The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) works to safeguard the public's health by strengthening public health laboratories in the United States and across the world. In collaboration with members, APHL advances laboratory systems and practices, and promotes policies that support healthy communities. Its membership includes state and local public health laboratories, environmental laboratories and others that conduct testing of public health significance. Individuals and international representatives also participate in the association. APHL is a non-profit, 501(C)(3) organization with a history of over fifty years.

Fellowship Programs

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) fellowship programs, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prepare laboratory scientists for careers in public health laboratory practice.

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Laboratory Fellowships

The Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Laboratory Fellowship Program, sponsored by APHL and CDC, trains and prepares scientists for careers in public health laboratories and supports public health initiatives related to infectious disease research. The EID Advanced Laboratory Training Fellowship is a one-year program designed for bachelors or masters level scientists, with emphasis on the practical application of technologies, methodologies and practices related to emerging infectious diseases. The EID Laboratory Research Fellowship is a two-year program designed for doctoral level (PhD, MD or DVM) scientists to conduct high-priority infectious diseases research.

Areas of training and/or research include: development and evaluation of diagnostic techniques, antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance, principles and practices of vector or animal control, emerging pathogens and laboratory-epidemiology interaction.

All fellows participate in an orientation session at CDC in Atlanta to gain a general understanding of the public health laboratory system and how it relates to infectious disease surveillance, prevention, research and control. Fellows are placed in local, state or federal (CDC) public health laboratories throughout the US. Fellows are provided with a stipend, medical insurance, travel to the host laboratory and a professional development allowance. Applicants must be US citizens and must be able to start appointment at the host laboratory as well as participate in the orientation session at CDC Atlanta following the program timeline.

All applicants are required to submit one original single-sided application to APHL by the application deadline. A resume or cover letter cannot take the place of an application. Recommendation forms with letters and transcripts should be collected by the applicant and forwarded with the application to APHL. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all materials are received at APHL by the application deadline. Applications that are incomplete, or received after the deadline date, will not be considered. To view or download the fellowship program application, click here.

Additional information can be found at Frequently Asked Questions

Environmental Health Traineeship

The program provides travel for current laboratory staff to attend relevant conferences or trainings, or short-term (1-6 week) specialized training in environmental health technology and testing methods at another state health department, NCEH/CDC, or other state or federal agencies (such as ATSDR, EPA, NIEHS or NIOSH). Any APHL-member public health laboratory or any environmental health laboratory affiliated with an APHL-member public health laboratory may apply to the program. Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

* Be a current full-time permanent employee of an APHL-member public health laboratory.
* Be nominated by the director of their laboratory.


This information is reposted with thanks to The Association of Public Health Laboratories.