Eligibility and How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in the Texas Public Health Fellowship! The online 2025-26 Texas Public Health Fellowship Application will open December 9th, 2024. All applications will be due February 16, 2025 by 11:59pm. Please read the application instructions in the How to Apply section before starting the online application! 

2025-26 Texas Public Health Fellowship Online Application

You are eligible to apply and will be considered for the Fellowship if you are interested in pursuing a career in public health and early in your public health career. Fellows come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and all levels of education (high school diploma, associate's, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, community health worker). We encourage people from any background to apply.

All applicants must:

• Be early in their public health career with less than two years of full-time, professional experience in public health OR be transitioning into public health from another industry.
• Live in Texas during the Fellowship
• Provide legal proof of authorization to work in the United States
• Be at least 18 years old by June 1, 2025.

All applicants must be willing to:

• Commit to full-time work (40 hours per week) for one year, from June 1, 2025 to May 30, 2026
• Be in person full-time during the Fellowship
• Participate in professional development activities
• Meet expectations of assigned Host Site
• Participate in Fellowship activities with a cohort of Fellows

Is the Fellowship a good fit for me?

You should consider applying if you fit one or more of these descriptions:

• Enthusiastic about and interested in public health

• Interested in applying my technical background, skill, or expertise to public health

• Interested in getting experience in a specific area of public health

• Recently completed a degree or planning to graduate by June 1, 2025

• Want to gain practical skills and experience before moving forward with a master's or doctoral degree

Have you recently completed a degree or will you complete your degree by June 2025?

The Fellowship is a great gap year experience. Whatever your level of education, the Fellowship could be a great fit for you. Perhaps you just finished your high school, associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree and are looking for opportunities to apply what you’ve learned.

Will you be a full-time student during the Fellowship?

If you plan to be a full-time student at any point from June 1, 2025 – May 30, 2026, this is not the best program for you. The Fellowship requires Fellows to commit 40 hours per week during regular business hours to the Fellowship. We recommend focusing on your degree and applying once you’ve graduated.

Are you interested in transitioning your career into public health?

Perhaps you’ve worked in a different industry and are interested in applying your expertise to public health. The Fellowship could be a great way to become familiar with the field and initiate your career in public health. 

To complete your application, you will need to do the following:

1. Review available fellowships on the Texas Public Health Fellowship website. Each fellowship is different with a unique public health topic, activities, and deliverables. Note the name and fellowship ID# for the fellowships that interest you. You will be able to apply to one or up to 5 fellowships with ONE application. When selecting your fellowship(s), make sure the public health topics align with your interests and career goals. Consider the location of the fellowship(s) you select. If you apply to a Fellowship that will require that you relocate, please know that you will be responsible for relocation expenses. As you select your fellowships, consider the Required Applicant Qualifications, Preferred Education Qualifications, and Preferred Specialized and Technical Skills sections of each Fellowship Description.

2. Review application questions before completing the online application. 

3. Prepare your one-page resume.

   • Limit your resume to one page.
   • Include educational background, relevant training, relevant professional and/or volunteer experience, and accomplishments.
   • Save as .PDF
   • Save with this file naming structure: LastName-FirstName-resume.pdf, example: Doe-Jane-resume.pdf
   • You will be asked to attach your resume in your online application. 
4. Prepare three short essays (200 words each)
   • What skills or experience are you hoping to acquire during the fellowship, and how will participating in the program support your future career goals? 
   • Describe a health issue in your community. What would you do to improve health outcomes for your community? 
   • How did you get interested in public health? What public health topic is most interesting to you? Tell us why you are interested in that particular topic.
5. Complete the online application. Available December 9th, 2024. You can review questions ahead of time with the Fellow Application PDF. 
6. Provide two references
   • Identify and ask for support from two references ahead of time. Let them know you are planning to apply to the Texas Public Health Fellowship. 
     • References should be able to comment on your skills and abilities as a student or worker. A good reference could be a current or former professor, employer, manager, or someone from an organization where you’ve volunteered. A family member or friend is not a good reference.
     • In the online application, you will provide name, credentials, email address, and phone number or two references.
   • Share Reference Survey link with your references. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/6e233cb74b5e47d88159a27a1ed13008. The link will also be available in the application. 
   • References surveys are due February 16th, 2025 by 11:59pm. 
   • If you have questions about gathering references, please contact our team for support (TxPHFellowship@dshs.texas.gov).

2025-26 Texas Public Health Fellowship