Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Fellowship, Ferguson RISE

The Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Fellowship RISE (Ferguson RISE)

The Ferguson RISE Fellowship Program is a CDC-funded initiative designed to:

• Support public health research and professional development in infectious diseases with a focus on infectious disease detection and wastewater surveillance.
• Increase knowledge and interest in public health research careers, particularly among graduate students.

Last year, 16 RSPH students (MPH and Doctoral) across departments applied and were awarded this fellowship.

Benefits:

• Personalized career mentoring
• Stipend: Summer Masters $8,600      Summar Doctoral $10,000,     12-month Masters and Doctoral $48,000
• Funds to present at conferences and publish
• Can count for APE or Practicum
• Summer Housing Expenses available for 12-month program if relocating 

Partnering Institutions

Ferguson RISE Fellowship collaborates with leading institutions: CDC, Rollins, Howard University, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins, Morehouse School of Medicine, CUNY School of Public Health. 

Learn More: Details Fellowship Information available here: Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE) Fellowship Program | Kennedy Krieger Institute

Key Details

• Application Portal is Open  2026 Program Applications | Kennedy Krieger Institute
• Application Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM (EST)
• Fellowship Positions: Summer program and 12-Month options available.
• Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.

REALM Graduate Research Assistant, PRISM Health

PRISM is seeking a Graduate Research Assistant to support 10 hrs/wk on the REALM study. This study is run by a research team at PRISM Health, located within the Epidemiology Department at RSPH, but will be a fully remote position. The team regularly works with students to provide access to data for thesis work, where applicable and appropriate (Please note that thesis work with study data will not count towards GRA work hours.). 

About the Study:  

REALM is a fully online, 15-month cohort study exploring depression and other mental illnesses, stigma, and suicide in sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations residing in rural areas across the United States. This study is aimed at enrolling SGM populations broadly, including non-heterosexual cisgender women and men, transgender women and men, and non-binary individuals. During the study, participants complete online surveys assessing mental health, substance use, minority stressors, trauma, suicide-related factors, and suicide ideation and attempts. Data from this study will be used to determine patterns of exposure to stigma, discrimination, trauma, and other distal stressors, and how these may vary across subgroups of rural SGM persons. These findings will then be used to design potential technology-delivered intervention activities to address depression and suicide among SGM groups. 

In this position, the candidate may: 

• Maintain participant communication by monitoring study email box and phone line 
• Review and process potential participants using an online participant record tracking system 
• Contact potential participants to verify eligibility for study enrollment 
• Create and post engaging recruitment ads on social media and other online recruitment venues (e.g. Instagram, Tinder, Jack’d); track advertising results; and strategize ways to increase engagement 
• Attend check-in meetings (and relevant study team meetings, if possible) 
• Other opportunities may be available if time permits and if the work aligns with candidate interests, such as assisting with the REALM Community Advisory Board (CAB). 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Ability to work remotely with reliable internet connection and email access 
• Knowledge and/or experience working with any LGBTQ+ populations 
• Organized and strong attention to detail 

  PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Knowledge and/or experience working with rural US populations 

For more information and application instructions, visit the job posting on 12Twenty.

Student Fellowship, Emory CIDMATH

The Emory Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analytics & Training Hub (CIDMATH) is launching a new student fellowship program designed to provide students with a multi-semester research opportunity culminating in an Infectious Disease Epidemiology thesis project, with the potential to complete an APE. 

Applications due January 30th and can be found on 12Twenty. There will also be an information session on January 16th from 12-1pm in CNR 3001.

Students will work with curated datasets (e.g., MarketScan, Advan Research), data collected in collaboration with clinical and public health partners (Kaiser Permanente GA, GA Emerging Infections Program), and CIDMATH-generated data under the mentorship of CIDMATH faculty, postdocs and PhD students, in addition to participating in CIDMATH Journal Club and structured workshops to develop presentation skills. EPI students, regardless of REAL eligibility, are invited to apply. 

Special topics include social contact studies, wastewater surveillance and modeling, machine learning, vaccine evaluation, emerging infectious diseases, and more. 

The ideal candidate is a first-year MPH/MSPH student in the Epidemiology department who is able to dedicate 10-15 hours a week to the position and is looking for a multi-semester research opportunity through Spring 2027. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Managing and analyzing project-specific data  

• Attendance of CIDMATH Student Fellowship events and development workshops 

• Timely completion of project milestones as decided by the student and their mentor 

Requirements  

• Interest in completing a thesis project in Infections Disease Epidemiology 

• Strong analytical skills 

• Coding experience in R 

• Data visualization and data management 

Preferred Skills 

• Python 

• SQL 

• Power BI/Tableau 

• GIS 

Social Media Content Interest Form, Department of Epidemiology

Pathways to Practice Scholars Program, Region IV Public Health Training Center

MPH students in Region IV: Do you have an unpaid Spring 2026 internship?

You may be eligible for a $3,500 stipend through the Region IV Public Health Training Center Pathways to Practice Scholars Program if you:

✔️ Are an MPH student at a CEPH-accredited school in Region IV (AL, GA, FL, KY, MS, NC, TN, SC)

✔️ Have secured an unpaid, public health-related internship (e.g., health department, non-profit, CBO) for Spring 2026?

📝 To apply, review, and complete the Student-Initiated Proposal form and email it to Liz Kidwell by December 15, 2025.

👉 Down the student form here: https://buff.ly/v0fe5gO

🔗 Learn more about Pathways to Practice and eligibility: https://buff.ly/OMwrbvr

Please share with students and faculty in Region IV who support emerging public health professionals!