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ACHS Fellowship Programme

Introduction

Introduction

The ACHS Fellowship Program aims to inspire and connect the next generation of biosecurity leaders and innovators.

Launched in 2025, ACHS Fellowship is a highly competitive, part-time program that provides an opportunity for talented graduate students and professionals to deepen their expertise, expand their network, and build their leadership skills through a series of training and project work coordinated by the Asia Centre for Health Security based at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore (NUS).

This 12-month fellowship does not require relocation to Singapore and can be completed alongside full-time employment or an academic schedule.

The ACHS Fellowship Programme aims to inspire and connect the next generation of health security leaders and innovators.

Launched in 2025 by ACHS, based at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (SSHSPH), National University of Singapore (NUS), the ACHS Fellowship Programme is a highly competitive, part-time fellowship that provides graduate students and early- to mid-career professionals with an opportunity to deepen their expertise, expand their professional network, and build leadership skills through educational opportunities and project work. 

This 12-month fellowship does not require relocation to Singapore and can be completed alongside full-time employment or academic commitments.

Programme Outline & Funding

The ACHS Fellowship Programme will:

  • Deepen knowledge in different aspects of biosafety and biosecurity policy and practice; ​
  • Provide opportunities to connect with senior leaders, current fellows, and alumni networks in the biosecurity field; ​
  • Completion of one biosecurity project or product during the fellowship year, mentored by ACHS faculty. The project can be selected from proposals offered by ACHS, or a self-proposed project that has been discussed and approved in advance with an ACHS mentor; and ​
  • Offer access to resources and participation in events focused on the most current, relevant topics in biosecurity​
  • Deepen knowledge of health security policy and practice across a range of thematic areas.
  • Provide access to resources and events focused on key and emerging topics in health security.
  • Create opportunities to connect with senior leaders, current fellows, and alumni in the health security field.
  • Offer mentorship from ACHS faculty and the opportunity to complete a health security project offered by ACHS during the fellowship year.

Funding of the ACHS Fellowship Programme will cover:

  1. Attendance at a health security event in Singapore, and visit to ACHS-partner organisations, which include SSHSPH, NUS; the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID); and/or the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University (RSIS, NTU).
  2. Attendance at an approved workshop, conference, or networking event outside Singapore. Examples include events organised by the European Biosafety Association (EBSA), the Global Health Security Network (GHSN), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation, and meetings related to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). 

  • Attendance at a health security event in Singapore, and visit to ACHS-partner organisations, which include SSHSPH, NUS; the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID); and/or the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University (RSIS, NTU).  

  • Attendance at an approved workshop, conference, or networking event outside Singapore. Examples include events organised by the European Biosafety Association (EBSA), the Global Health Security Network (GHSN), the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation, and meetings related to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). 

Funding awarded to the fellows will cover eligible expenses, including conference and workshop fees, air and ground travel, accommodation, and subsistence allowance. Eligible project-related costs and publication fees may also be supported, subject to approval.

ACHS Fellowship Programme Faculty

Prof Hsu Li Yang

Director

Adj Prof Poh Lian Lim

Lead, Biorisk Management

Prof Mely Caballero-Anthony

Lead, Biosecurity and International Security

Adj A/Prof Marc Ho

Lead, Pandemic Preparedness

Dr Michael Friedman (Honorary Affiliate)

Lead, Public Health Response

Honorary Visiting A/Prof Ayelet Berman

Lead, Law and Governance

Eligibility Criteria

Prospective fellows must meet ALL eligibility criteria stated below: 

  • Hold a Masters/Doctoral/Medical Degree OR have at least three (3) years of professional experience in national security, public health, medicine, biotechnology, laboratory sciences, law, biosecurity/biosafety, global health, cybersecurity/AI, One Health, or a related field. 
  • Be a citizen of, or have been working in, an ASEAN+6 country for at least three (3) years at the point of application. 
  • Be an early- to mid-career professional, between 25 and 45 years of age, at the application closing date (31 August 2026). 
  • Demonstrate fluency in written and spoken English. 

Eligibility Criteria

  • Masters/Doctoral/Medical Degree graduate OR Three (3) years of professional experience in national security, public health, medicine, biotechnology, laboratory sciences, law, biosecurity/biosafety, global health, cybersecurity/AI, or a related field;
  • Citizens of or working in an eligible Asia-Pacific country for at least three (3) years at point of application;
  • Early- to mid-career professionals, aged 25 – 40 years old and;
  • Fluent in written and oral English

Application Details

The ACHS Fellowship Programme Intake Document is available here. 

Applicants are advised to prepare all required documents in advance before completing the online application form.  

Required documents:

  • Latest CV (maximum two pages). Pages exceeding this limit will not be considered.
  • Copies of all academic degree certificates and transcripts (with English translation if originals are in a different language).
  • A personal statement (maximum 500 words) outlining the applicant's interest in health security and the ACHS Fellowship Programme. 
  • One (1) letter of recommendation from an academic advisor and/or professional supervisor.
  • One (1) letter of support from the applicant's current employer and/or academic supervisor (for students) endorsing the application and acknowledging the time commitment to the fellowship.
  • A short video introduction (maximum 2 minutes) describing the applicant's interest in pursuing a fellowship in health security, professional goals, the specific health security challenges the applicant wishes to focus on, and the long-term impact the applicant intends to achieve through this fellowship.

Fellowship Application (2027 Intake) Form

Applications for the ACHS Fellowship Programme (2026 Intake) have closed. Late applications will not be accepted.

Click here to access the ACHS Fellowship Programme application form. 

Applications close on 31 August 2026, 10am Singapore time (GMT+08:00). Late applications will not be accepted. 

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, please check the FAQ for answers to common queries about the programme, eligibility, and application process.

ACHS Fellowship Awardees

We are delighted to announce the inaugural cohort of the ACHS Fellowship Program 2025. This highly competitive program has attracted exceptional graduate students and professionals from across the globe, all committed to advancing biosafety and biosecurity policy and practice.

The ACHS Fellowship Program 2025 recipients are:

 

Dr Maggie Cai

Ministry of Health (MOH) Holdings (Singapore)

Dr Sarah Esther Winthrope

Bendigo Health

Dr Suryesh Kumar Namdeo

Indian Institute of Science

Ms JiuLing Li

UNICEF China

Ms Sandhya Dhawan

Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU)

Over the course of 12 months, these fellows will engage in an immersive program designed to deepen their knowledge in biosecurity, enhance their leadership capabilities, and expand their professional networks. Guided by esteemed ACHS faculty, fellows will engage in training, connect with experienced professionals in the field, access resources, participate in events on current and relevant biosecurity topics, and contribute to the field through impactful project work.

Each fellow will complete a biosecurity project, either selected from ACHS-proposed initiatives or self-designed in consultation with an ACHS mentor. The program’s flexibility allows participants to continue their academic pursuits or full-time employment. We look forward to the invaluable contributions they will make in advancing biosecurity research and initiatives!

Fellowship Application

Applications for the ACHS Fellowship Program 2026 will open in the third quarter of 2025.

Application Timeline

Fellowship Documents & Submission Requirements

Please download a copy of the ACHS Fellowship application form and program details below:

Application form
Program details

Prospective fellows will be required to submit the completed application form and all supporting documentation, within one zip folder by the application deadline to achs@nus.edu.sg for their applications to be considered.

More information on the frequently asked questions about the ACHS Fellowship Program 2025 can be found here.

Applications for the ACHS Fellowship Program will close on 3 November 2024, 5pm (GMT+8:00). Late applications will not be accepted.

Contact Us

For enquiries about the ACHS Fellowship Program, please contact the ACHS Fellowship Program Secretariat at achs@nus.edu.sg. 

Contact Us

For questions not answered in the FAQ, please contact the ACHS Fellowship Programme Secretariat at achs@nus.edu.sg.  

ACHS Fellowship Awardees

ACHS Fellowship Programme 2026 recipients

Mr Kelly Pierce Vicencio Manlangit

Paro Institute, Philippines

Dr Koki Akahoshi

Japan Institute for Health Security, Japan

Dr Mohd Ihsani Bin Mahmood

Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Dr Rachael Pung Hui Riong

Communicable Diseases Agency, Singapore

Dr Sandul Yasobant

Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, India

Dr Sriram Kumar

Institute of Virology, Münster, Germany

Dr Maggie Cai

Ministry of Health (MOH) Holdings (Singapore)

Dr Sarah Esther Winthrope

Brown University Pandemic Center

Dr Suryesh Kumar Namdeo

Indian Institute of Science

Ms JiuLing Li

UNICEF China

Ms Sandhya Dhawan

Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU)