The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains multiple full-time fellowships and training routes for doctoral-degree holders and recent doctoral graduates. There is no single CDC doctoral fellowship deadline: each programme has its own eligibility, application window, citizenship or work-authorisation rules, and start date.
CDC Doctoral-Level Fellowships: How the Portfolio Works
CDC groups opportunities by education level and career stage. Its doctoral-degree directory covers full-time fellowship programmes for people who already hold, or will soon hold, a doctoral degree. Separate CDC pages cover current doctoral students, medical or veterinary trainees, master’s-level candidates and other professional-development routes.
Most doctoral-level programmes provide structured, hands-on public-health experience in areas such as epidemiology, informatics, laboratory science, evaluation, prevention effectiveness, bioinformatics and related disciplines.
Current and Upcoming Doctoral-Level Routes
| Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program (PHIFP) | CDC lists the current application window as open through 6 November 2026. Check the PHIFP page for degree, experience and work-authorisation requirements. |
|---|---|
| Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship | The Class of 2027 application is open from 8 September 2026 through 8 January 2027. The current eligibility page requires a qualifying doctoral degree and relevant experience. |
| Evaluation Fellowship Program | The Class of 2027 application opens 26 October 2026 and closes 7 January 2027. The programme accepts qualifying doctoral- and master’s-level candidates under its specific eligibility rules. |
| APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship | The CDC doctoral-level directory lists this as a paid two-year opportunity with rolling applications and flexible start dates for eligible bioinformatics or related-degree holders. |
This is not an exhaustive list. CDC updates its fellowship directory and individual programme pages as application cycles change.
Eligibility Varies by Programme
There is no universal eligibility rule for every CDC doctoral fellowship. Depending on the programme, selection can depend on:
- doctoral discipline and degree-conferral date;
- public-health or behavioural-science coursework;
- laboratory, informatics, epidemiology, economics or evaluation experience;
- U.S. citizenship, permanent residency or other work-authorisation conditions;
- willingness to relocate to the fellowship assignment; and
- programme-specific professional or research experience.
For example, CDC’s Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship currently requires a PhD or equivalent plus at least one year of documented full-time relevant experience, while the Evaluation Fellowship has its own degree, residency and relocation requirements.
How to Choose the Right CDC Fellowship
| If your strength is informatics or data systems | Start with PHIFP and related informatics programmes. |
|---|---|
| If your background is health economics, decision science or policy evaluation | Review the Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship. |
| If your expertise is programme evaluation or behavioural/public-health science | Check the Evaluation Fellowship Program. |
| If your doctorate involves genomics, bioinformatics or computational biology | Review APHL-CDC laboratory and bioinformatics routes. |
| If you are still enrolled in a doctoral programme | Use CDC’s separate doctoral-student short-term opportunities page rather than assuming the full-time post-degree fellowships apply. |
How to Apply Efficiently
- Open CDC’s Doctoral Degree Full-Time Opportunities directory.
- Shortlist programmes matching your degree, career stage and technical background.
- Open each programme’s official eligibility page before preparing documents.
- Confirm the current application dates and whether the programme uses a CDC portal or a partner organisation.
- Prepare a targeted CV/resume, transcripts, statements and references according to that programme’s instructions.
- Submit only through the official route and before the programme-specific deadline.
International Degrees and Non-U.S. Applicants
Eligibility for candidates with international degrees varies by fellowship. Some programmes may accept foreign degrees subject to credential evaluation, while others impose U.S. citizenship, permanent-resident or work-authorisation conditions.
For example, the current Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship states that applicants with non-U.S. degrees may be asked for an academic credential evaluation. Candidates should therefore avoid assuming that one programme’s immigration rules apply across the entire CDC fellowship portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there one CDC doctoral fellowship application?
No. CDC maintains multiple programmes with separate eligibility rules, deadlines and application systems.
How long are CDC doctoral-level fellowships?
CDC describes many full-time doctoral-degree fellowship opportunities as one- or two-year programmes, although individual programmes can differ.
Which CDC fellowship is open through 6 November 2026?
CDC currently lists the Public Health Informatics Fellowship Program application as open through 6 November 2026.
Which CDC fellowship is open through 8 January 2027?
The current Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellowship Class of 2027 application closes on 8 January 2027.
Can a foreign PhD holder apply?
Possibly, depending on the programme. Applicants must check the individual fellowship’s citizenship, work-authorisation and foreign-degree requirements.
Official CDC Sources
| Doctoral-degree directory | CDC Doctoral Degree Full-Time Opportunities |
|---|---|
| All fellowship routes | CDC Explore Short-Term and Full-Time Training Opportunities |
| Guide status | Current evergreen discovery guide |
| Last verified | 4 October 2026 |
