FAQs for Applicants

Successful applicants’ education must meet the requirements of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM’s) requirements for the health science (0601) or social science (0101) occupational series to be hired. However, a variety of degrees may be considered for this training program given the cross-cutting nature of public health and evaluation. Most common types of degrees are MPH, Master of Science, PhD, and DrPH. Some example degree areas include public health, psychology, epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, and biostatistics.

There is no limit on time when you last completed your qualifying degree.

Yes, applicants must have their degree conferred by the end of Spring semester of the year you apply. Your transcript must provide information for the degree you are working towards, completed courses, grades received, and remaining courses. The selected Fellow must submit an official transcript with the degree conferred no later than June to be able to be selected.

No. Successful evaluation experiences can be in a variety of different areas, such as a capstone project, working with non-profit organizations, etc.

Successful applicants ranged in the level of experience (e.g., from capstone project in school, working in non-profit, to experience leading evaluation at larger institutions). Successful applicants have demonstrated experience with at least three evaluation projects through their application and CVs.

We look at evaluation training (e.g., course work and professional development); breadth and depth of evaluation experience (e.g., types of evaluation approaches and methods, leading larger project, or subcomponent); good writing and communication skills; transferable skills and experience (e.g., working diverse representation in perspectives, background, and/or culture) and alignment between professional/career goals and what the Fellowship offers.

Transcripts issued to the student are acceptable with the application. However, they must state your degree of study, courses taken, earned grades, and graduation date. If selected as a Fellow, you must have your academic institution(s) send an official transcript(s) issued directly to the “CDC Evaluation Fellowship and CDC Human Resources Office” to evaluationfellows@cdc.gov. If your academic institution does not have electronic official transcripts available, then please discuss with the Fellowship at evaluationfellows@cdc.gov.

Transcripts must be submitted by the deadline for your application package to be considered.

Transcripts should be for your qualifying/highest degree at the doctoral or master’s level. The qualifying degree is the one most related to the CDC’s work in public health and evaluation. If selected as a Fellow, your qualifying degree is one of the factors that determines your salary. If you have multiple graduate degrees (master’s or doctorate) and you are unsure of which degree qualifies, then submit official transcripts for all doctoral and master’s degrees that you have.

No, there is no particular format or requirement. However, you must include your email and phone number so that you can be contacted.

No. The CDC Evaluation Fellowship does not offer tuition reimbursement or student loan assistance at this time.

Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education, offers the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Please see their website for eligibility and requirements for the program.

The Fellowship is considered a qualifying employment for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. One of the requirements is obtaining and submitting annual employment certification.  Fellows can request the employment certification to CDC Human Resources Office once they begin the Fellowship and will need to submit this request annually.

No. Fellows are responsible for their own housing and moving costs.

Fellows must start the Fellowship in mid-August.

Each year, we receive hundreds of applications and we welcome about 20 Fellows into the Fellowship.

Following the interview period, Fellows are matched with host programs based on mutual interest. Finalists will be able to rank their preferred programs but are not guaranteed a specific placement.

Applicants who reach the “Finalist” phase will be provided with a list of current and/or former Fellows who are available to talk about the Fellowship.

The projects that Fellows take on vary based on their host program placements. Typical projects include conducting evaluations, building evaluation capacity in CDC funding recipients, and designing performance monitoring systems.

If your questions are not answered in the informational session, you may email your questions to evaluationfellows@cdc.gov.