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 for two fellows is available in 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 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: This fellowship is a structured learning experience designed to provide exposure to occupational health, emergency preparedness, and public health response operations under the guidance of a mentor. You will not serve in a staff position, provide independent clinical or operational coverage, or make clinical clearance, medical, or policy decisions.

Operational learning activities: you may have opportunities to:

• Observe OHC mailbox management and the routing of responder requests and medical-clearance materials.
• Gain familiarity with medical-clearance processes, including documentation, immunization records, forms, and scheduling considerations.
• Participate in mentor-guided review and discussion of de-identified or appropriately authorized clearance-related examples, as permitted.
• Learn about recurring OHC reporting processes and attend relevant meetings, as appropriate.

Interdisciplinary coordination learning activities: you may have opportunities to:

• Observe communication and coordination among occupational health nurses, healthcare providers, emergency response personnel, safety staff, and other OHC partners.
• Learn how OHC staff coordinate medical-clearance activities in support of deployment readiness.
• Participate in mentor-guided emergency response exercises, after-action learning activities, and related planning discussions.
• Gain exposure to the roles of the Provider Team Lead, Emergency Response Coordinator, and other partners involved in deployment medical-clearance processes.

Emergency preparedness, policy, and response learning activities: you may have opportunities to:

• Participate in mentor-guided emergency response exercises, after-action activities, and related planning discussions.
• Review OHC emergency response policies, guidance, and standard operating materials, including how they are updated for evolving public health and operational needs.
• Gain exposure to deployer health-monitoring approaches for high-consequence pathogen responses, such as Ebola or Marburg.
• Participate in other relevant occupational health, emergency preparedness, or public health response learning activities.

Occupational Health Information Systems and Program Activities Learning Experience: you may have opportunities to:

• Gain exposure to Cority and its role in supporting occupational health program activities.
• Observe Cority inventory, workflow, issue-identification, and IT coordination processes.
• Review OHC policies and SOPs and learn about document-update processes.
• Participate, as appropriate, in Health Days planning discussions and other mentor-guided occupational health learning projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Medical Clearance Processes: Learn how occupational health supports responder requests, medical clearance, immunization requirements, documentation, and deployment readiness.
• Emergency Preparedness and Coordination: Gain exposure to occupational health’s role in the Incident Management System, response meetings, exercises, and partner coordination.
• Collaboration and Communication: Strengthen communication and collaboration skills through interactions with occupational health, clinical, safety, leadership, and response partners.
• Policy and Guidance Development: Learn how OHC policies, SOPs, and response guidance are reviewed and updated as public health needs evolve.
• Exercises and Continuous Improvement: Gain experience through participation in exercises and after-action learning activities used to identify strengths, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Deployer Health Monitoring: Gain familiarity with health-monitoring approaches for personnel responding to high-consequence pathogens, including Ebola and Marburg.
• Information Systems and Data Management: Learn how Cority and related IT processes support occupational health program activities.
• Program Development and Evaluation: Gain exposure to Health Days, reporting processes, policy update processes, and special projects that support occupational health programs.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Brandis Terrell (gwi9@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 21, 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 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.

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 degree in the one of the relevant fields. 

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (6 )

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.)