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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.

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: This ORISE fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice (DEHSP) within the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. 

The Climate and Health Program (CHP) in the Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice (DEHSP) in the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) leads CDC’s efforts to enable communities to prepare for and respond to the health impacts of climate change. CHP’s vision is to be the national leader in empowering communities to protect human health from a changing climate. The Program uses three main strategies to achieve this: 

1. BUILD THE EVIDENCE BASE: By evaluating health risks, impact, and solutions, we build the knowledge base to support community adaptation and resilience. Communities have a shared understanding of the health impact of climate change. This stimulates partners to collaborate and develop effective solutions that reduce health risks.
2. EXPAND CAPACITY: We build and grow collaborations that expand capacities across sectors to respond to health issues in a changing climate. CDC cultivates a diverse portfolio of training, tools, and resources to equip partners at every level to develop unique adaptation strategies. This mobilizes communities across the nation to make adaptation decisions to protect health.
3. TELL THE STORY: By telling the story about how a changing climate changes health, CDC provides the impetus for dialogue, choices, and actions across the nation. CDC’s framing of health risks and solutions illustrates how adaptation benefits physical, social, and economic well-being. 

Research Project: The participant will focus on CHP’s evaluation activities. In this role, the participant will create intervention development and evaluation resources and tools for recipients of the Climate Ready States and Cities Initiative (CRSCI) through NOFO EH21-2101, prepare and contribute to guidance that supports recipients in meeting their evaluation requirements, and help support intervention and evaluation studies and projects related to climate and health. The participant may also assist with evaluations of other CHP initiatives, resources, and tools. The participant will provide climate and health knowledge, communication skills, data management and analysis, and project management abilities to support program goals. 

As needs arise, the participant may also be assigned to projects and initiatives that support other aspects of the Climate and Health Program. These may be related to communications, policy, program implementation, and analytics.

More specifically, the participant is expected to be involved in the following learning activities:

1. Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of climate adaptation programs by measuring and assessing the extent of changes in social, behavioral, policy, public administration, and interdisciplinary developmental practice areas.
2. Provide evaluation support and technical assistance to CDC recipients and other partners on their program priorities and the application of evaluation to program improvement and insight, through individualized and group approaches.
3. Support efforts by recipients and other CDC partners to translate evaluation findings into communication materials that can inform programmatic and funding decisions.
4. Contribute knowledge on the application of evaluation science, behavioral science, social science, public policy, policy analysis, and interdisciplinary developmental practice to internal and external partners.
5. Evaluate, synthesize, and report on data from CDC-funded recipients and other public health sources, including NOFO performance measures.
6. Use qualitative, quantitative, and mixed data analysis methods applied to various evaluation needs of funding recipients and CHP.
7. Support the development and planning of ongoing communities of practice (e.g., evaluation and heat) and quarterly all-recipient calls.
8. Help define best practices in climate and health adaption, as informed by evaluation evidence and translation science.
9. Disseminate information for internal and external audiences.

Learning Objectives: The participant will increase their understanding of climate related hazards to health, special topics related to climate equity, and current practices in climate adaptation. The participant will also increase their knowledge and skills related to program evaluation, data analysis techniques, project management, and facilitation. The participant will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to support project goals and objectives.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Heather Joseph (hbj7@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 28, 2023.  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.

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 ORISE.CDC.NCEH@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

The qualified candidate should have received a master's degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Public Health, Environmental Health, Environmental Management, Urban Planning), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion before the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

• Organized, able to collaborate, and with strong interpersonal communication and facilitation skills
• Program and/or policy evaluation
• Implementation science 
• Program and/or intervention development
• Analysis and data visualization (qualitative and/or quantitative)
• Written communication (presentation and narrative report development)
• Oral communication (ability to engage diverse colleagues and partners)
• Group facilitation
• Project management
• Climate change adaptation and resilience planning
• Climate change mitigation
• Environmental justice
• Social work experience

• Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (2 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (4 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (13 )

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.)