Overview
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED) in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operation components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.
CDC’s Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch (ORPB) collaborates with epidemiologists, laboratorians, and other public health officials who investigate clusters of foodborne, waterborne, zoonotic, and other enteric (gastrointestinal) illnesses in the United States. ORPB works to ensure rapid and coordinated surveillance, detection, and response to multistate outbreaks caused by Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. The health communicators in ORPB communicate risk to the public and other partners during ongoing outbreaks and create educational materials to prevent enteric illnesses.
Research Project: This project offers an opportunity to participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team focusing on outbreak response and prevention activities, a primary component of CDC’s mission. This research opportunity will allow the participant advanced experiential learning in the creation of various health and risk communication materials for a variety of audiences regarding enteric disease outbreaks.
Learning Objectives: There will be opportunities to learn from experienced communicators how to quickly translate science into public-facing materials (e.g., web pages, social media) that accurately communicate risk. There will also be opportunities to learn how to develop educational graphics, data visualizations, and other key communication materials. There will be opportunities to attend branch and division meetings, educational seminars, participate in CDC-wide emergency responses, and other activities as schedules allow. The participant will have opportunities to enhance quantitative and qualitative reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving, communication, and teamwork skills during this fellowship.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Lauren Gollarza (knn0@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 1, 2024. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.
Participant Stipend: Stipend rates may vary based on numerous factors, including opportunity, location, education, and experience. If you are interviewed, you can inquire about the exact stipend rate at that time and if selected, your appointment offer will include the monthly stipend rate.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and CDC. Participants do not become employees of CDC, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.
The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including but not limited to, COVID-19 requirements (e.g. facial covering, physical distancing, testing, vaccination).
Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.CDC.NCEZID@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received or be pursuing a master’s degree in one of the relevant STEM fields. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date or will reach completion by August 1, 2024.
Preferred skills:
Background in health communications
Excellent skills for preparing written documents and giving oral presentations for a variety of audiences
Proficiency in Microsoft applications including Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Experience as a translator or experience developing communication products or other documents in Spanish
About Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The application must be completed through Zintellect.
