Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (RISE) Graduate Fellowship Program

The Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement (Ferguson RISE) Graduate Fellowship Program is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-funded program designed to support public health research and professional development in infectious diseases and promote health. The fellowship focuses on increasing knowledge and interest in public health research careers among graduate students. The optimal format for the public health research experiences is in-person; however, hybrid and virtual options are available. The Center for Excellence in Public Health Leadership welcomes all eligible candidates to apply, regardless of race, ethnicity, or other protected characteristics.

Ferguson RISE Fellows complete mentored research experiences at sites across the nation. Ferguson RISE Fellowship's partnering institutions include: the CDC, Kennedy Krieger (lead agency), City University of New York (CUNY) School of Public Health, Howard University, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Morehouse School of Medicine, Olive View-UCLA Education & Research Institute, and Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Each year, we invite new collaborations with other universities and state public health departments where fellows may be placed. Focal research areas include Advanced Molecular Detection and Wastewater Surveillance.

Eligibility for Summer Program

• Applicants must be a US citizen, US National, or permanent resident.
• Summer program applicants are required to be enrolled as a full-time graduate student in one of the following graduate programs for the duration of the fellowship: medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, public health, allied health, social sciences or a related program (e.g., biomedical sciences, microbiology, physics, chemistry, etc.).
• The Ferguson RISE Fellowship is for talented graduate scholars with at least a 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants must be able to commit to participating in program activities full-time for the length of the Ferguson RISE Fellowship. Some program activities require in-person attendance.

Eligibility for 12-Month Program 

• Applicants must be a US citizen, US National, or permanent resident.
• 12-month Ferguson RISE Fellowship applicants are required to meet one of the following eligibility criteria:
  • Completed one of the following graduate programs within the 12 months preceding the fellowship start date: medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, public health, allied health, social sciences or a related program (e.g., biomedical sciences, microbiology, physics, chemistry, etc.) 
    
    OR
     
  • Doctoral candidate in one of the graduate programs above who has completed all graduate requirements (coursework, preliminary exams, research proposal) except for the dissertation (i.e., all but dissertation).
• The Ferguson RISE Fellowship is for talented graduate scholars with at least a 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants must be able to commit to participating in program activities full-time for the length of the Ferguson RISE Fellowship. Some program activities require in-person attendance.