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The Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (CHOICE) Institute

MS Health Economics & Outcomes Research Industry Fellowships

Application Deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025

The online application will open on September 1, 2025. Prospective fellows should apply through the UW Graduate School online application.

Fall Information Session!

This webinar was held on September 22, 2025 and was hosted by CHOICE faculty, staff, and current 2nd year fellows. Topics covered include: a brief overview of HEOR, our fellowship programs, our industry partners, the application process, and questions from prospective students. Access the slides.

About our Programs

Our HEOR fellows work closely with faculty in the CHOICE Institute on projects where they learn first-hand how to apply the principles of outcomes research to real-life problems. These fellowships provide students with a year of study at the University of Washington, usually combined with a period of applied research at the sponsoring company. The year of study leads to an MS degree in Health Economics & Outcomes Research. Learn more about the degree requirements and courses completed during the MS degree program here: MS in HEOR Degree Requirements 

We are recruiting fellows with the following industry partners: 

  1. University of Washington/AbbVie Fellowship
  2. University of Washington/Bayer Fellowship
  3. University of Washington/Genentech Fellowship
  4. University of Washington/Pfizer Fellowship
  5. University of Washington/Sanofi Fellowship

Fellowship Selection Form

Our training programs in health economics, outcomes research, and policy each combine the resources of a leading academic center for health economics and policy with the dynamic, real-world training of major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies recognized for their commitment to innovation.

Pictured: 2022-2024 CHOICE Fellows at the UWSOP Corporate Advisory Meeting

Year 1: University of Washington

  • Gain principles and methods of HEOR through rigorous courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, economic evaluation, and outcomes research
  • Complete MS thesis
  • Present research posters and/or publish manuscripts
  • MS degree in Health Economics & Outcomes Research awarded upon completion

Year 2: Industry

  • Demonstrate product value utilizing strategically-focused HEOR
  • Understand role of HEOR in drug development and commercialization
  • Collaborate cross-functionally (medical affairs/communication, market access/brand strategy, regulatory affairs, clinical development) and with external vendors

Eligibility

Applicants applying for these fellowships must have a degree in pharmacy and have some research experience (preference will be given to those with a high academic standing). Excellent written and verbal communication skills are also essential. We are unable to sponsor non-immigrant visas for this program nor are OPT international students eligible. You must hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status to apply.

Image of 8 students smiling and posing in front of a sculpture at the health sciences education building in UW
2024-2026 CHOICE Fellows

Application Information

Applicants will apply for our fellowship programs through the UW Graduate School application for admission. As part of the application process they will submit a curriculum vitae, cover letter, and three letters of recommendation to be considered for an interview.  Selection of fellows will be made by a committee composed of University of Washington faculty members and representatives from the respective company.

Application Process Timeline:

  • Eligibility: Degree in Pharmacy by July 1, 2026
  • Application Opens: September 1, 2025
  • Application Deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025
  • Interview Notification: Monday, October 27, 2025
  • Interviews: October 29 – November 7, 2025 (via Zoom)
  • Offer Notification: Rolling, after interviews
  • Program Start Date: July 1, 2026

How to Apply:

  1. Login to the Graduate School application: https://apply.grad.uw.edu/portal/gr_app
  2. Select “Start Graduate Application”
  3. Complete all sections of the application along the left hand panel, starting with the Profile Information section.
  4. Under Program Selection, choose the following:
    1. Application type: Graduate
    2. Program: Pharmacy – Health Economics & Outcomes Research (MS)
  5. Review the Program Requirements and indicate the term and year you intend to enroll in the program
    1. Select Autumn 2026 (this is when the matriculation to the graduate program would begin).
  6. For the section, “Additional Materials”, download and complete the following Fellowship Selection Form.
    1. Upload the completed copy to your application.
  7. Continue with completing all other sections of the application, including Application Materials and Recommenders.
  8. Review your application and check for any missing required fields or errors. When ready, click Submit Application. Your application is not submitted until you have paid the application fee.

A more detailed instruction guide can be found here.

Application Fee Waivers

The Graduate School application fee is $90. Financial Need Fee Waivers are available through the Graduate School for those who qualify. For more information on minimum income requirements and how to request a waiver: https://grad.uw.edu/prospective-students/how-to-apply/application-fee-waivers/

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I am a current Pharmacy student interested in a career in industry. I’ve heard about HEOR, but can you provide an overview of the field?

A: Sure! We’ve prepared this handout that provides an overview of the field and the various types of career paths graduate training in HEOR can lead you to.

Q: If applying to more than one position, do my letter writers need to address their letters specific for each one?

A: No, if applying for more than one position, the same letters will be used for all positions. Therefore, you should ask your letter writers to address them more generally to the Selection Committee and speak about your qualifications more broadly in regards to HEOR.

Q: Is it possible to do the Master degree( Year 1) without the fellowship? Do you offer a standalone Master’s program?

A: At this time we do not offer the stand-alone Master’s program, our Master’s students must be admitted to the 2 year fellowship program with one of our industry sponsors. The 2nd year must be completed immediately following completion of the MS degree in Year 1.

Q: Am I eligible to apply if I received my Pharmacy degree from a school other than the University of Washington?

A: Yes. You are eligible to apply for our fellowship programs coming from an outside school. In fact, most of our incoming cohort are from institutions across the U.S. Generally, we will have at least one University of Washington PharmD graduate in the incoming cohorts, but we accept applications from graduates of any regionally accredited institution.

Q: What type of stipend or benefits are included in this position?

A: All fellows receive a competitive stipend, health insurance, and are eligible for retirement benefits as a UW Postdoctoral Scholar Fellow. A comprehensive description of benefits is available in the UAW Postdoctoral Scholar (Postdoc) Union Contract. Fellows are paid UW employees for the duration of the two-year fellowship. Additionally, they will receive full tuition coverage for the Master of Science program in HEOR. Additional benefits vary by individual sponsoring company but generally also include relocation assistance and travel support to present at professional conferences.

For more information, please contact: 

Marina Gano & Tom Hopkins
HEOR Fellowship Program Staff
uwsopchoice@uw.edu