Program Overview

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Logistics

  • Approximately 30 scholars

    • Timeline: 8-weeks intensive summer program from June 21 - August 15, 2026.

    • Public Health Training: On Mondays and Fridays, scholars participate in training on campus at UCLA to contextualize and complement their internship experience

    • Internship: Scholars are matched with partnering organizations and work full-time from Tuesday-Thursday

    • Housing: Scholars are housed at the UCLA campus at no cost.

    • Public Transportation: Scholars are provided with a Metro TAP Card to subsidize public transportation costs.

    • Travel Support: Scholars that do not live within a 300-mile radius of UCLA will have their transportation to and from Los Angeles arranged by the program team.

    • Travel Reimbursement: Checked luggage, local mileage, and transportation to and from the airport cannot be reimbursed.

  • Scholars receive a $4,000 stipend distributed in two installments (subject to completion of the program).

    Additionally, the program provides scholars with:

    • Housing and partial meal plan (breakfast/dinner) 

    • Public transit (Metro Tap Card)

    • Transportation to LA for scholars who live more than 300-mile from UCLA

    It is the scholar’s discretion how the stipend is allocated for personal use. Scholars should plan to set aside a portion of this stipend for essential summer programming costs like meals that are not covered and transportation.

    Scholars do not receive per diem, health insurance, or other benefits associated with full-time employment.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must meet ONE of the following criteria by June 2026:

    • Community college graduates or transfers to a four-year institution

    • Current students in a four-year institution with at least two years of undergraduate education completed

    • Recent graduates (Fall 2025 or Winter/Spring 2026) from a 2-year or 4-year college/university who have not been accepted to a graduate program

    There is no GPA requirement.

    All majors welcome! Public health major or prior public health experience is not required.

  • The funding for this program requires participants to meet all of the following criteria:

    • U.S. citizen, national, or resident (DACA eligible)

    • Authorized to work in the U.S.

    • Attend U.S. or U.S. territory institution

    • Applicants can NOT have participated in another CDC Lewis Scholars Program (formerly known as CDC CUPS).

Participation Requirements

    • Fully participate in-person at UCLA from June 21 - August 15, 2026.

    • Live in housing provided by the program (UCLA dorms)

    • Participants can not be enrolled in any other programs, summer school, or hold another job/position during this time.

    • Attend virtual orientation prior to the start of the program

    • Engage in workshops in-person at UCLA 2 days per week

    • Develop a group public health research poster and present at the program showcase

    • Participate in additional evening and occasional weekend events (virtually or in-person).

    • Commit to interning at the site selected by the UCLA scholars team

    • Work in-person at internship site 3 full days per week

    • Commute via Los Angeles public transportation (transit pass provided by program)

For additional questions please see our Frequently Asked Questions tab.

Dr. Michael Prelip

Principal Investigator

“The UCLA Public Health Scholars is an incredible and unique opportunity to explore a career in public health through hands-on experience and co-learning with public health leaders and scholars in one of the most exciting cities in the United States.”