Applying to be a Fellow

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident currently living in the United States.
• Work in public health training or develop public health learning materials.
• Be employed by a state, local, territorial, tribal, academic, hospital, or other organization that supports public health education. Federal employees are not eligible to apply to be a fellow.
• Have organizational approval to publish the completed course on TRAIN (national, state, or CDC TRAIN).
• Have an interest in learning instructional design and e-learning best practices.

Preferred qualifications

Applicants who are new to instructional design or consider themselves at a beginner or intermediate skill level are encouraged to apply.

Approximately 20 fellows are selected for each group. Selection is competitive and based on the applicant's experience, potential for growth, and the anticipated impact of the fellowship on their organization and the broader public health community.

Before applying

ELI is designed for public health professionals who create or support workforce training and want to strengthen their e-learning design skills.

Participants commit to a six-month online fellowship that combines independent work, mentorship, and live virtual sessions. Before applying, consider whether you can meet the program's time and participation requirements.

ELI focuses on instructional design principles rather than teaching how to use specific e-learning software. While fellows may receive guidance on software from mentors during the fellowship, they should be prepared to learn and use their chosen e-learning software independently. Note that organizations are not required to use specific e-learning software. Previous fellows have successfully used Microsoft PowerPoint if no other software is available.

Time commitment

Participants should expect to

• Commit to the full six-month, online fellowship.
• Spend approximately 2–3 hours per week during business hours participating in fellowship activities.
• Spend up to 10 additional hours per week developing their e-learning project for the duration of the fellowship.
• Attend required live virtual sessions throughout the fellowship, including the virtual final showcase where fellows present on their projects.

Each fellow is paired with experienced mentors who provide guidance throughout the program. Fellows are responsible for completing and managing their own projects.

How to apply

When applications open:

1. Review the eligibility requirements.
2. Gather the required application materials.
3. Complete the online application by November 13, 2026.
4. Ensure your supervisor submits the required recommendation before the application deadline.

Application checklist

Before starting the online application, gather the following information:

Personal information

• Contact information
• Education history
• Post-graduate training and professional skills
• Work and volunteer experience

Personal statement

Prepare responses to the following questions (maximum 300 words each):

• Why are you interested in the fellowship?
• What makes you a strong candidate?
• How will you apply what you learn?
• Which two skills do you most want to develop?
• What opportunities exist at your organization to continue to develop e-learning after you complete this program?
• What challenges does your organization face in developing e-learning?
• What is your current experience using e-learning software?

Project sample

Submit a sample of the content you want to develop during the fellowship.

The sample may be:

• A PDF or Microsoft Word document (.docx), or
• A web link to existing content.

The content must be owned or approved by your organization for development into an online learning product.

Supervisor recommendation

Your supervisor must provide a recommendation. During the online application, you will provide your supervisor’s email address. An automated email is sent to the supervisor to complete the required online recommendation form.

The recommendation must

• Be written in English.
• Be completed by a supervisor familiar with your work, professional accomplishments, and potential.
• Confirm support for your participation in the fellowship.