Overview
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP), Clinical and Environmental Microbiology Branch (CEMB), located 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.
The Clinical and Environmental Microbiology Branch (CEMB) is the laboratory branch in the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP). The mission of DHQP is to protect patients; protect healthcare personnel; and promote safety, quality, and value in both national and international healthcare delivery systems. The Biofilm team in CEMB is seeking applications for a Master’s level ORISE Fellow. The team performs applied laboratory research to detect, prevent, and control antimicrobial-resistant organisms and healthcare pathogens associated with microbial biofilms in healthcare settings.
Research Project: The fellow will join the Team as a Microbiologist to train on projects related to the disinfection and control of pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the healthcare environment. Fellow will primarily train in standard test methods used to evaluate disinfectant efficacy and apply these methods to emerging bacteria and fungi of public health concern. Examples include the quantitative disk carrier method and the CDC biofilm reactor.
Fellow will also have opportunities to engage with other ongoing projects within the team such as the detection and control of antimicrobial resistant organisms in premise plumbing and other environmental reservoirs. Fellow will also gain additional experience collaborating with other teams and branches within DHQP and across the organization, having opportunities to present and share activities internally and externally.
Learning Objectives: After successful completion of the fellowship, the fellow will have learned how to:
Demonstrate proficiency in variety of microbiological and chemical test methods relevant to disinfectant testing.
Maintain clear and accurate lab records consistent with quality and other internal requirements.
Design disinfectant efficacy experiments consistent with current methods and standards in the field
Successfully and safely maintain pure cultures of a variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens
Present research findings internally at branch and division meetings, and externally on partner calls and at conferences.
Analyze data and generate summary figures
Assist in writing of original manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Joe Sexton (ogi3@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 5, 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 a master’s degree in one of the relevant fields (Science, focus in Microbiology, Public Health, Laboratory Sciences or related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years.
Preferred skills:
Candidates should have previous laboratory experience working with bacteria and fungi and be comfortable with fundamental microbiology techniques such as aseptic technique and culture-dependent methods.
MS/MA degree concentration or training in environmental sciences, microbiology and/or molecular biology.
Knowledge of and familiarity with the techniques and above skills are preferred.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, particularly excel is desired.
Previous experience with fungi preferred.
Demonstrated organizational and communications skills, including preparation of written materials such as documents and reports is also desired.
Candidate should have a demonstrated ability to work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team.
About Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The application must be completed through Zintellect.
