CDC Applied Research and Evaluation Fellowship

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.

If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.CDC.CSELS@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A research opportunity is available with the Office of the Director (OD) in the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (CSELS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA.

The applicant selected will participate in applied research and evaluation projects focused on programs that serve public health professionals agency-wide and beyond (e.g., in local and state Departments of Health, partner organizations). For example, the participant will collaborate to pilot test and rigorously evaluate professional development activities (e.g., a seminar series focused on health equity, a web-based training module on evaluation theory). Additional activities include design and implementation of activities to better understand aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. The selected participant will contribute to projects that use traditional and innovative methods to evaluate diverse programming in the Center.

Under the guidance of the CSELS Associate Director for Evaluation, the participant will have the opportunity to:

• Contribute to evaluation planning with multidisciplinary contributors, both internal and external to the Agency
• Plan and implement data collection and analysis, qualitative and quantitative
• Design and lead activities to interpret data collaboratively with intended users of the evaluation or others with an interest in a program or its evaluation
• Explore how to visualize data in ways that resonate with intended users, when appropriate and needed
• Translate findings into practical, robust recommendations to improve activities in the short-term and over time
• Report evaluation findings and recommendations in multiple formats (e.g., one-page evaluation reports, conference presentations, journal articles)
• Contribute to work to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the organization via well-designed, participatory inquiry
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize information to support evaluation activities
• Collaborate with diverse colleagues to develop and disseminate evidence-based logic models to depict complex activities or programs
• Contribute to an evaluation-related Community of Practice and network with early career professionals in CSELS and agency-wide
• Build plain language writing skills via collaborative work with seasoned scientists on articles, blog posts, or other public-facing products
• Learn how to better collaborate with other evaluators or researchers in meaningful and productive ways to complete an activity or project effectively and efficiently
• Participate in professional development activities focused on evaluation-related technical capabilities, work planning and situational awareness, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills

At the conclusion of this opportunity, the participant will be able to:

• Provide concrete examples of how data can be used to improve activities or programs in public health settings and beyond
• Explain their substantial role in high-quality, rigorous evaluation activities, from start to finish
• Prepare work plans, reports, and other products to meet different needs and expectations of colleagues and other users, public and private partners, the general public, or policymakers
• Understand the trade-offs of different approaches to program evaluation in terms of accuracy, feasibility, propriety, and utility

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2021

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and CDC. The initial appointment can be up to one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at CDC in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Participants do not become employees of CDC, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree (preferred) in one of the relevant fields, with emphasis on evaluation, analytic methods, and public health or social science. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

• Training and experience in program monitoring and evaluation
• Practical experience in program evaluation planning, implementation, and use of findings
• Quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analytics experience and competencies
• Experience with logic models, indicators, or evaluation reports
• Experience with analytic software
• Interest in learning about informatics and public health data modernization
• Experience reviewing and summarizing scientific information
• Exceptional oral and written communications skills (especially technical writing and presentation skills) for a variety of audiences
• Fluency in Microsoft Office applications

• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (1 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (1 )