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Welcome to APHL’s Application Portal, where you can apply for the many different learning and leadership opportunities provided through APHL. Our mission to create a healthier world through quality laboratory systems starts with you!
Before You Begin
To apply, you will need to have an APHL online account. If you do not have an account, you can create one by clicking "create account" in the top right.
Choose the program for which you are applying from the tabs above. Pay attention to the open and close dates of the application periods for each program.
Thank you for choosing to join our mission of shaping national and global health outcomes by promoting the contributions of public health laboratories and continuously improving the public health laboratory system and practice. If you have questions about the application and submission process, please contact the email for the program to which you are applying or info@aphl.org.
How To Apply
- Create your APHL online account, if you do not have one already.
- Click "User Login" to log into the application portal with your email address and password.
- Create your online application and select the program you are applying for from the drop down.
- Save your application often as a draft throughout the application process. You will not be able to submit the application as final until all required information within the application is provided.
- Before clicking the “Submit as Final” button, please review your entire submission to confirm your responses, that all uploaded materials are correct and that your references have submitted their responses. Once your application is submitted as final, you will not be able to make further updates.
Privacy statement
Application information will be used solely for the selection, matching and placement of fellows and will be disclosed only to members of the selection committee, the interviewing mentor(s) and APHL and CDC representatives responsible for program administration. Aggregate data based on the application materials may be used to evaluate the direction and progress of the programs. There will be no attribution of data specific to individual applicants. Once accepted into the Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program, an applicant will be expected to grant APHL and CDC a right to print and disseminate the names and photographs of fellows for use in program marketing, publications or other materials. APHL is an equal opportunity employer, and its Public Health Laboratory Fellowship Program welcomes applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Please see the APHL Data Sharing Policy for more details.The Emerging Leader Program for Upcoming Leaders is designed for early-career laboratory professionals who are ready to develop the foundational leadership skills they need to take their next professional step. We select scientists from state, local, environmental, and agricultural laboratories who demonstrate strong leadership potential and a willingness to grow, take on new challenges, and engage with honest feedback.
Participants engage in practical experiences that develop core leadership capabilities, foster teamwork, and expand their professional networks. The program doesn’t shy away from the real challenges facing public health laboratories. Instead, it prepares participants to navigate them with clarity and confidence.
Graduation isn’t the endpoint. alumni stay connected across regions and cohorts, building a community that continues to learn, collaborate, and influence the future of the public health laboratory workforce.
Program Modalities
APHL offers two modalities for the Emerging Leader Program for Upcoming leaders: hybrid and virtual.
- The hybrid modality features virtual monthly sessions, complemented by in-person meetings.
- The virtual modality is conducted entirely online.
Vision
By the end of the program, participants will have honed their leadership skills, strengthening their proficiency in a wide range of essential competencies, which may include:
- Skills necessary to advance into managerial and supervisory roles
- Mastery in delegation and task management
- Strengthened motivation, teamwork and collaboration skills
- Effective mentoring and coaching techniques
- Heightened emotional intelligence for effective leadership
- Improved relations and advocacy skills with key individuals
- Advanced proficiency in conflict resolution and problem-solving strategies
- Strategic thinking refined to navigate complex challenges
- Expertise in change management methodologies
- Refined communication skills for impactful leadership
- Proficient resource management techniques
- And an extensive range of additional skills vital for successful leadership
Expectations
- Attend in-person trainings *hybrid modality only
- Attend monthly virtual skills-based training sessions
- Complete pre-meeting and post-meeting assignments
- Participate in an optional virtual peer-to-peer coaching program
- Participate in the Emerging Leader Community of Practice (an online forum)
2026-2027 Hybrid Modality Timeline
- April 7, 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Application Launch
- May 17, 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Application Closes
- June-July 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Application Review and Selection Process
- August 2026: Announcements Regarding Selection of Incoming ELP for Upcoming Leaders Cohort
- September 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Virtual Onboarding & Preliminary Assignments
- October 2026: In-person session
- November-December 2026: Launch of Coaching Experience, Virtual Sessions, Activities and Assignments
- January 2027: Virtual Session, Activities and Assignments
- February 2027: In-person Session
- March 2027: Virtual Session, Activities and Assignments
- April 2027: Virtual Session, Activities and Assignments
- May 2027: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Graduation
2026-2027 Virtual Modality Timeline
- April 7, 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Application Launch
- May 17, 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Application Closes
- June-July 2026: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Application Review and Selection Process
- August 2026: Announcements Regarding Selection of Incoming ELP for Upcoming Leaders Cohort
- September-October 2026: Virtual Sessions, Activities and Assignments
- November-December 2026: Launch of Coaching Experience, Virtual Sessions, Activities, and Assignments
- January-April 2027: Virtual Sessions, Activities, Assignments and Laboratory-Focused Project Work
- May 2027: ELP for Upcoming Leaders Graduation
APHL accepts participants from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Public Health Agency of Canada. However, those entities maintain their own application and selection process. If you belong to one of those entities and are interested in participating in the Emerging Leader Program, please contact your supervisor instead of applying directly through APHL.
Although the Emerging Leader for Upcoming Leaders Program currently does not accept international applicants, APHL's Global Health Program works with countries all around the world to build strong and resilient national laboratory systems. For more information, contact our Global Health Program at global.health@aphl.org.
Emerging Leader Program (ELP) for Experienced Leaders
If you already possess foundational leadership skills and hold a role with significant responsibility for people, projects, or programs, you may consider applying for the Emerging Leader Program for Experienced Leaders. Completion of prior formal leadership development may indicate readiness, although it is not required. Applicants for the Experienced Leader program can also demonstrate experience through leading teams, initiatives, or strategic work. If you would like to discuss which program may be the best fit, please contact us at leadership@aphl.org.
To learn more about the ELP for Upcoming Leaders program and application process, please visit APHL's Emerging Leader Program for Upcoming Leaders Webpage.
Contact
For questions about ELP, including eligibility, selection process and other details, contact Leadership@aphl.org
Program Requirements and Benefits
- The University of Iowa certificate program is a 12-month commitment, with asynchronous online coursework during the fall and spring semesters. Participants should anticipate dedicating approximately 3–4+ hours per week to coursework, which may need to be completed outside of work hours. Additionally, the program includes two separate one-week, in-person laboratory courses during the summer session. Admitted participants will receive scholarship support covering tuition, books, and travel and will need to apply to the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with guidance from university staff.
- Program participation requires a B or better in all courses for continued scholarship support.
- The program consists of graduate-level coursework and, if admitted to the University of Iowa, scholarship awardees are expected to act responsibly and behave professionally with faculty and other students.
- Scholarship awardees must maintain enrollment with the University of Iowa and employment at a state, local or territorial laboratory during the program's duration and are expected to continue to support the PHL community after completion of their program of study.
- By receiving scholarship support through APHL, awardees are expected to participate in the APHL Radiochemistry Community of Practice and as a mentee in a radiochemistry certificate mentorship with APHL Radiochemistry Advisory Group members.
- After completion, awardees are expected to complete a brief survey to provide feedback on the certificate program, its impact on your jurisdiction’s radiochemistry program, and other APHL radiochemistry initiatives.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- be authorized to work in the US and be 18 years of age or older.
- have completed eight hours (two semesters) of undergraduate chemistry coursework.
- have completed a BA/BS degree with a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.
- be a permanent employee at a state, territorial, or local public health, environmental or agricultural laboratory.
- have worked for the laboratory at least one year before starting the program.
- have laboratory director approval to participate in the program.
- Laboratory director approval for course participation, including summer travel away from the laboratory for two separate in-person course weeks at the University of Iowa
- One professional reference (laboratory director or manager) willing to provide a short narrative on the applicant’s qualifications and the laboratory’s needs.
- Unofficial undergraduate college-level transcript
- Current resume
Join the National Biomonitoring Network (NBN)
The National Biomonitoring Network (NBN) is a collaboration of laboratories that conduct biomonitoring for use in public health practice and in response to environmental emergencies. The goals of the NBN are to advance the science of biomonitoring, encourage its use in addressing environmental health questions and ensure quality practices, which will help produce comparable biomonitoring data.The NBN is currently accepting applications from governmental biomonitoring laboratories integrated into the public health system. The network has been designed to accommodate a variety of backgrounds, and applications will be welcomed from laboratories with limited to extensive experience. Please email eh@aphl.org if you have questions or comments about the NBN or the application process.
Application instructions and tier descriptions
To apply to join the NBN, fill out the online application form by clicking on the red button above. An APHL staff member will review the application for completeness, and you will be notified if any components are missing. Applications will be assessed on a quarterly basis by a panel of three reviewers and a chairperson.
Members are welcome to petition for a new tier status at any time by submitting a new application, which will be assessed at the next quarterly review. All laboratories will be asked to renew their network membership every three years.
There is no NBN application or membership fee at this time.
Eligible Laboratories
NBN membership is currently available to Tier 1, 2 and 3 laboratories.
Learn more about the three laboratory tiers:
Tier 1 laboratories have
- The infrastructure necessary to conduct active/routine biomonitoring integrated within the public health system.
- Demonstrated successful participation in an established quality assessment program (two per year).
Tier 2 laboratories have
- Biomonitoring capabilities and infrastructure but are not actively conducting biomonitoring science.
- An established implementation plan, including a biomonitoring team integrated within the public health system and a program timeline.
Tier 3 laboratories are
- Considering development of biomonitoring capabilities.
What You Need to Apply
- Laboratory director approval.
- Contact information for the laboratory director and up to two biomonitoring program contacts (often for laboratory and epidemiology departments).
- Description of current biomonitoring program or plans for a program.
- Access to quality assessment and proficiency testing results.
- Knowledge of your laboratory’s quality management program.
- Endorsement of environmental health partners (for tier 1 and 2).
If you do not have an account with APHL, please use either a permanent personal or permanent professional email address to create account now.
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Contact Us
Association of Public Health Laboratories7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1000
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 240-485-2745
For questions about ELP, including eligibility, selection process and other
details, contact Leadership@aphl.org.
For questions about the Radiochemistry Certificate Program Scholarship or National Biomonitoring Network Application please contact eh@aphl.org.
All other questions including issues with the application please contact info@aphl.org.
