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HomeHost Site BilletsProspective FellowsProspective Host SitesResourcesSelect Page Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Class VI Class VII Class VIII Class IX Class X Class XI Class XII Class XIII Class XIV CSTE, in collaboration with CDC, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), established the Applied Epidemiology Fellowship to train recent graduates in the expanding field of applied epidemiology. The goal of the Fellowship is to provide a high quality training experience and to secure long-term career placement for Fellows at the state or local level. Participating fellows will receive two years of on-the-job training at a state or local health agency under the guidance of an experienced mentor. The Fellowship’s mission is to meet the nation’s ongoing need for applied epidemiology workforce capacity in state and local health departments through a national fellowship-training program.The Fellowship focuses on balancing three key concepts as identified in Applied Epidemiology and Training Program (AETP) Development Handbook (McDonnell, 2002):Provide service to the sponsoring agencyCreate and train a core group of public health workersStrengthen capacity in applied epidemiology across public health institutions FeaturesTrainingMentors and Host Health AgencyFeaturesThe CSTE Applied Epidemiology Fellowship is designed for recent master’s or doctoral level graduates in epidemiology or a related field who are interested in public health practice at the state or local level. The program provides rigorous training for its participants while also being flexible to meet the particular interests of the fellow. Fellows are carefully matched to host agencies based on the fellow’s career interests and the host agency’s available opportunities. Program participants develop a set of core skills through competency-based training. Training Closely designed after the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) program and using a mentorship model, the CSTE Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for graduates to acquire and develop epidemiologic skills during a high-quality, on-the-job training program. Fellows work closely with highly trained and experienced epidemiologists at the state and local level, as well as experts working at the federal level. All fellowship graduates have secured permanent positions and most are working in epidemiology at the state or local level. Mentors and Host Health AgencyEach fellow is assigned to a designated host health agency and two highly trained and experienced mentors (primary and secondary mentors). Host health agencies are approved by CSTE and have demonstrated their ability to provide a fellow with technical training, research opportunities, and practical experience in the application of epidemiologic methods. Fellowship Application Timeline Class 20 (2022-2024): Fellowship will start during the Summer of 2022 The Class 20 Application cycle has been extended to May 18, 2022.2021-2022 Fellow Application Timeline:December 21, 2021– Fellow application opens. Please see the application link below.May 18, 2022– Fellow application closes. All applications and supporting materials must be received; any information received after this date will not be considered.February-March, 2022 – Host site billets for Class 20 will be available on our Host Site Billet page (Host Site Billets | CSTE Fellows)February-March, 2022– Application review. Complete applications are reviewed and evaluated by multiple panels of epidemiologists based on predetermined criteria.April 2022– Matching process. Select finalists are invited to participate in a matching process that includes interviewing with potential host agencies.June-August, 2022– Fellow placement. New Fellows begin their placements during the summer of 2022.Class 20 Fellow Application Link: https://webportalapp.com/sp/cste_aef_candidate_application Applied Epidemiology Fellowship Competencies Epidemiologic MethodsDesign or implement a new, or revise an existing surveillance systemEvaluate a surveillance system and know the limitations of surveillance dataPlay a functional role and participate in emergency preparedness and response (training, tabletop exercises, surge capacity, etc.)Interpret surveillance dataDesign an epidemiologic study to address a health problemDemonstrate an understanding of study design and the advantages and limitations of each typeDesign a questionnaire or other data collection tool to address a health problemCollect health data from appropriate sources (e.g. case interviews, medical records, vital statistics records, laboratory reports, or pathology reports)Create a database for a health data setUse statistical software to analyze and characterize epidemiologic dataInterpret findings from epidemiologic studies, including recognition of the limitations of the data and potential sources of bias and/or confoundingRecommend control measures, prevention programs, or other public health interventions based on epidemiologic findings* Indicates Core Competencies addressed in the fellowship orientation curriculum or in webinar format hosted by CSTE. CommunicationWrite a field investigation report resulting from participation in an outbreak investigation or a time-sensitive field investigationWrite a surveillance reportUnderstand the basic process for preparing a manuscript for publication*Make an oral presentation using appropriate mediaPresent data graphically and know how to use graphic softwareUnderstand the basics of health risk communication and communicate epidemiologic findings in a manner easily understood by lay audiencesMasters-level Fellows: present at a national or regional meeting, publish a technical report, or prepare a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journalDoctoral-level fellows: prepare a manuscript for publication in a peer reviewed journal* Indicates Core Competencies addressed in the fellowship orientation curriculum or in webinar format hosted by CSTE. Public Health Practice, Policy and Legal IssuesUnderstand the basics of public health lawUnderstand the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA)*Distinguish between public health research and public health practice*Understand policies for the protection of human subjects in research and the role of an Institutional Review Board (IRB)*Know the essential public health functions*Understand the roles of local, state, and federal public health agencies*Appreciate the diversity of how epidemiology is used in different program areasUnderstand and demonstrate cultural sensitivity and its relevance to public health practice* Indicates Core Competencies addressed in the fellowship orientation curriculum or in webinar format hosted by CSTE. Optional ExperiencesProvide epidemiologic input into an assessment of a local public health priority or issueFellow to work with another AEF fellow or other public health trainee to complete a similar project and provide support to each other during the project phaseFellow to complete a visit to a lab or a different type of STLT agency than his/her placement; a fellow may also seek to complete an in-person hands-on experience (up to 5 days) in a different area than where he or she works to assist with a short term project or assignmentFellows to complete a report, presentation, brief, etc. related to one of the following activities: (1) Demonstrate knowledge of non-ID data sources and work on a project around this source; (2) Assist a non-ID department with a grant writing opportunity* Indicates Core Competencies addressed in the fellowship orientation curriculum or in webinar format hosted by CSTE. Fellowship Details Stipend:Fellows with a masters-level degree will be paid a bimonthly stipend of up to $45,000 annually. Doctoral-level candidates will be paid up to $59,000. Effective June 2, 2021 the fellowship stipend will be $49,500 for masters level and $64,900 for doctoral level fellows. This stipend is fixed and non-negotiable.Insurance: In addition to the stipend, up to $370 per month ($4,440 per year) will be available to defray the costs for individual health insurance coverage selected by the fellow. These funds are to be used for medical and/or dental coverage.Moving/Relocation Expenses: Up to $1,000 will be provided for moving related expenses.Professional Development: $970 per year is provided to each fellow for professional development. This stipend can be used for travel to meetings or conferences, short-term training programs, purchasing work-related books, and classes intended to aid in work-related projects.Fellow Activities:Orientation: All incoming fellows participate in a five-day orientation in Atlanta, Georgia. The orientation covers various topics related to developing the Applied Epidemiology Core Competencies. The curriculum is taught by CSTE and CDC epidemiologists as well as faculty from Schools of Public Health.Plan of Action: After starting at the host health agency, the fellow and mentors develop a mutually agreed upon plan for fulfilling the Applied Epidemiology Core Competencies. By the end of the third month of the fellowship, the fellow and mentors submit a formal “Plan of Action” that outlines how the fellow will complete the required core activities and address the competencies.Progress Reports/Evaluations: Each fellow completes quarterly progress reports updating the activities from his/her Plan of Action. Reports describe completed activities, accomplishments to date, and any new activities. Additionally, each fellow works with his/her mentors to complete biannual evaluations. These evaluations assess the fellow’s performance and outline progress toward meeting the required core activities.Certification: A certificate from CSTE is awarded to each fellow at the end of the two-year fellowship, provided they demonstrate completion of all required core activities, submit a final report to CSTE, and perform satisfactorily during the fellowship according to their supervisors.CSTE Annual Conference: Fellows are required to attend the CSTE Annual conference each year of their fellowship. Fellows are required to submit abstracts for the conference. Fellows are not expected to use their professional development allowance to attend the conference. Contact UsHave questions concerning the Applied Epidemiology Fellowship program that are not covered here on the site? No problem, just use our contact form.Contact FacebookTwitterGoogleRSSDesigned by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress