Apply to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Fellowship

July 24, 2025
9:50 am

The GBD Fellowship is an early-career training program that provides opportunities for interdisciplinary research in health metrics to individuals with a doctorate degree or equivalent (PhD, MD, DPhil, MBBS). This program combines academic research, education and training, and professional work with mentoring from IHME faculty and researchers. The purpose of the Fellowship is to enhance an individual’s skills in conducting and leading in-depth methodological research on a variety of health metrics topics. The GBD Fellowship is a cohort-based program focused on bringing together a diverse cadre of talented researchers. This program provides a unique opportunity for Fellows to collaboratively exchange their expertise and insights, thereby enriching the collective knowledge base and advancing health metrics research.

The Fellowship is in Seattle, providing an opportunity for individuals to participate and interact with IHME research teams and train directly with IHME experts and faculty. Fellows work within teams to drive research forward from inception to publication while acquiring analytical skills and exploring new areas of investigation. Education and training opportunities will provide comprehensive training on GBD methods and applications as well as various health metrics topics including data analytics, quantitative methods, health financing, forecasting, and data collection and management.

The global Fellowship is two years in length, with potential for a third-year extension. Year one focuses on training Fellows in GBD methods, tools, and data through coursework, seminars, and experiential learning opportunities. Year two focuses on faculty preparation activities to prepare Fellows to find faculty positions at IHME and/or other academic research institutions. Fellows will receive mentorship from senior-level faculty at IHME who provide guidance on professional development and job performance. Fellows will also have the opportunity to gain instructional experience by teaching courses and workshops and mentoring junior-level researchers.

Program components

The GBD Fellowship program includes a number of education and training components to help Fellows build new skills and knowledge in GBD and health metrics research, cultivate social networks, and advance professional development and growth. Some education components are:

Orientation: Fellows will participate in an intensive 2–3-week training camp taught by IHME faculty designed to familiarize them with IHME’s research projects, statistical packages and methods, and current health metrics challenges.
Seminar: Seminar is a monthly opportunity for Fellows to gather and discuss a current article about an issue in health metrics research.
Training: Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in short courses on a variety of health metrics topics throughout the program. Training focus areas include GBD methods, analyzing and interpreting GBD results, software coding and development, and health metrics theory.
Mentorship: Fellows will receive mentorship from IHME faculty and senior researchers who will invest in their professional, personal, and career development and unlock their potential to perform, learn, and achieve.

Eligibility

Competitive candidates must have a PhD, MD, DPhil, or MBBS.
Degrees must have a strong foundation in quantitative methods, which may be from a wide range of disciplines including epidemiology, demography, biostatistics, medical sciences, health policy, economics, mathematics, computer science, statistics, and other related fields.
Candidates must have research experience, especially with data analysis and statistical methods.

Fellowship benefits

Fellows will have access to a generous benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid holidays, ample vacation and sick leave, retirement plans, transportation and fitness perks, tuition exemption, and more.

Learn more about fellowship benefits

Salary schedule

Year one – $105,000 (USD)
Year two – $108,156
Year three – $112,488

Application timeline

July 2025: GBD Fellowship application launches
August 18, 2025: Deadline to apply for Spring 2026 cohort
September 2025: First-round applicant interviews (via Zoom)
October 2025: Second-round applicant interviews (in-person, at global locations)
November 2025: Applicants notified of decision
Spring 2026: Fellowship begins in Seattle, Washington, USA

How to apply

Applicants will apply through the University of Washington job portal. All applicants who would like to be considered for the Spring 2026 cohort must submit a completed application by August 18, 2025.

APPLY FOR THE FELLOWSHIP