Eligibility note: This is a US federal fellowship. You must be a US citizen, a US permanent resident, or hold a visa or work authorisation that lets you work in the US for the fellowship, such as OPT STEM covering both years, H-1B, or J-1. Africans can apply only if they already have, or can obtain, valid US work authorisation, for example PhD graduates of US universities on OPT. Others should see the related opportunities open to Africans at the end.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recruiting for the Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness (PE) Fellowship, Class of 2027. It’s a two-year, paid, post-doctoral applied training fellowship in health economics, decision science and disease modelling. Fellows are paid at the federal GS-12, step 3 level, with full federal benefits.
Applications are open from 8 September 2026 to 8 January 2027.
At a Glance
| Host | US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
| Duration | 2 years, post-doctoral |
| Pay | GS-12, step 3, with federal benefits (medical insurance, leave) |
| Tracks | Traditional (economics and health services research), and Analytics & Modelling |
| Who can apply | PhD holders who are US citizens, permanent residents or authorised to work in the US |
| Deadline | 8 January 2027 |
About the Fellowship
Since 1995, the PE Fellowship has trained more than 300 decision scientists. Their work on resource allocation informs CDC, the US Congress and non-governmental agencies. Fellows meet public health demand for quantitative policy analysis, health economics, health services research and rigorous decision modelling.
- Traditional Track: economists and health services researchers
- Analytics and Modelling Track: disease modellers, ecologists, operations researchers, industrial engineers and applied mathematicians
Benefits
- A salary at the GS-12, step 3 federal pay level
- Federal employee benefits, including medical insurance and leave
- A possible salary increase after year one, based on performance
- Applied experience at the world’s leading public health agency
Eligibility
- A PhD (or equivalent) completed before the fellowship starts. Foreign degrees may need a credential evaluation and an English translation.
- One of the following:
- a US citizen
- a US permanent resident
- eligible for a US work authorisation: OPT STEM extension covering both years (current F-1 holders), TN (Canada and Mexico), J-1 or J-2, H-1B, or another visa allowing work in the US
- A degree in a relevant field:
- Traditional: economics, agricultural economics, health services research, public health or a related quantitative field
- Analytics & Modelling: epidemiology, infectious disease modelling, disease ecology, applied maths, operations research or industrial engineering, biological science, data science, evolutionary or analytic biology
Non-US citizens who progress in selection will be contacted about visa and work authorisation.
How to Apply
- Choose your track: Traditional, or Analytics & Modelling.
- Complete the online application on CDC’s fellowship portal (link below).
- Submit before 8 January 2027.
CDC PE Fellowship application portal · Official CDC PE Fellowship page
Tips for African PhD Holders in the US
- Check your OPT dates. Your STEM OPT must cover the full two years.
- Highlight your modelling or economic evaluation work, such as cost-effectiveness analyses or transmission models of malaria, TB or HIV.
- Talk to your university’s international office about J-1 or H-1B options before you apply.
