Public Health Laboratory Fellowship and Internship Programs: an APHL-CDC Initiative

1. Create your account. If you do not have an APHL online account or if you need to reset your password, please do so now.
2. Log in to the application portal by clicking the “user login” button. Enter your email address and password.
3. Create your online application. You will first be asked to select the program you are applying for (internship or fellowship). Once selected from the drop down, then the application process will begin.
4. Save your application as a draft often throughout the process. You will not be able to submit the application as final until all required information within the application is provided.
5. Submit your application as final once you have completed all sections. Once it is submitted as final, you will not be able to make further updates to your application. Before clicking the “submit as final” button, please review the entire submission again to ensure all your responses are written to your liking, to confirm that all uploaded materials are correct and that your references have submitted their responses.

Internship applicants

1. Prepare your materials in advance. You will need the following as part of your application, and it will be helpful to compile everything before beginning the process:
• Proof of US citizenship or permanent residency
• Current GPA
• List of work and volunteer experiences (everything you might have on your CV or resume)
• References and their email addresses
• List of desirable placement options
2. Contact your reference(s) in advance to confirm they are willing to serve as a reference and that they will be available to submit their materials within the necessary timeframe. It would also be helpful to alert them that an auto-generated email from RQ Awards (this is the name of the application system) will be sent to the email address provided. Once you have clicked the button within the application portal to send the email, it would be helpful to ask your reference to confirm receipt. If it is not in their inbox, please suggest they check their spam box.
3. You will be asked to provide locations for placement options. For many people, that might simply be the city or town where their school, residence or family is located. For others, there might be other locations that should be considered. It is helpful to consider placement locations before beginning the application process.

Intern mentor applicants

1. Be sure to get approval from your laboratory director before beginning your application. You will be asked to confirm that you have received approval to host an intern in your laboratory and approval for the proposed project(s).
2. Consider project ideas before beginning your application. You will include one project per application and each project must be approved by your laboratory director.
3. Make sure you know how many interns you would like to host, when you would like to have them and for how many hours per week you would like them to work.

Fellowship applicants

1. Prepare your materials in advance. You will need the following as part of your application, and it will be helpful to compile everything before beginning the process:
• Proof of US citizenship or permanent residency
• Transcript (official or unofficial; PDF version will be required for upload/attachment to application)
• Resume or CV (PDF version will be required for upload/attachment to application)
• Professional references and their email addresses
• List of desirable placement/location options for your fellowship
2. For your references, bachelor level applicants will need one (1) reference, master level will need two (2) and doctorate level will need three (3) with one being your doctoral program advisor. Contact your references in advance to confirm they are willing to serve as a reference and that they will be available to submit their responses within the necessary timeframe. It will also be helpful to alert them that an auto-generated email from RQ Awards (this is the name of the application system) will be sent to the email address provided. Once you have clicked the button within the application portal to send the email to the reference(s), it will also be helpful to ask your reference(s) to confirm their receipt. If the auto-generated email is not in their inbox, please suggest they check their spam folder.
3. Because APHL provides relocation funding for fellows to move closer to a host laboratory, you will have the opportunity to consider many different possible placement locations across the US including US territories. It will be helpful to consider where you would be willing to work in advance to make the process easier. Selecting multiple locations or the ‘anywhere in the US’ option will greatly increase your application visibility for host laboratories searching for candidate fellows.

Fellowship mentor applicants

1. It is helpful to gather your materials before beginning the application. You will be asked to provide the following:
• Resume or CV (PDF version will be required for upload/attachment to application)
• Your mentoring experience
• Laboratory mentoring experience (if anyone in your laboratory has experience)
• Description of the host laboratory
• Details of the intended project fellow will work on
• Desired fellow qualifications
2. Be sure to get approval from your laboratory director before beginning your application. You will be asked to confirm that you have received approval to host a fellow in your laboratory and approval for the proposed project(s).
3. Consider fellow projects before beginning your application. You will include one project per application and each project must be approved by the laboratory director.

Internship placement process

Once you have submitted your application, a team of APHL staff will review to assess qualifications and determine eligibility. Qualified applicants are then placed in an applicant pool to be selected by a host laboratory. Selected candidates will then be matched with a host laboratory in the applicant's requested geographic area. Once a match has been made, the applicant will be notified by the mentor at the host laboratory to schedule an interview. If the applicant, mentor and APHL all agree that their distinct expectations have been met, the onboarding process may begin. That will include determining a start date and finalizing a contract.

Fellowship placement process

Once you have submitted your application, a team of APHL staff will review to assess qualifications and determine eligibility. Qualified applicants are then placed in an applicant pool to be selected by a host laboratory. Selected candidates will then be notified by the mentor at the host laboratory to schedule an interview. Once the mentor and host laboratory have determined that the applicant meets their requirements based on their application and their interview, a match can be made. If the applicant, mentor and APHL all agree that their distinct expectations have been met, the onboarding process may begin. That will include determining a start date, finalizing a contract and planning for relocation or other logistical arrangements.