CDC ATSDR Region 3 Office Public Health Assessments (PHAs) at Superfund Sites Fellowship

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) located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operation components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC protects 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 increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish its mission, CDC conducts important science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.

Research Project: Under the guidance of a mentor you will have the opportunity to:

Learn ATSDR’s approach to conducting environmental public health assessments (PHAs) at Superfund Sites.
Evaluate available data to assess the potential for human health risks from exposure to environmental contaminants and assist with reviewing site histories, demographic data and the surrounding areas to inform the PHAs.
Participate in community outreach and coordination meetings with partners and key stakeholders.
Gain experience collaborating on draft documents and reports.
You will also gain experience participating in other ATSDR activities across the mid-Atlantic region, which could include being on other sites, engaging with partner organizations, and participating in emergency preparedness and response activities. You may have the opportunity to travel across the mid-Atlantic Region for site-related activities and to the ATSDR headquarters office in Atlanta for training and/or coordination meetings.

Learning Objectives:

Learn ATSDR’s process for conducting environmental public health assessments at Superfund sites.
Gain experience in evaluating environmental, exposure, demographic, and site-history data to identify potential human-health risks from contaminants.
Develop skills in reviewing site conditions and surrounding communities to inform public health assessment findings.
Gain experience in community outreach, partner coordination, and stakeholder meetings related to environmental health concerns.
Gain experience in preparing draft assessment documents, technical summaries, reports, and other public health communication materials.
Gain exposure to ATSDR activities across the Mid-Atlantic region, including at additional sites and collaboration with partner organizations.
Gain experience in emergency preparedness and response activities and participate in regional or headquarters-based training and coordination meetings.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Michael Byrns (ab79@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 12, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year 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 CDCrpp@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. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

Strong written, verbal, research, analytical, and organizational skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and familiarity with statistical analysis methods and software.
Point of Contact
Rachel
Eligibility Requirements
Degree: Master’s Degree received within the last 60 month(s).