Applications are open for the IHME Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Fellowship 2027 at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA. This paid postdoctoral programme offers a first-year salary of US$105,000, research training and visa sponsorship for eligible international fellows.
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA · Full-time, in person
Duration: Two years, with a possible third-year extension
Start date: September 2027
Deadline: 21 December 2026, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)
Review: Rolling
About the IHME GBD Fellowship
The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is recruiting its second fellowship cohort. The programme develops early-career researchers through direct contributions to the Global Burden of Disease study, which measures health loss and its causes worldwide.
Fellows train in GBD methods, rotate across research teams and help produce estimates and scientific publications. The first year focuses on learning the methods and joining research teams. During the second year, fellows take greater responsibility for analyses and methodological improvements while preparing for their next career step. Appointments renew annually, subject to performance and available funding; a third year is possible rather than guaranteed.
Who can apply?
- Hold a PhD, MD, DPhil or foreign equivalent by the September 2027 start date. Current doctoral students may apply if they finish before the programme begins.
- Have a strong quantitative background in a relevant discipline, such as epidemiology, demography, biostatistics, medical sciences, health policy, economics, mathematics, computer science or statistics.
- Demonstrate research experience in data analysis and statistical methods, with strong programming skills in R or Python.
- Be no more than five years beyond your most recent degree and have no more than three years of prior postdoctoral experience at the start date.
- Have working familiarity with GBD concepts, including DALYs, YLLs, YLDs, attributable burden, age-standardized rates and uncertainty intervals.
- Be available for full-time, in-person work in Seattle. Fellows cannot hold another position or be enrolled in another programme.
International applicants are welcome. The University of Washington sponsors visas for this position. Selected fellows must obtain their visa and arrive onsite by the first day. The fellowship does not offer remote or hybrid participation.
Salary and benefits
- Year one: US$105,000 annually (US$8,750 per month).
- Year two: US$108,156 annually (US$9,013 per month).
- Year three, if extended: US$112,488 annually (US$9,374 per month).
Benefits include medical, dental and vision coverage; paid holidays; vacation and sick leave; retirement plans; transportation and fitness perks; and tuition exemption. UW postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121.
Training and research responsibilities
The programme begins with a faculty-led, four-to-six-week Boot Camp. Fellows continue learning through monthly journal clubs, seminars, short courses, writing workshops, media training and mentorship from faculty and senior researchers.
Research tasks include extracting and standardizing data from surveys, vital registration systems, censuses and published literature; developing statistical models in R or Python; and reviewing results against production deadlines. Fellows also write and co-author peer-reviewed papers, present their research and, in later years, mentor junior staff and lead internal training.
Application documents
Submit your application through Interfolio with:
- A CV.
- Four short essays covering your research (maximum 300 words), your contribution to GBD (200 words), production work (200 words), and why this fellowship is right for you now (250 words). Read the full prompts in the application portal.
- Names and contact details for three professional or academic references. Reference letters are not required at the initial application stage; references are contacted if you advance to interviews.
Writing and editing tools, including AI, are permitted, but every submission must accurately reflect your own experience. Interviewers will ask you to discuss your responses in detail.
Application deadline and selection timeline
Apply by 21 December 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The anticipated selection process includes phone and virtual interviews in winter 2027, in-person final-round interviews in early spring, and decisions in spring 2027. The fellowship begins in Seattle in September 2027.
How to apply for the GBD Fellowship 2027
Open the application portal, review the complete instructions and submit your CV, essay responses and reference details before the deadline. Applicants new to GBD can prepare using the GBD Learning Center. For programme questions, contact gbdfellowship@uw.edu.
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