Institute for Disease Modeling Fellowship Program - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply? 
To be eligible, candidates must have:

• Citizenship in and residency in one of the countries defined by the OECD as Least Developed, Low Income, or Lower Middle Income, and they must currently be employed in an academic, research, or government position in one of those countries.
• A relevant doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, MD, MBBS) from a recognized educational institution, with demonstrated specialization or experience in mathematical modeling, data science, or other quantitative sciences. Candidates' doctoral degree must have been awarded no more than 7 years before the application submission deadline. Applicants whose doctoral degrees were awarded earlier may be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to justification. 
• Demonstrated experience working on quantitative modeling of infectious disease (e.g. stochastic processes, compartmental models, or agent-based models), including model calibration and debugging.
• Proficiency in at least one scripting language.
• Experience working on collaborative software projects through Github
• Strong data analysis skills
• Knowledge of public health issues in LMIC settings
• Fluency in English

Please note, applications for the 2024 pilot of the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM) Fellowship program will be accepted by invitation only.

Application Process

What must my application include?
Please refer to the Application Instructions document.

Am I able to edit my application once submitted? 
Yes, you may edit your application up until the specified deadline.

What is the timeline for the application and/or review process? 
Please refer to the Rules and Guidelines document for timeline information.

Review Process

How does the review process work?
Please refer to the Rules and Guidelines document.

Can I get a list of potential reviewers who might be assigned to my application?
No. We do not make public the roster of reviewers.

Can I request that my application not be reviewed by a specific individual?
No. However, we will ask reviewers about conflicts of interest and will not assign reviewers with conflicts.

Fellowship Information

How long is the fellowship term? 
Selected applicants will be eligible for a 2-year fellowship based in Seattle, Washington, United States of America.

Where will the fellowship take place? 
The two-year fellowship will take place at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's Seattle campus. 
Will immigration and relocation assistance be provided to fellows selected for the program?
We will provide immigration support through sponsoring United States work authorization visa for selected fellows. 
We will provide relocation assistance for selected fellows and their immediate families to the United States and back to their home countries upon the completion of the fellowship program. 
Additional details around immigration and relocation will be provided upon request and during the interview process if selected to move forward.

What is the relationship between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the Institute for Disease Modeling (IDM)?
IDM is an embedded research institute that sits within the Global Health Division of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While the IDM pursues independent research questions, they also work closely with colleagues across the foundation to help define, shape, and clarify strategic decisions. Read more about the IDM here: https://www.idmod.org/about/

How will fellows continue to engage with institutions in their home country?
As a member of IDM's Fellowship Program, fellows will spend an intensive 2-year period working and learning alongside IDM staff scientists, while maintaining regular contact with institutions in their home country or region through periodic visits (e.g. 1-4x/year) and project-focused work.

In addition to career growth, how will fellows benefit from the program?
In addition to the career growth opportunity provided by the Fellowship, Fellows will benefit from unique leadership development opportunities through a range of workshops, programs, and projects offered by the Foundation.

What opportunities will be available to fellows following the 2-year fellowship program? 
Following the conclusion of their 2-year term at IDM, Fellows will be eligible to apply for an up to 5-year grant to support their return to their home institution, or a new LMIC institution, as they launch and/or scale their independent research program.

Technical Support

I forgot my password. How do I reset my password? 
You can request to update your password within the application site. If you continue to have issues, please reach out to [email protected].

How will I know if my application was submitted?
Once an application is submitted, an email confirmation will be sent.

I'm having trouble uploading my application file. What should I do?
If you are having issues submitting your application, we would encourage you to submit from a different browser. If the issue persists, please email the specifics of your problem to [email protected].

How often do you intend to update the Frequently Asked Questions, and do you plan to provide answers to all questions submitted?
 

We will periodically post answers to questions as they are submitted, but do not have a specific schedule. We will provide answers on this page that are of relevance and of general interest to potential applicants. For answers to specific questions that are not covered here, please email [email protected].