WHO Junior Public Health Professional – AI Health
The World Health Organization has opened applications for Junior Public Health Professional – AI Health, vacancy number 2604315. The opportunity is a full-time, 24-month fellowship based in New Delhi under the South-East Asia Regional Office’s Department of Health Systems Development. The official notice was posted on 6 October 2026.
Indian nationals can apply, subject to the other eligibility conditions. This is not a general fresher internship: the notice requires at least two years of relevant experience, including direct work on AI for health. The advertised remuneration is approximately US$63,000 per year.
Key details and closing-time warning
- Organisation: World Health Organization, WHO-SEARO
- Role: Junior Public Health Professional – AI Health
- Vacancy: 2604315
- Contract: Fellowship, 24 months
- Schedule: Full-time
- Location: New Delhi, India
- Remuneration: Approximately US$63,000 annually
- Age: Below 35 years
- Closing display: 21 October 2026 at 12:59 a.m. in the inspected browser session
WHO explicitly says the displayed closing time follows the applicant’s device settings. Check the exact time on your own device and submit well before it. Do not assume applications remain open until the evening of 21 October; preparing and applying by 20 October avoids relying on a last-minute interpretation.
What the fellowship supports
The fellow will support responsible development, evaluation, implementation and scaling of AI in health across the South-East Asia Region. The work extends from identifying health-system problems suited to AI through data-readiness assessment, technical review, validation, deployment and post-deployment monitoring.
The role also covers governance, safety, ethics, equity, standards, technology assessment and capacity building. It is therefore broader than coding models. Applicants need to connect technical AI work with health-system needs, evidence and responsible implementation.
Technical and policy responsibilities
The notice specifically includes supporting the Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India, or SAHI, and work on a State AI Readiness Index. Readiness assessments cover data availability, quality and representativeness, infrastructure, computational requirements, interoperability, workforce capacity and institutional readiness.
Other duties include helping develop evaluation frameworks, technical guidance, strategic plans, policy proposals, specifications, reports and knowledge products. Evidence reviews and horizon scanning will examine emerging technologies, potential health applications and associated risks.
The fellow will support integration with existing digital-health systems, considering APIs, data standards, digital public infrastructure and health-information systems. The assignment also involves workshops, training, engagement with ministries, WHO offices, researchers, developers and regulators, and documenting implementation lessons.
Essential education and experience
An essential qualification is a Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Engineering, Mathematics, Computational Sciences or a closely related technical discipline relevant to AI, ML or data science.
A Master’s degree or PhD is strongly recommended under desirable qualifications, not listed as an essential requirement. Relevant interdisciplinary health-and-technology education or experience is valued, along with additional training or expertise in fields such as health informatics, AI evaluation, responsible AI and biomedical data science.
Applicants need at least two years of digital-health, AI or machine-learning project experience, including direct AI-for-health work involving development, testing, validation, deployment, evaluation or scaling. A general programming background without the stated health-related experience should not be presented as automatically sufficient.
Nationality, age and skills
Candidates must be below 35 years old and nationals of eligible WHO South-East Asia Region Member States. India is explicitly included in the notice. The opportunity is with a United Nations agency, not an Indian civil-service appointment.
The minimum skill expectations include spoken and written English, strong AI/ML, data-science and statistical-modelling knowledge, understanding of the AI lifecycle, and the ability to evaluate models and products critically. The notice also asks for understanding of DPI and DPI-Health, reference architecture, SAHI, national AI-health strategies, health data and integration with digital-health environments.
Scientific writing, technical communication, translating complex concepts for policymakers and health leaders, and effective multidisciplinary and multicultural teamwork are important. Relevant work with governments, health institutions, development partners or UN agencies is desirable, as is knowledge of regional languages.
Conditions applicants should not overlook
WHO considers higher educational qualifications from institutions recognised in the World Higher Education Database. Candidates retained for interview may need to provide scans of required qualifications in advance. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
A written test and/or asynchronous video assessment may be used. Shortlisted candidates undergo background verification, and professional integrity is essential. WHO states that it does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
Contracts are also conditional on required vaccination confirmation, with medical exceptions assessed through WHO’s Staff Health and Wellbeing Services. The notice encourages diverse applicants and provides reasonable-accommodation support. These are material conditions, not optional details to discover only after selection.
How to apply
Use WHO’s official recruitment portal and the Apply Online action for vacancy 2604315. Prepare a complete profile that accurately connects your qualifications and experience with the essential AI-for-health criteria. The source does not advertise this assignment as work from home or disclose an additional monthly stipend.
Read the official WHO AI Health fellowship notice and apply
Check the device-local closing time and submit early. The annual remuneration is approximate, and final contractual terms must be confirmed with WHO.
