CDC Teaching Youth about Public Health Training Fellowship

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• 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.

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this opportunity will remain open until filled.

CDC Office and Location: Two research opportunities are currently available with the Epidemiology Workforce Branch, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Sciences (CSELS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Research Project: This opportunity will be with the CDC Science Ambassador Fellowship (SAF) and under the direct supervisor of the Student Programs and Partnerships’ lead. The opportunity will allow the participant to learn from a variety of experts across the branch, including those with technical expertise in education, recruitment and marketing, evaluation, data analysis and statistics, technical writing, and more. Through this fellowship, the participant can expect to gain (1) skills and experience in how to coordinate multiple SAF and STEM activities that bridge public health and education, (2) an in-depth understanding of how to teach the basic concepts of epidemiology and public health to K-12 STEM teachers and students, and (3) broad exposure to various CDC offices/programs and partners.

Learning Objectives: The participant will receive training in curriculum development, instructional design and training, communications and coalition building, and evaluation and analysis methods while collaborating in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Specific focus areas can be adapted to fit the candidate’s experience, education, and career development interests. The participant should expect to gain skills and experience in a variety of areas, such as

• Curriculum design: how to design competency- and standards-based, age-appropriate, K–12 STEM educational classroom materials, such as lesson plans and classroom activities, to introduce middle and high school students to basic public health and epidemiology concepts.
• Instructional design: how to design research-based trainings for adults (e.g., K–12 STEM teachers), including development of case studies in applied epidemiology (e.g., disease classification, epi curves, odds ratios, disease transmission) and sessions on how to teach K–12 lesson plans that use real-life epidemiology and public health examples (e.g., COVID-19, flu, HIV, foodborne outbreaks).
• Training: how to effectively present/facilitate trainings for adults (e.g., K–12 STEM teachers) using adult learning pedagogy for in-person trainings (e.g., 5-day summer course and 2-day regional trainings) and virtual trainings (e.g., quarterly applied epidemiology trainings and teacher-led trainings).
• Communications: how to use oral and written professional communication to build relationships, including providing mentorship and support to key audiences (e.g., STEM teachers participating in SAF) and keeping a network of professionals (e.g., leadership, partners) across the agency informed.
• Recruitment and marketing: how to develop tailored, data-driven marketing strategies, including social media and web design, based on a key audiences and previous recruitment evaluation data.
• Building partnerships and coalitions: how to engage with internal and external partners, such as offices across CDC and national STEM and teacher organizations, to innovate and expand program activities, and to support agency-wide CDC STEM efforts, including efforts to an inclusive, future public health workforce by recruiting teachers that serve students from historically underserved, disadvantaged, and underrepresented populations in the STEM workforce
• Evaluation and analysis: how to develop evaluation plans using logic models and program goals to design valid and reliable survey instruments and assess program impact through data analysis.
• Selection and tracking: how to use electronic, online systems to collect information from applicants; evaluate and score applicants based on selected indicators; and track participant activities over time.
• Technical writing and informatics: how to write scientifically while using plain language and translate data into meaningful graphics, figures, and information for a variety of audiences, including CDC leaders and partners.
• Collaboration and teamwork: how to utilize and leverage the skillsets of others to produce timely, quality products.
• Time management: how to appropriately plan one’s work according to project timelines and monitor progress toward completion.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Kelly Cordeira (xwo5@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as qualified candidates are identified. 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, 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.

Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.CDC.CSELS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred skills:

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with a team
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills as this fellowship will involve significant amounts of public speaking and written communication.
• Strong organizational skills
• Experience in adult education/teaching, project management, public relations or partner development
• Experience with Excel

• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (1 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (2 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (5 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (5 )