Doctoral Fellowship

Fund for Public Health in NYC; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PSLF eligible

Generous PTO

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Flexible spending accounts

Meaningful public health work

Job summary

The New York City Public Health Laboratory, hosted by the Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC), invites applications for a two-year Post-Doctoral Fellow. The fellowship blends hands-on laboratory work, research, and leadership development, with rotations across bacteriology, virology, environmental microbiology, and biosafety.

The position requires a doctoral degree in life sciences or MD/DO, strong teamwork, and willingness to learn new public health methodologies.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in life sciences (PhD, DrPH, DSc) or medical degree (MD, DO).
• Graduate education in microbiology, virology, immunology, or environmental sciences.
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and lead research projects.
• Demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team.
• Willingness to learn about new laboratory methodologies and governmental policies.

Responsibilities

• Rotate through key Public Health Laboratory units and gain hands-on experience in lab testing, quality management, biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory information systems.
• Support ongoing laboratory projects, investigations, and public health response activities.
• Participate in development, validation, and implementation of laboratory assays and methodologies.
• Conduct independent or collaborative research related to public health laboratory science.
• Analyze laboratory data and communicate findings to laboratory leadership and other public health partners.
• Present research findings at professional conferences and contribute to manuscripts and other publications.
• Participate in laboratory leadership meetings and gain experience in administration, budgeting, personnel management, and operations.
• Collaborate with epidemiologists, clinical partners, academic institutions, and local, state, and federal public health agencies.
• Complete structured laboratory rotations with assigned mentors to develop technical, research, leadership, and management skills.

Skills

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Willingness to learn public health

Education

Doctoral degree in life sciences or MD/DO

Job description

Job Title: Post-Doctoral Fellow

Department: Assistant Commissioner’s Office

Division: Disease Control

Bureau: Public Health Lab

Location: 40 West 137th Street, New York, NY 10037

Reports To Title: Assistant Commissioner

Direct Reports Title(s): N/A

Schedule & Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; 35 hours per week

Workplace Flexibility Modality: Hybrid; 4 days in office, 1 day remote

Work Environment: Various laboratory settings

Grant End Date: 6/30/2027

Created Date: 6/30/2025

Revised Date: 7/6/2026

Salary: $80,000–$85,000

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Who We Are

The Fund for Public Health in New York City (FPHNYC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. To this end, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), FPHNYC incubates innovative public health initiatives implemented by DOHMH to advance community health throughout the city. FPHNYC facilitates partnerships, often new and unconventional, between government and the private sector to develop, test, and launch new initiatives. These collaborations speed the execution of demonstration projects, affect the expansion of successful pilot programs, and support rapid implementation to meet the public health needs of individuals, families, and communities across New York City.

Our Culture

We embrace a culture of learning, collaboration, innovation, and well-being, where open communication drives our impact.

About The Role

We are a multidisciplinary team of more than 200 laboratory professionals, spanning the key PHL areas including bacteriology, virology, and environmental science. Past fellows have gone on to managing PHL units in NYC and in other states, as well as industry positions and laboratory fellowships at CDC.

About The Program

The New York City Public Health Laboratory (PHL) is seeking to host a post-doctoral fellow. The fellowship experience is designed to provide fellows comprehensive training that will prepare them for careers in public health laboratory science. The content and extent of the training is tailored to each fellow according to their unique background and interests.

The trainings and experiences gained through this opportunity include:

• Working on the front lines of a pandemic response to serve NYC communities
• Developing assays for new and emerging pathogens
• Interacting with senior NYC Health Department leadership and developing management skills
• Collaborating with academic laboratories and state and federal government agencies such as New York State Wadsworth Center and CDC

Responsibilities

The Post-Doctoral Fellow will participate in a two-year structured training program that combines hands‑on laboratory experience, research, public health response, and leadership development. Working alongside NYC Public Health Laboratory scientists and leadership, the fellow will rotate through multiple laboratory disciplines while contributing to active projects and public health initiatives.

• Rotate through key Public Health Laboratory units and gain hands‑on experience in laboratory testing, quality management, biosafety, biosecurity, and laboratory information systems.
• Support ongoing laboratory projects, investigations, and public health response activities.
• Participate in the development, validation, and implementation of laboratory assays and methodologies.
• Conduct independent or collaborative research related to public health laboratory science.
• Analyze laboratory data and communicate findings to laboratory leadership and other public health partners.
• Present research findings at professional conferences and contribute to manuscripts and other scientific publications.
• Participate in laboratory leadership meetings and gain experience in laboratory administration, budgeting, personnel management, and operations.
• Collaborate with epidemiologists, clinical partners, academic institutions, and local, state, and federal public health agencies.
• Complete structured laboratory rotations while working with assigned mentors to develop technical, research, leadership, and management skills.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree in life sciences (PhD, DrPH, DSc, etc.) or medical degree (MD, DO, etc.)
• Graduate education in microbiology, virology, immunology, or environmental sciences
• Demonstrated ability to think critically and independently and lead research projects
• Demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team
• Willingness to learn about new laboratory methodologies and governmental policies

Position Overview

The two-year post‑doctoral fellowship training program will focus on four main activities: 1) laboratory sciences; 2) didactic learning; 3) research; and 4) laboratory leadership and management. Post‑doctoral fellows will be introduced to all areas of the public health laboratory, including all testing areas as well as quality management, biosafety and biosecurity, information systems/information technology, administration (budgeting, personnel, etc.), and will interact with epidemiologists and clinical partners.

A rotation template is detailed below, but the content and duration will be tailored based on the fellow’s unique background, goals, and interests.

• Central Accessioning: 2 weeks
• Bacteriology: 8 weeks
• Mycobacteriology: 6 weeks
• Molecular Typing and PulseNet: 3–4 weeks
• Virology/Molecular Core: 6 weeks
• Diagnostic Immunology: 4 weeks
• COVID/STI Quickie Laboratory: 1 week
• Biothreat Response: 1–2 weeks
• Environmental Microbiology: 2 weeks
• Environmental Chemistry: 2 weeks
• Whole Genome Sequencing and Bioinformatics: 4 weeks
• Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Rotation: 2–4 weeks
• Quality Management: 1–2 weeks, plus routine meetings throughout both years
• Biosafety and Biosecurity: 1–2 weeks, plus routine meetings throughout both years
• Laboratory Information Systems: 1 week, plus routine meetings throughout both years

Fellows are encouraged to actively work in multiple areas of the lab by supporting current projects essential to the laboratory. They will also have opportunities to perform independent research, present data at national conferences, and author/co‑author publications. Areas of focus will include both technical aspects of the laboratory as well as laboratory leadership and management. The fellow will participate as part of the leadership team and attend meetings within and outside the PHL. Select NYC PHL leadership will serve as mentors and guides for the fellow.

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check

Benefits / Additional Information

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy
• Medical, dental, and life insurance with low or no employee contribution
• A retirement savings plan with generous employer contribution
• Flexible spending medical and commuter benefits plan
• Meaningful work at an organization striving to advance health equity and social justice

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FPHNYC is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

At-Will Employment Statement

Employment with FPHNYC is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment.

Residency Requirement

You must live in the New York City Tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) to be considered for a position at FPHNYC.