Are you a STEM graduate student ready to apply your expertise to real-world, high-impact problems in pandemic science? This summer, the NSF APPEX Center (Analysis and Prediction of Pandemic Expansion) invites you to be part of a cutting-edge research projects exploring the critical factors that drive the spread of pandemics.

We’re seeking curious, collaborative, and creative minds across STEM fields, including:

· Biology, Ecology, Public Health, Epidemiology

· Environmental & Earth Sciences

· Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Systems, Biomedical)

· Computer Science, AI/ML, Data Science

· Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Network Science

· Social & Behavioral Sciences with quantitative or systems perspectives

Why Join Us?

· Work on a dynamic, multidisciplinary project identifying the “perfect storm” of human-driven factors that turn outbreaks into pandemics.

· Participate in weekly colloquiums with leading scientists, policy experts, and cross-sector stakeholders.

· Contribute to innovative working groups tackling bold questions at the intersection of health, infrastructure, behavior, and technology.

· Gain experience in systems modeling, simulation tools, generative AI applications, and case-control methodologies—all within the context of emerging global health threats.

· Be part of a Center that values creativity, inclusivity, and scientific audacity.

· Connect and network with mentors with expertise in disciplines that interest you.

What You'll Do:

· Collaborate with our established Project-Teams to further scientific research and progress.

· Dive into data, models, and policy-relevant research to assess pandemic expansion risks.

· Help build tools, frameworks, and real-time responses to multifactorial outbreak conditions.

· Engage in professional development through APPEX workshops, mentoring, and outreach.

Location: Remote with the possibility of short in-person Project Team gatherings

Duration: Summer 2025 (specific dates set with negotiation between Interns and Project Teams)

Compensation: Stipend $3,500/month (2 month minimum, full time effort) + travel support (if applicable)

Deadline: May 1st for full consideration; applications will continue to be accepted until June 1st

Apply by sending a Statement of Interest and CV (including a list of relevant skills) to GradSummer2025@appex.org.

Questions? Email contact@appex.org

NSF APPEX serves as a hub for multidisciplinary research to address the complexities of pandemic risk and response. We focus on the “what”, “how”, and “why” of expansion of disease outbreaks from local, isolated cases of infection into truly global threats. 

We are excited to announce our first semi-annual competition for new Seed Ideas for Working Groups - hearing from you what new and exciting thing APPEX should be working on next and recruiting new participants to form Working Groups around these seed ideas. This can be something you want to do yourself with our help or an idea you’ve always thought “someone should do”, even if you don’t want that someone to be you. If you have an exciting idea for how to study pandemic expansion, we want to work with you!

Our process for Working Group Proposals is a little different from what you might be used to at other Institutes and Centers, but we’re hoping it will be fun and easy - come take a look at the details here.

Our goal is to have completed discussion around these first-round seed suggestions by the end of February 2025. Please add your ideas and come back often to comment on/discuss ideas from others!

In January 2025, we will open our first call for seed ideas around which to
form new Working Groups!

What to propose: a question about what allows a disease to expand from a few cases
into an outbreak and then into a pandemic. The question should need input from
multiple disciplines to answer well. The strongest proposals will also have the potential
to translate basic research into real-world policy.
We’ll give each seed idea a platform and ask for community feedback and volunteers
who want to join a group working on this question (we’ll be using our Phase 1 piloted
GSOTP protocol). After community input, you’ll have a chance to revise the initial idea
and propose the team to our Selection Committee (first round decisions are planned by
March 1 st , 2025).

If your proposal is successful: Selected Working Groups will receive funds to meet in
person together, support from APPEX trainees (either a postdoc or graduate student) to
help advance the group’s efforts, and will have the option of requesting additional
resources (such as help from a research programmer, project management, publication
costs, etc.). Working Groups will also have support from experts in translational science
and policy impact to ensure the work they produce has the best chance of getting into
the hands of real-world decision makers who need it.
We’re so excited to hear your ideas and help you to build strong proposals for new
working groups to pursue them! Start thinking about what you’d want to do and check
back in early January for more details. Stay tuned!

On August 27, 2024, Dr. Nina Fefferman, APPEX and NIMBioS Director and APPEX leadership team members, Dr. Sadie Ryan, Associate Director for Core and Working Group Research Efforts, and Dr. K. Selcuk Candan, Assoc. Director for Technology, Cyberinfrastructure and Tech Transfer, participated in the White House Roundtable on Emerging Technology for Preventing Health Emergencies in Washington, D.C.

We are proud that some of our APPEX team are being asked to influence national policy!