To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

A complete application consists of:

• An application
• Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• One educational or professional recommendation. Your application will be considered incomplete, and will not be reviewed until one recommendation is submitted.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

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*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), in Atlanta, Georgia. It is located on the CDC Chamblee Campus, Building 106, 3rd Floor.

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 ORISE Research Participation program, this fellowship will offer the opportunity to train in the Division of Birth Defects and Infant Disorders in the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). You will have the opportunity to gain experience in conducting research and surveillance activities, as well as collecting, reviewing, and analyzing epidemiologic and programmatic data. You will train on projects that focus on the role of prenatal exposures on pregnancy, fetal, infant, and child outcomes. Prenatal exposures of interest include, but are not limited to: cytomegalovirus, dengue, hepatitis C, syphilis, and other infectious diseases. Training will occur under the direction of an assigned Mentor on the Emerging Threats Epidemiology and Research Team Or the Emerging Threats Data and Surveillance Team. 

Learning Objectives: There are several main learning objectives that this appointment could include:

• Gain familiarity with the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET), including longitudinally linked surveillance of pregnant people and infants affected by infectious diseases.
• Strengthen data-management, analysis, and reporting skills through collection, review, and analysis of epidemiologic and programmatic data from surveillance systems and related studies.
• Learn how protocols and standard operating procedures are developed for surveillance activities, using existing platforms to capture pregnancy, birth, clinical, and developmental outcomes associated with infectious diseases and other prenatal exposures.
• Contribute to data-system improvements and approaches that enhance the quality, completeness, and timeliness of surveillance data.
• Participate in internal and external meetings to support collaboration, coordination, and dissemination of surveillance activities and findings.
• Build evidence-synthesis skills through literature reviews and, as needed, systematic reviews and meta-analyses examining the effects of infectious diseases and other in-utero exposures on fetal, infant, and child development.
• Gain experience supporting CDC emergency-response activities related to maternal, infant, and child health.
• Collaborate with staff across NCBDDD, other CDC centers and offices, federal agencies, health departments, and external partners.

Mentor(s): The mentors for this opportunity are  Daniel Chang (qmq4@cdc.gov) and Samantha Distler (tzf7@cdc.gov), with the sub-mentor Denise Boggs (cln1@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: November 4, 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.

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.

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.

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. Public Health or Epidemiology or in one of the public health-related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 6/30/2027.

Preferred skills:

• Good written and oral communication skills, as well as strong data management and analysis skills, with experience in R (preferred), SAS, and/or Power BI.
• Have an interest in maternal and child health issues, with a particular interest in the impact of infectious disease during pregnancy on fetal, infant, and child development.
• Interest in emergency response.
• Some baseline knowledge or interest in infectious disease epidemiology and the epidemiology of STORCH pathogens is highly desirable. 
• Be a self-starter and motivated to ask questions and learn more about the activities of the Emerging Threats Teams.
• Have strong organizational skills and ability to be in fast-paced collaborative environment (e.g., MS Teams and SharePoint), practice responsible and appropriate use of AI tools, and have a desire to learn about CDC responses.
• Have some experience in conducting literature searches and summarizing scientific literature.
• Have an interest in maternal and child health issues, with a particular interest in the impact of infectious disease during pregnancy.
• Candidates with evidence of presentations or publications in peer-reviewed journals are favorable.

• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 6/30/2027 12:00:00 AM.
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (2 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (4 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (4 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (3 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age

I certify that I have not previously been employed by CDC or by a contractor working directly for CDC.  I understand that CDC does not permit individuals with a prior employment relationship with CDC or its contractors to participate as trainees in the ORISE program. (Exceptions may be granted for individuals who, since the previous CDC employment, have obtained a new STEM degree which necessitates training in a new field.)