CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program 2027: Apply for a Two-Year Paid Fellowship in Public Health Informatics, Data Science and Technology

The Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP), offered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is now accepting applications for its Class of 2027. The program provides an advanced professional development opportunity for qualified individuals who want to apply computer science, data science, information technology, statistics, epidemiology, engineering, and related expertise to real-world public health challenges.

The fellowship combines intensive practical experience with structured coursework, allowing participants to work on public health informatics projects while developing specialized skills that can contribute to stronger health information systems and improved population health outcomes.

For professionals interested in the intersection of public health, technology, data analytics, information systems, and health research, the CDC PHIFP offers an opportunity to gain substantial hands-on experience through a two-year, full-time fellowship.

The Class of 2027 application period opened on September 1, 2026, and closes on November 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants should ensure that all required application materials are submitted before the deadline because late applications will not be accepted.

About the Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program

Public health informatics focuses on the systematic use of information, technology, data, and information systems to improve population-level health outcomes.

The CDC describes PHIFP fellows as “data detectives” because their work involves applying technical and analytical expertise to public health problems. Fellows work with systems that capture, manage, analyze, and use information to support public health decision-making and operations. The fellowship is designed for professionals who already possess relevant academic and professional experience and want to further develop their ability to use technology and data to solve complex public health problems.

During the fellowship, participants are assigned to host sites within CDC and work on advanced projects involving public health information systems and data. At the same time, fellows receive opportunities for classroom and experiential learning, enabling them to strengthen both their technical and public health competencies.

What Makes the CDC PHIFP Fellowship Different?

PHIFP is structured as a two-year paid fellowship focused on applying information science and technology to public health practice. Rather than being limited to classroom-based study, the program emphasizes practical experience within CDC.

The fellowship combines:

• On-the-job professional training
• Coursework in public health informatics, data science, and public health
• Public health information-system projects
• Informatics evaluations
• Technical assistance activities
• Research and development work
• A capstone project
• Collaboration with public health professionals and organizations

The program’s training model consists of approximately 90% on-the-job training and 10% coursework, making practical experience a major component of the fellowship.

What Do PHIFP Fellows Do?

Fellows are placed in Centers, Institutes, and Offices across the CDC, where they participate in experiential training and contribute to projects designed to strengthen the agency’s informatics capacity.

The work can involve solving complex public health problems through computer science, data science, information technology, and informatics.

Depending on their assignment, fellows may participate in activities such as:

1. Developing Public Health Information Systems

Fellows may contribute to the design, development, implementation, enhancement, or evaluation of information systems used in public health.

This provides practical exposure to how technology can be developed and adapted to support public health programs and decision-making.

2. Conducting Informatics Evaluations

Participants may evaluate complex public health information systems to determine how effectively they meet their intended objectives.

These activities can involve assessing systems, identifying opportunities for improvement, and contributing technical recommendations.

3. Supporting Public Health Research and Development

PHIFP fellows work with teams involved in the research and development of public health information systems. This allows participants to apply their academic and technical knowledge to projects with real-world public health applications.

4. Providing Technical Assistance

Fellows can provide short-term technical assistance to federal, international, state, local, and territorial health departments as well as nonprofit organizations through special assignments known as Info-Aids.

This component can expose fellows to a variety of public health environments and information-system challenges.

5. Contributing to Emergency Response

PHIFP fellows may also contribute to CDC emergency response activities. This demonstrates how informatics, technology, and data can support public health operations during urgent situations.

6. Completing a Capstone Project

As part of their fellowship requirements, fellows complete a capstone project involving the design, development, implementation, enhancement, or evaluation of an information system or other informatics artifact within the public health domain.

The capstone provides an opportunity to demonstrate the skills developed throughout the fellowship.

Training and Learning Structure

The PHIFP fellowship provides competency-based training over two years.

The program is particularly suitable for professionals who want to move beyond theoretical knowledge and develop the ability to apply technical expertise to practical public health challenges.

The training structure includes:

• Practical assignments at CDC host sites
• Informatics and data science coursework
• Public health learning
• Technical projects
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams
• Informatics evaluation
• Information-system development and improvement
• Short-term technical assistance
• Capstone project development

Before beginning their regular assignments, selected fellows must complete a two-week orientation. The orientation introduces fellows to CDC, public health, and the role of informatics within the public health system.

Academic Backgrounds 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 such as:

• PhD
• MD
• PharmD
• DrPH
• Equivalent doctoral degrees

Applicants may also qualify through master’s-level degrees such as:

• MPH
• MS
• MSc
• 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. (CDC)

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. This requirement is intended to ensure that candidates have practical exposure to their area of specialization before entering the fellowship.

Applicants should also document relevant research or evaluation experience completed during or after their academic training.

Examples of acceptable research experience include:

• Academic publications
• Thesis writing and defense
• Poster presentations
• Research proposals
• Evaluation proposals
• Other relevant research or evaluation activities

Candidates should therefore ensure that their application clearly demonstrates not only their academic background but also their practical and research experience.

Fellowship Commitment and Work Arrangement

PHIFP is a two-year, full-time fellowship. Applicants must be prepared to make this commitment if selected.

An important consideration for prospective applicants is that the fellowship is not a remote program.

Selected fellows must relocate to their assigned CDC site. According to the CDC, approximately 85% of assignments are in Atlanta, Georgia, while about 10% are in Washington, DC. Relocation costs are not paid by the program.

Applicants should therefore consider their ability to relocate and work on-site before applying.

Who Should Consider Applying?

The PHIFP opportunity may be particularly relevant to professionals who want to build careers at the intersection of technology and public health.

Potential applicants may include professionals with backgrounds in:

• Public health
• Medicine
• Healthcare
• Health services research
• Public health informatics
• Medical informatics
• Computer science
• Data science
• Statistics
• Epidemiology
• Engineering
• Operations research

The program can be particularly valuable for individuals who want to use technical and analytical skills to address health-system challenges and improve how public health organizations collect, manage, analyze, and use information.

Key Benefits of the Fellowship

Although the fellowship is primarily a professional training opportunity, its structure provides several significant career-development advantages.

Practical Public Health Experience

Fellows gain direct experience working on public health informatics projects rather than relying exclusively on classroom learning.

Advanced Data and Technology Exposure

Participants can apply computer science, data science, information technology, and analytical skills to real-world public health challenges.

Experience Within CDC

Fellows are assigned to CDC host sites and work alongside professionals involved in public health programs, information systems, research, and related activities.

Structured Professional Development

The two-year competency-based structure provides fellows with a combination of experiential learning and coursework.

Exposure to Diverse Public Health Challenges

Through host-site projects, technical assistance assignments, informatics evaluations, and other activities, fellows can gain experience addressing different types of public health information and technology challenges.

Development of a Professional Portfolio

Projects completed during the fellowship, including the capstone project, can provide valuable evidence of practical expertise in public health informatics.

Contribution to Public Health Systems

The program is not solely focused on individual professional development. Fellows contribute their technical expertise to projects intended to strengthen public health information systems and support public health organizations.

Application Timeline for the PHIFP Class of 2027

Applicants should pay close attention to the official timeline.

Stage	Date
Application opens	September 1, 2026
Application deadline	November 6, 2026
Recommendation Forms deadline	November 15, 2026
Application screening	November 2026–January 2027
Host-site interviews	January–February 2027
Final selections	February–March 2027
CDC onboarding	March–July 2027
CDC assignments begin	August 2027
PHIFP orientation	September 2027

The application closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 6, 2026. All applications and supporting materials must be received by the deadline, and late applications will not be accepted. Recommendation Forms have a separate deadline of November 15, 2026.

How the Selection Process Works

Following the application deadline, PHIFP screens applications for eligibility and quality.

Candidates who progress through the process may subsequently be contacted by CDC host sites for interviews. Host sites are expected to conduct interviews between January and February 2027.

Final selections are expected between February and March 2027, after which applicants will be notified of their status.

Selected candidates will then undergo CDC onboarding between March and July 2027 before beginning their assignments in August 2027. New fellows are scheduled to complete the required two-week orientation in September 2027.

Important Considerations Before Applying

Prospective applicants should carefully assess the requirements before submitting an application.

First, applicants should confirm that their academic qualification falls within one of the eligible fields.

Second, candidates should verify that they have at least one year of documented full-time professional or volunteer experience in the same field as their qualifying degree.

Third, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate research or evaluation experience where applicable.

Fourth, candidates must be able to commit to a two-year, full-time fellowship.

Finally, applicants should carefully consider the relocation requirement because PHIFP fellows are expected to work at their assigned CDC locations and are not eligible to work remotely.

How to Prepare a Strong PHIFP Application

A strong application should make it easy for reviewers to understand the relationship between the applicant’s academic training, professional experience, research background, and interest in public health informatics.

Applicants can strengthen their preparation by:

1. Reviewing the eligibility requirements carefully
   Confirm that the degree, field of study, professional experience, citizenship or immigration status, and other requirements are satisfied.
2. Documenting relevant professional experience
   Clearly describe work or volunteer experience related to the applicant’s qualifying degree.
3. Highlighting technical expertise
   Where applicable, explain experience involving data science, computer science, information systems, statistics, epidemiology, informatics, or related technologies.
4. Demonstrating research experience
   Include relevant publications, theses, presentations, research proposals, evaluations, or comparable work.
5. Explaining public health interests
   Show how technical expertise can be applied to public health challenges.
6. Preparing recommendation materials early
   Since recommendation forms have a separate deadline of November 15, applicants should give recommenders sufficient time to submit their materials.
7. Planning for relocation
   Applicants should understand that the fellowship is on-site and that relocation expenses are not covered by the program.

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Deadline for the Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program

The application deadline for the CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program Class of 2027 is November 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

The CDC states that late applications will not be accepted, so candidates should submit their applications and supporting materials before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.

Recommendation Forms are due separately by November 15, 2026.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the official CDC eligibility requirements and application instructions before beginning their application.

Applicants should also review the official fellowship overview and eligibility information to understand the academic, experience, citizenship, research, and relocation requirements.

Visit HERE to learn more about the CDC Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program 2027.

Conclusion

The Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) Class of 2027 provides an advanced opportunity for qualified professionals to combine expertise in technology, data, informatics, and public health. Through a two-year paid fellowship, participants receive extensive practical training while contributing to CDC projects involving public health information systems, data, research, technical assistance, informatics evaluation, and emergency response.

The program’s emphasis on approximately 90% on-the-job training and 10% coursework makes it particularly relevant for professionals seeking substantial hands-on experience rather than a purely academic program. Fellows also have the opportunity to complete a capstone project and work on projects that support public health organizations.

With applications for the Class of 2027 closing on November 6, 2026, eligible professionals should begin preparing their applications early. Candidates should pay particular attention to the academic and experience requirements, research background, immigration or citizenship eligibility, two-year full-time commitment, and requirement to relocate to their assigned CDC site.

For professionals seeking to build a career where data, technology, information systems, and public health intersect, PHIFP offers a structured pathway to develop advanced skills while contributing to important public health work.

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