Apply to be a Public Health Post Fellow.
About Public Health Post
Boston University School of Public Health students are an integral part of Public Health Post, a daily population health magazine. With more than 200,000 page views, 7,500+ social media followers, and a weekly newsletter that reaches 14,000+ people, PHP works to advance conversations about health and social justice in the United States.
The Public Health Post Fellowship
Each year, a small group of on-campus MPH students are selected to spend a year cultivating their public health writing and communication under the direction of editors, Jennifer Beard, Michael Stein, and Mallory Bersi.
You do not need a writing background to become a PHP fellow. You are an ideal candidate if:
- You are interested in increasing awareness about pressing public health topics for diverse audiences;
- You are excited to advance your communication and content creation skills and build a strong writing community;
- You want to contribute to the national conversation on public health, but you may not know where or how to start.
Weekly writing workshops and editorial meetings, monthly individual check-ins, and group social opportunities form the basis for the fellowship’s supportive and collaborative culture. PHP fellows are guided by their individual interests, and are encouraged to explore topics and projects that resonate with them.
The 2027-2028 fellowship runs from February 1, 2027, to January 31, 2028. All fellows work approximately 10 hours per week and receive a $10,400 stipend, distributed weekly throughout the year. Fellows are expected to continue writing and working on their pieces throughout the summer.
Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Boston University School of Public Health, we are looking to expand our fellowship class this year. That means we are looking for 4-5 writing fellows and 2-3 multimedia fellows to join PHP.
The PHP team will be hosting an information session for interested students on Monday, September 14 from 5-6pm in the Talbot Board Room.
Writing Fellows
Each week, writing fellows pitch story ideas that break down health research, explain data graphics, or present original interviews with leaders in the field. Their stories are published on a weekly basis.
Writing fellows work approximately 10 hours per week. Their work includes researching topics; pitching story ideas; writing, editing, and rewriting; meeting regular publishing deadlines; and attending writing workshops. By the end of the fellowship, writing fellows will publish 20+ original articles and establish a robust online writing portfolio.
Multimedia Fellows
Multimedia fellows translate PHP’s written content for social media through static posts, eye-catching infographics, and short-form videos. These fellows will also have the opportunity to write and create original public health content to engage and grow our online audience.
You do not need advanced video or photography skills to apply. If you are comfortable creating content for Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc., you are qualified for the multimedia fellowship.
Multimedia fellows work approximately 10 hours per week. Their work includes creating, scheduling, and posting content across PHP’s social media channels; collaborating with writing fellows to develop social media content; preparing regular data analytics reports; and attending weekly editorial meetings and writing workshops.
Requirements
Fellowship candidates are on-campus MPH students at Boston University School of Public Health who can commit to working 10 hours per week and are graduating in or after January 2028.
Application Process
Applications for the fellowships are now open and will close Friday, October 2.
To apply, complete the following form.
- Upload your resume
- Provide a personal statement: Tell us about yourself in 400 words or less. What would you bring to Public Health Post, and why do you want this year-long fellowship? How does working as a PHP fellow fit with your goals? What would your voice add to PHP?
- Select the fellowship track you are applying for: writing or multimedia. You are welcome to apply for both tracks! You can do so in the same application; please do not submit separate applications.
If applying for the writing fellowship:
- Write a paragraph (about 100 words) about the strengths and weaknesses of one article published in 2026 on publichealthpost.org. Please include a link to the article you choose.
- Write a two-sentence summary of any recent academic public health journal article (published within the past year or two). Please include a link to the article you summarize.
If applying for the multimedia fellowship:
- Create a short (2 minutes or less) video explainer breaking down a recently published PHP article for social media. Please also include a sample caption. You can see examples on our Instagram and TikTok.
Please reach out to Mallory Bersi (mbersi@bu.edu), managing editor, with any questions.