Doctoral Fellowship Intern

The Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition (BFHN) under the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is seeking a student intern to support the Division for Family Health Data and Analysis (DFHDA) efforts to better understand the types of support parents receive following a perinatal loss.

Duties and Responsibilities (these are a general summary and not all-inclusive):

• Investigate parents’ experiences with emotional, social, and professional support following perinatal loss.

• Identify gaps and unmet needs within existing support systems for families after perinatal loss.

• Examine how cultural background, beliefs, and social context influence grief, healing, and long‑term parenting approaches.

• Analyze how support and lack of support impacts parental identity, emotional responses, and family dynamics over time.

• Assess the role of early childhood educators in supporting families after perinatal loss and how this affects parent–school relationships.

• Translate research findings into recommendations that strengthen long‑term, resilience‑focused practices for professionals working with bereaved families.

• Engaging and coordinating with DPH staff to align approaches to perinatal loss support, ensuring continuity of care and reinforcing one another’s work with grieving families.

• Prepare a summary document of findings and recommendations for use within the Department.

• Answering and fielding inquiries around perinatal loss.

• Other duties as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in public health with experience in maternal and child health, quality improvement, evaluation, and health communications. 

• Experience and understanding of systems that support perinatal loss. 

• Organizational and time management skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, set priorities, and meet deadlines.

• Ability to lead and work collegially in teams both internally and externally.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, including the ability to write effective technical reports for medical, scientific and lay audiences.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite products.

Contract Period of Service: 03/01/2026 – 06/30/2026 - Renewable subject to appropriation.

Additional Information:

• Benefits are unavailable with the exception of sick leave accruals.
• Contracts are renewable, subject to the Department approval, performance and allocation of funds.
• All employees will be paid on a biweekly basis and must have direct deposit.

DPH Mission Statement:

The mission of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is to promote and protect health and wellness and prevent injury and illness for all people, prioritizing racial equity in health by improving equitable access to quality public health and health care services and partnering with communities most impacted by health inequities and structural racism.

We envision a Commonwealth with an equitable and just public health system that supports optimal well-being for all people in Massachusetts, centering those with systemically and culturally oppressed identities and circumstances.

Pre-Hire Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Record Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Online Request Form

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. 4

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Please see Preferred Qualifications.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer.  Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.  Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100%25 of the job requirements.  We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.