Yerby Fellowship Program
Yerby Fellows work under the guidance of senior faculty at Harvard Chan School to develop research agendas, receive grant support, and pursue publication. They can also gain teaching experience and other professional development as they work toward entry-level positions in academia.
Applying to the Program
The Harvard Chan Yerby Fellowship Program draws on the rich research environment and intellectual resources of one of the world’s premier public health training institutions. Named for Dr. Alonzo Smythe Yerby, an African-American pioneer in public health, this program aims to expand the diversity of those entering the academic public health field. The program creates a bridge between academic training in public health-related fields and entry-level faculty positions at institutions throughout the United States.
The goal of the program is to advance the intellectual and professional development of each Yerby Fellow. Under the guidance of a senior Harvard Chan School faculty member with compatible interests, Yerby Fellows develop research agendas, receive grant support, and actively pursue publication in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, Yerby Fellows can gain teaching experience and participate in a wide variety of professional development activities.
How to Apply
The application cycle for the 2025 Yerby Fellowship is now closed. We will be opening our next application cycle in August 2025.
- Applicants for postdoctoral fellowships must have earned a doctorate in a public health-related discipline, preferably at the time of application, but in some exceptional circumstances before the fellowship begins. Candidates for research associate should have at least two years of postdoctoral training completed, visiting lecturers should have five years postdoctoral experience. For more information regarding Harvard Chan School appointment titles, descriptions of titles can be found on the Office of Faculty Affairs Intranet.
- Applicants must be U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of application submission. This position is unable to provide visa sponsorship.
- Applicants from underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Underrepresented, as defined by the NIH, includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Individuals from other backgrounds who would contribute to academic diversity, including individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and those with disabilities, are also encouraged to apply.
- Applicants must submit a completed application through the online application portal that includes the following: curriculum vitae, publication sample(s), official graduate school transcript, 2 letters of recommendation, and responses to all supplement questions.
- Making preliminary connections with Harvard Chan School faculty whose work is of particular interest and who may be suitable intellectual mentors for the applicant is encouraged. Please mention any such outreach or correspondence in relevant application sections.
All candidates are encouraged to address the dimension of diversity and/or health equity they believe their fellowship would contribute to the School and the profession in their applications.
To qualify for consideration, applicants must submit a completed application online that includes the following:
- Provide answers to all the required fields.
- Goals: Briefly describe the specific research goals to be completed during the fellowship, preferably including identified department(s) and/or mentor(s) at the School (750 words)
- Background: A personal statement discussing the origin of current and past research accomplishments, interests, and/or goals (250 words)
- Explain the relevance of your background to the program’s goal of increasing the diversity of academic public health (150 words).
- Current Harvard-affiliated fellows ONLY: How would the Yerby Fellowship expand your growth and development opportunities that are otherwise unavailable in your current fellowship?
- Curriculum vitae
- One publication sample (manuscript under review or dissertation excerpt is acceptable)
- Official graduate school transcript
- 2 letters of recommendation*
*A submission link with deadline information will be sent to your two (2) references only after you submit your complete application
Each application will be reviewed on the following criteria:
- Academic and professional achievements to date
- Demonstration of potential for leadership in public health professions
- Potential for significant contributions to academic area of expertise
- Interpersonal and communications skills (written and oral)
- Individual plans for incorporating the fellowship experience into specific career goals
Finalists will be notified and contacted for an interview via Zoom or in person. All applicants will be notified of their status. Applicants who are selected for interviews will receive details about the remainder of the process upon invitation.
The Fellowship seeks candidates whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to a stronger, more diverse public health community. The program is particularly interested in scholars with the potential to bring to their research and teaching a critical understanding of the experiences of historically underrepresented groups in higher education.
Ideal applicants will show a demonstrated interest in and experience with independent research, advanced scientific publication, and grant writing, even if in the context of team science or scholarly collaborations.
Learn More
Each fellow will be based within one of the School’s nine academic departments:
- Biostatistics
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
- Global Health and Population
- Health Policy and Management
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Metabolism
- Nutrition
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Upcoming Information Sessions
Join us for one of our 2026 Yerby Fellowship Program information sessions! Sessions will be posted in August 2025.
Selection Committee Membership
Issa J. Dahabreh, MD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Christy A. Denckla, PhD
Assistant Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Cindy Leung, ScD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
John Quackenbush, PhD
Henry Pickering Walcott Professor of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Jessalyn M. Ubellacker, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Molecular Metabolism, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Aisha K. Yousafzai, PhD
Professor of Child Development and Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Ex Officio Membership
Jennifer M. Ivers, PhD
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Office of Faculty Affairs
Kimberly Salas Harris
Director of Pathway Programs and Faculty Pipeline Initiatives
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Program Administration
Mollie-Anne F. Maxfield
Faculty Affairs Program Manager