The Center for Firefighter Injury Research and Safety Trends (FIRST) developed the award-winning Fire Service Injury Research, Epidemiology, and Evaluation (FIRE) Fellowship in 2016.

The Fellowship gives students the opportunity learn about community partners' needs through field immersion. The Fellowship recipients, or “FIRE Fellows,” give back to these communities through analysis of fire service data using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Many Fellows use this unique summer immersion program as a practicum to fulfill their required Applied Practical Experience (APE), and many continue this work as their second year master's thesis/Integrated Learning Experience (ILE).

Meet the Alumni

The FIRE Fellowship is a ten-week, paid, full time, summer intensive training period that gives Drexel students the opportunity to work on all research, education, and practice initiatives.

Skills development may include:

• Qualitative and quantitative methods
• Data management
• Preparing and communicating survey results with community partners
• Working and building relationships with stakeholders
• Injury classification systems such as ICD-9-CM and WCIO
• Haddon, Barell, and E-code matrix use and applications
• Exploratory data analyses
• Advanced statistical analyses

Fellows develop the following professional competencies:

• Collaboration over competition
• Hierarchy of help
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Leading teams
• Public speaking
• Remote work skills

"The most important lessons I learned from my Fellowship have been the most unexpected ones," said FIRE Fellow Inaya Wahid, MPH. "They were not about data analysis or synthesizing literature; rather, they were about how to effectively and empathetically work with others."

Added FIRE Fellow Yazid Barhoush, MPH, "The FIRE Fellowship is more than an internship--it is designed with the student in mind. It's a holistic experience that will transform your knowledge and skills."

FIRE Fellowship Application Criteria FAQ

What type of research does the FIRST Center conduct?

The FIRST Center conducts research in several areas, including:

1. Stress and violence in fire-based EMS responders
2. Fire service workforce development and work environment
3. Organizational safety climate assessment
4. Mental health implications of work
5. Policy research and practice
6. Injury data system development

When is the FIRE Fellowship?

The Fellowship takes place over 10 weeks, aligning with Summer Term as outlined by the Drexel University Quarter Calendar.

Who can apply for the Fellowship?

• Accelerated BS/MPH candidates 
• Master's students between their first and second year and master's graduates
• Doctoral students
• International students are welcome, but must be between their first and second year for due to visa restrictions

What requirements are there?

• Fellows must commit to on-campus presence during the summer intensive training period (40 hours per week)
• Will need to complete CITI and HIPAA IRB trainings prior to beginning the Fellowship
  

How do I apply?

Applications for the 2025 FIRE Fellowship will be announced soon.

For more information or questions regarding the FIRE Fellowship, please contact FIRST Associate Director, Alexandra Fisher at abt57@drexel.edu.