qualifying degree (completed during or post-degree).
4. Research & Evaluation Record
Applicants should substantiate an active track record in research or systematic evaluation. Valid documentation includes peer-reviewed publications, master's or doctoral thesis defenses, national conference poster presentations, or formal technical evaluation proposals.
5. Citizenship & Visa Eligibility
The program admits candidates across several pathways, provided they do not hold citizenship from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism:
- U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders)
- Non-U.S. Citizens holding or eligible for approved work authorization:
- F-1 STEM OPT extension covering the full 24-month duration of the fellowship
- TN Visa status under the USMCA agreement for citizens of Canada and Mexico
- J-1 cultural exchange visa (or J-2 with approved employment authorization)
- H-1B specialty occupation visa
6. Relocation & On-Site Commitment
Selected fellows must be prepared to relocate to their assigned duty station by August 2027 (approx. 85% in Atlanta, GA and 10% in Washington, DC). Please note that remote work is not permitted, and relocation expenses are not reimbursed by the program.
Application Timeline for the Class of 2027
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Window Opens | September 1, 2026 |
| Applicant Information Webinars | Mid-October 2026 |
| Application Submission Deadline | November 6, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET) |
| Letters of Recommendation Due | November 15, 2026 |
| Eligibility & Quality Screening | November 2026 - January 2027 |
| CDC Host Site Applicant Interviews | January - February 2027 |
| Final Candidate Selections & Offers | February - March 2027 |
| Federal Onboarding & Security Clearance | March - July 2027 |
| Official CDC Duty Assignment Begins | August 2027 |
| Two-Week Fellowship Orientation | September 2027 |
Required Application Documents
To ensure full consideration, prepare and submit all required elements through the official portal:
- Complete Online Application Form: Covering personal background, employment history, and informatics competencies.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume: Detailing technical expertise, programming languages, database proficiencies, publications, and professional roles.
- Official Academic Transcripts: Verifying completion of qualifying master’s or doctoral degree programs.
- Three Professional Letters of Recommendation: Submitted directly by academic advisors, supervisors, or mentors before November 15, 2026.
- Statement of Purpose / Personal Essay: Outlining your career trajectory, interest in public health informatics, and specific contributions you seek to make at CDC.
- Evidence of Research / Evaluation: Abstract of thesis, publication reprints, or project summary demonstrating rigorous analytical inquiry.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Confirm Your Eligibility: Verify that your degree, 1-year work experience, and citizenship/visa status align with CDC criteria on the CDC Eligibility Page.
- Access the PHIFP Application Portal: Visit the CDC PHIFP Application System and create an applicant account.
- Notify Your Recommenders Early: Provide recommenders with sufficient lead time so their official evaluation forms are submitted ahead of the November 15 cut-off.
- Complete Technical Competency Profiles: Be detailed and accurate when outlining your technical tool stack (Python, R, SQL, SAS, cloud architectures, FHIR, GIS).
- Review and Finalize: Submit your completed application prior to November 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CDC PHIFP 2027
What is the hard deadline for the Class of 2027 application?
The primary application closes on November 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Letters of recommendation must be uploaded by November 15, 2026.
Can international applicants apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. citizens may apply if they are eligible for applicable U.S. work authorizations (including F-1 STEM OPT extensions covering the full two years, TN visas for Canadians/Mexicans, J-1, or H-1B visas). Applicants from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism are ineligible per federal regulations.
Is this fellowship fully remote?
No. Fellows are required to work on-site at their designated CDC host facility (approximately 85% in Atlanta, GA and 10% in Washington, DC). Relocation expenses are the responsibility of the candidate.
Are fellows paid during the two-year program?
Yes. PHIFP is a full-time, salaried federal fellowship offering competitive stipends pegged to education levels, along with comprehensive federal health benefits, paid leave, and professional travel funds.
Can students graduating in spring 2027 apply?
Applicants must have completed all degree requirements and possess the required 1 year of professional experience prior to starting the fellowship in August 2027.
