Five Questions About New Health Policy Fellowship Answered

Are you looking for a post-doctoral fellowship in health policy? The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) and the University of Southern California’s (USC) Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics are now accepting applications for a new two-year, Washington, DC-based fellowship that will explore health policy implications of comparative effectiveness or health services research, as well as how to design studies to help inform policy options. [See full description here.]

What do potential candidates need to know? Here are answers to several questions you may be asking yourself regarding the fellowship:

What will I learn? The capability to identify important health policy issues and conduct the work to address them. It is our expectation that this fellowship will produce individuals who can continue to advance the field in an academic role or provide leadership to payer organizations, industry, or the government.

What's in it for me?

• Conducting at least one core policy-related research project that may be in conjunction with new or ongoing NPC research with an expectation that it would lead to first-authored peer-reviewed publication(s);
• Collaborating with other policy research groups in Washington, DC;
• Engaging with relevant government agencies, academic institutions, and industry representatives on health policy related to biopharmaceuticals, as well as additional topics;
• Receiving mentorship from members of NPC’s research team and USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy faculty;
• Coordinating a quarterly journal club discussion with health care policy and research leaders; and
• Attending relevant national conferences.

When would I start, and will I get paid? The fellowship will begin July 1, 2016 with flexibility on the start date as needed. The fellowship includes a competitive base salary and benefits package, a computer, and travel to relevant national conferences.

What are the requirements to apply? We are seeking aPhD, MD, or PharmD-level individual with research skills and a desire to understand and study the health policy implications as they pertain to biopharmaceuticals in the new health care environment. This is an early career fellowship, thus preferences will be for candidates who have completed their doctoral degree after January 1, 2010. Candidates must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents.

How do I apply? Applicants must submit a cover letter or statement, resume, and a research paper or writing sample. Applications should be sent (electronically preferred) to [email protected], or NPC/USC Fellowship Search Committee, National Pharmaceutical Council, 1717 Pennsylvania, Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006. Review of applications will begin in early 2016 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by February 1, 2016 will receive priority for an interview in Washington, DC, during the first quarter of 2016.