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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Application Process

    If I am interested in applying, how can I find a suitable training site/mentor?
    If you are interested in this program, please reach out to the Yale CMB Program Manager, Ryan Borg, and the Program Director, Evelyn Hsieh. They will work with you to identify potential mentors at Yale and China who might be a good fit and also refer you to the relevant resources to learn more about the potential mentors and sites. After this exploratory process , you will be able to arrange virtual interviews with the potential mentors to have a more in-depth discussion so you can get to know the mentors and site better, discuss potential project and training opportunities, and for the mentors to assess your background and skills. After this stage, if the mentors are in agreement, you will start to prepare your application materials.
    What should the personal statement discuss?
    This should discuss your interest in global health, relevant past experiences, motivation for applying to the program, and how the program will enable you to achieve your career goals.
    Is an official transcript required?
    For applicants who are currently enrolled in a doctoral program, an official transcript is requested. For those who are not currently doctoral students, a transcript is not required. Please note that applications are welcome from doctoral candidates, however you must have officially received your doctoral degree by the start of the fellowship program.
    Is fluency in Chinese language required?
    While prior Chinese language skills will be very beneficial to the fellowship experience, it is not a prerequisite of the program. We encourage all candidates to outline a plan for language training in the Training Plan section of the application, which has been discussed and agreed upon with your mentors.
    Who should I request letters of support from?
    Letters of support should come from your U.S. mentor (faculty at Yale) and your Chinese mentor (faculty at CAMS/PUMC or SJTU). You should also submit a letter from your current or former supervisor or mentor and they should your describe personal and professional strengths, accomplishments, leadership potential, the impact that the fellowship will have on career development, and likelihood of success as a global health practitioner.
    What criteria will be used to judge my application?

    Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, who will score the candidate based upon

    1. the applicant’s NIH biosketch and genuine interest and commitment to biomedical or public health research
    2. strength of letters of recommendation
    3. quality and feasibility of applicant’s project proposal
    4. quality and feasibility of the applicants training plan
    5. the applicant’s personal statement
    6. publications or other equivalent professional products
    7. evidence of adaptability to diverse cultural and physical environments abroad based on the personal statement, letters of recommendation and interview

    Mandarin language skills are a plus, but not required.

  • Travel, Visa, Health Insurance & Safety

    How will costs for travel, health insurance and immunizations be covered?
    All travel arrangements will be booked by the Yale CMB Program through Yale’s official travel service. These costs will be covered directly by the program. Yale-CMB Fellows will be covered by the International SOS Global Assistance Travel program which provides urgent/emergency medical care and medical/security evacuation services. In terms of travel safety, all Yale employees are asked to register their travel outside of the U.S. on the Yale University Travel Registry (International SOS Travel Tracker) prior to departure and this process will apply to Yale CMB Fellows as well.
    What support will the program provide for visas to China?
    We will be working in partnership with the Office of International Cooperation/Office of International Affairs at both of our host sites in China, to ensure that letters of invitation are provided and the appropriate visa type is obtained in a timely fashion. All fellows will be asked to ensure their immunization requirements are up to date prior to travel to China. The trainee will submit visa application and immunization invoices to the Program for reimbursement.
    What support will be in place in case security issues arise during the course of the fellowship?

    All Yale CMB Fellows will be registered with the Yale University Travel Registry prior to departure to China. This resource is part of the Yale International Toolkit, which provides assistance to Yale faculty, students, post-docs and staff conducting international activities. This toolkit serves as the Yale community’s central point of access to resources at Yale and elsewhere that support international activities. It also provides information and tools to enhance safety and reduce risks, including travel alerts and links to resources for international travelers (e.g. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, U.S. State Department website, etc.).

    CMB also has a country office located in Beijing, which will provide direct support to fellows during their time in China, and ensure that safety-related guidance is communicated with fellows expeditiously should unanticipated situations arise.

  • Logistical and Administrative Aspects of the Fellowship

    What will the fellowship stipend be?
    The salary stipend is based on Yale’s Office of Postdoctoral Affairs Postdoc Compensation Policy. Similar postdoctoral training programs sponsored by the NIH, the salary stipend is based upon the NIH postgraduate payscale and the trainee’s PGY level.
    How will I find accommodations in China?
    Prior to the start of the exchange the host institution and host faculty will assist the CMB fellow to identify suitable accommodations in the vicinity of the host institution.
    What if COVID-19 or another unanticipated crisis interrupts my ability to carry out my proposed project/training plan, or my ability to travel to the LMIC site during the fellowship year?
    There is always the potential for unanticipated crises to interfere with fellowship plans. The contingency plans for each fellow will be made on a case-by-case basis taking into account the nature and anticipated duration of the crisis. The fellow will be supported by the Yale CMB Program Manager and Director, the CMB China Office in Beijing, and the resources through the Yale International Toolkit during this process. The Yale CMB Program and faculty will actively monitor health and safety issues that may arise during the fellowship period. As described above, all CMB fellows will be registered on the Yale Travel Registry and in the event that a safety situation arises while the fellow is in China, they will be immediately notified, and assistance provided to ensure a safe return to Yale. Yale has longstanding experience managing these situations both pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19.
    What Pre-Departure Orientation activities will be provided?

    All selected CMB fellows will attend a one-week pre-departure training at the NIH Campus in Bethesda, Maryland, organized by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) for scholars who are part of the FIC’s Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars. The pre-departure training will provide fellows with a comprehensive understanding of global health as well as provide opportunities to participate in research methods short courses, if applicable, and to join a flourishing network of global health scholars and faculty from around the world.

    In additional all CMB fellows from Yale, University of North Carolina, and University of Michigan will participate in an additional pre-departure orientation program prior to the start of the program to prepare scholars for working and living in China.

    Can you clarify the co-mentorship structure?
    For each fellow, a U.S. mentor (faculty at Yale) and Chinese mentor (at CAMS/PUMC or SJTU) will provide co-mentorship for the CMB fellow. The co-mentors at each site have a pre-existing collaborative relationship and prior experience mentoring global health trainees. The co-mentors will guide the CMB fellow in project design and execution, facilitating connections with local collaborators, advise the fellow with preparing regulatory and administrative paperwork related to the project, help troubleshoot obstacles that arise, ensure the training plan is carried out, and provide overarching advice and networking opportunities for a career in global health. At the outset of the fellowship year, the CMB fellow will develop a set of goals that the co-mentors will help the fellow work towards over the course of the year.
    What are the program requirements for successful completion of the fellowship program?
    At the end of the fellowship year, fellows should be able to demonstrate completion of a scholarly product (e.g., a scientific abstract, poster, presentation or manuscript). Each fellow will also need to complete a fellowship progress report summarizing the project and training goals that were met, and a joint fellowship evaluation report will be submitted by the co-mentors. Trainees will be encouraged towards the end of their fellowship year to submit abstracts of their work for formal presentation at an international-level conference or workshop, however because the scope and objective of each fellow’s project may vary, this is not a requirement for successful completion of the program.
    Should CMB be recognized as the funding source in papers arising from the fellowship year?
    Yes, all publications submitted during or after the fellowship year that were funded by the CMB Program should acknowledge the CMB Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in China as the source of funding.

  • Post-Fellowship

    After the fellowship, will I receive a certificate from Yale?
    All those who successfully complete the fellowship will receive a certificate of recognition from Yale University School of Medicine confirming their post-doctoral appointment at Yale. The CMB fellowship is not a degree-granting program.
    What if I want to extend my fellowship after completion of the program?
    During the second half of the fellowship year, if the fellow and mentors mutually agree the fellow should pursue a second year of research on-site in China, the CMB fellow may apply for a second year of fellowship funding. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and be guided by the productivity of the fellow and promise for a career in biomedical research and global health, as well as the continued suitability of the mentorship team/host site for the fellow’s long-term career goals.
    Are there other activities/responsibilities expected of CMB Fellows post-fellowship?
    Fellows are encouraged to disseminate the products of their fellowship project (through presentations, publications, reports, or other formats depending on the type of project involved) in the period following the fellowship program, to broaden the impact of their fellowship year. In the long-term, alumni of the program will be part of the CMB Fellowship Programs in Global Health Alumni Network and will serve as an important source of career guidance and mentorship for future CMB fellows and new alumni.