Mentorship FAQs

• Your laboratory is NOT a private or commercial laboratory.
• Ability to host an intern(s) or fellow(s) for the duration of the program. 
  • 12-16 weeks for Public Health Laboratory Interns
  • 1 year for Genomic Data Interns
  • 1 year for Public Health Laboratory Fellows
• Approval from your laboratory director for your proposed project​.

• ​Your Laboratory Information
• One (1) project per application submission approved by your laboratory director
• Time frame you would like to host an intern or fellow
• Number of interns or fellows you would like to host
• Approval from your supervisor or laboratory director

• Mentors can submit multiple projects and request multiple interns per project (up to 5). However, only one project can be submitted per application. Please submit additional applications for additional projects.  
• All projects must be approved by your director supervisor or Laboratory Director.

• Mentors can submit multiple projects and request multiple fellows per project (up to 3). However, only one project can be submitted per application. Please submit additional applications for additional projects.  
• All projects must be approved by your Laboratory Director.

• No, however each mentor needs to submit their own application. 

A selection committee will evaluate mentor applications. Selection will be based on:  

• Strength of the proposed project including applicability of project goals and outcomes to broader public health applications and integration of state public health programs into the proposed project(s).  
• Demonstration of the mentor’s ability to meet the requirements outlined above.  ​
• Degree to which the internship or fellowship pool meets the needs of the laboratory. 

The fellow will sign a one-year contract. 

The fellow is expected to work 40 hours a week. 

Fellows will work on projects specific to a laboratory science focus area that will support public health, One Health, and other initiatives. Below are examples of the different focus areas fellows could be matched with and placed into: 

Upon finding a match, the fellowship team and APHL's Legal team needs approximately 8 weeks to process the match. The start date will be about 8 weeks about from the day you identify the match, on the 1st or 15th of the month. 

​Fellows abide by the holidays that the host laboratory observe. Any time taken outside of the normal holidays will be considered PTO, which the fellows have 12 days of.

Have an individual in mind already and want them to apply to be a fellow? Here are the eligibility requirements and application materials required. 

• Proof of US citizenship or permanent residency​
• Transcript (official or unofficial; PDF version will be required for upload/attachment to application)
• Resume or CV (PDF version will be required for upload/attachment to application)
  
• Professional references and their email addresses (bachelor and master level applicants will need two (2) and doctorate level will need three (3) with one being their doctoral program advisor)
• List of desirable placement/location options for your fellowship
  
• Be at least 18 years old
• Completed at least a bachelor's degree or will expect completion by the time the fellowship begins
  
• Be prepared to be a fellow for at least one year, attend professional development opportunities and complete periodic reports/surveys as well as training curriculum​

On average, a Public Health Laboratory Internship runs for 12-16 weeks. However, the internship could be extended if agreed upon by the intern, mentor, and the APHL Internship Team. 

The Genomic Data Intern will sign a one year contract.

Interns can work a minimum of 10 hours a week and a maximum of 40, depending on the mentor's availability and the intern's class schedule.

Here are the brackets: 

Genomic Data Interns can work a minimum of 6 hours a week and a maximum of 20, depending on the mentor's availability and the intern's class schedule. 

Here are the brackets:

Upon finding a match and notifying the internship team, we need about 5 weeks to process the intern's onboarding and contract. The intern will start on the 1st or 15th of your chosen month, with at least 5 weeks of lead time. 

• Preparing samples for analysis by lab microbiologists   
• Collecting water samples to check for lead levels   
• Collection kit preparation   
• Administrative support and documentation    
• Specimen intake   
• Shipping/send outs   
• Data entry   

• Workflow validation, documentation and standard operating procedures. 
• Support local and national sequencing surveillance efforts. 
• Research and implement new quality control measures.
• Follow guidance from federal partners to ensure compliance with best practices for quality analysis, documentation, annotation and variant identification.
• Create custom visualizations and dashboards for genomic data and trends.

Have a student in mind and want them to apply to the internship program? Here are the eligibility and application requirements. 

• 18 years or older ​​at the time of application submission​
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident
• Enrolled as an active student in a Certificate, Associate, Bachelor, or Master Program 
• ​2.0 + GPA 
• Active insurance for the duration of the program

• Identify one (1) individual (professional or academic) who is willing to provide an assessment of your skills 
• Current GPA (Note: Official transcript will be required after acceptance to the program during the onboarding process.) 
• Work history ​

Have a student in mind and want them to apply to the internship program? Here are the eligibility and application requirements. 

• 18 years or older ​​at the time of application submission​
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident 
  
• Have a computer capable of performing the required tasks 
  
• Enrolled as an active student in a Master or Doctoral Program 
• ​3.0 + GPA ​
• Active insurance for the duration of the program

• Identify two (2) individuals (professional or academic) who are willing to provide an assessment of your skills 
• Current GPA and all relevant Unofficial Transcripts (Note: Official transcript will be required after acceptance to the program during the onboarding process.) 
  
• Resume (CV)
  
• Work history ​

Public Health Laboratory Interns are limited to where they can commute to. Locations include where they attend university, or where they have family residing. No remote Public Health Laboratory Internships are offered. The internships team will identify candidates that are within a commutable distance to your laboratory and send you a spreadsheet with their information.

Genomic Data Interns can be remote, hybrid, or in person. In person and hybrid candidates are also limited to where they can commute to. We will only send you Genomic Data candidates that are in the same time zone as you.