Overview
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available with the Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch (NSMBB) at the Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) within the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 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.
Research Project: The selected participant will contribute to development and improvement of molecular assays, development and production of quality control and proficiency testing materials and providing technical support and training for state newborn screening programs.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, training opportunities may include:
Laboratory safety within a level 2 biological safety laboratory (BSL-2)
Sample and reagent preparation techniques for molecular testing from blood or dried blood spots following unidirectional workflow
Tissue culture and aseptic techniques
Quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) processes such as those required by the ISO accredited laboratory
Method troubleshooting and validation
Handling of the Epstein Barr Virus
Candidates that are selected will be tested for the presence of antibodies to both VCA and EBNA, which will be required for fellowship eligibility.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Stanimila Nikolova (sjn4@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 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: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only.
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.NCEH@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor’s degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. biology, genetics, or related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or currently pursuing.
The following skills are desired:
Experience in DNA extraction from blood or other matrix
Experience in human tissue culture and aseptic techniques
Experience performing PCR, real-time PCR assays
Ability to collaborate as part of a team
Demonstrated communication skills
A final, overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is preferred
About Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The application must be completed through Zintellect.
