Internship Program FAQs

CDC's e-learning course, Introduction to Public Health, offers an introduction to public health core functions, essential services, key terms, historical perspectives and the determinants affecting population health.

Check out this video for a brief look at the tasks performed in a public health laboratory.

If you have any questions, the Internships team is here to help! Please contact us at [email protected].

​​If you would like to schedule a meeting with a staff member from the Internship team, please visit our Bookings page​​​. For general inquiries, select “Office Hours”. In the select staff option, please select the appropriate staff member. If you are unsure who to select, select any time slot that is available, and the staff member will be assigned after the request is submitted. Please ensure you describe your office hour request in the “Notes” section.

Once the meeting is scheduled, you will receive a follow-up email from bookings, containing confirmation for the meeting, a link to a Teams meeting and any other details.

You do not need a Teams account to access a Teams meeting. You can enter as a guest directly from your browser. However, if you would prefer a Zoom meeting, please leave that in the notes section and someone from our team will be in contact with the Zoom link.

On average, internships run for 12–16 weeks. However, your internship could be extended at the discretion of your mentor.

Genomic data internships are a one-year commitment.

Public Health Laboratory interns can work 10 or more hours a week, depending on their agreement with their mentor and their availability. It is crucial to discuss your availability with the mentor if you are offered a position. 

Genomic Data Interns can work 6–20 hours a week, depending on the intern and the mentor's availability. They cannot work more than 80 hours a month. 

Academic or professional contacts are ideal references. This could include a manager from a summer job or a professor who has overseen your work, for example.

No. Applicants will submit one application which will be reviewed by APHL. Those who are qualified will then be placed in a candidate pool and matched with a prospective mentor. The mentor will then invite the candidate to an interview.

Yes. Once a confirmed match has been made with a mentor we will then require you to submit your official transcripts if you have not already.

No, your reference information must be included before you can submit your application as final. The application sends an automated request to the contact’s e-mail provided in the professional reference field. Once the reference submits their response, the applicant will receive a notification. The applicant must then return to their application and “Submit as Final.”

• Academic experience 
• Work experience 
• Response to narrative statements 
• Professional or academic reference evaluation 

During the review phase, the APHL Internship Team will review applications against a set of rubrics. The applicant will be notified if their application is approved. Following approval, the Internship Team will begin matching the applicant to approved mentor projects. For details on the full application process, refer to the “Application Process” dropdown above.

Internships

Applications are open during four application periods per year. The application periods are outlined here.

Genomic Data Internships

You can apply at any time for the Genomic Data Internship. The application is open year-round.

• To apply, visit submit.aphl.org.
• If you already have an account, log in. If you do not have an account, click "Create Account". Be sure to use a personal email address, not your university email address. 
• Once logged in select the appropriate application from the drop downs. 
  • For the Public Health Laboratory Internship Program, select "Public Health Laboratory Internship Program: Participant Application".
  • For the Genomic Data Internship Program, select "Genomic Data Internship Program: Participant Application".
• Click "Create" and complete the application 

All interns and fellows receive their stipend once a month, on or around the last day of the month, via direct deposit. This cannot be changed.