CDC/NCEH/DLS Fellowship Opportunity at Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch

Organization
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Reference Code
CDC-NCEH-DLS-2024-0054
How to Apply

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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
  • Two educational or professional recommendations. 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.

Application Deadline
5/15/2024 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available with the Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch (NSMBB) at the Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) within the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) at 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 works to protect 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.

Research Project: The selected participant will contribute to development and improvement of molecular assays, development and production of quality control and proficiency testing materials and providing technical support and training for state newborn screening programs.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, training opportunities may include:

  • Laboratory safety within a level 2 biological safety laboratory (BSL-2)
  • Sample and reagent preparation techniques for molecular testing from blood or dried blood spots following unidirectional workflow
  • Tissue culture and aseptic techniques
  • Quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) processes such as those required by the ISO accredited laboratory
  • Method troubleshooting and validation
  • Handling of the Epstein Barr Virus

Candidates that are selected will be tested for the presence of antibodies to both VCA and EBNA, which will be required for fellowship eligibility. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Stanimila Nikolova (sjn4@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 2024.  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 and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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, 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.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. biology, genetics, or related field). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or currently pursuing.

The following skills are desired:

  • Experience in DNA extraction from blood or other matrix
  • Experience in human tissue culture and aseptic techniques
  • Experience performing PCR, real-time PCR assays
  • Ability to collaborate as part of a team
  • Demonstrated communication skills 
  • A final, overall GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale is preferred
Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
  • Overall GPA: 3.00
  • Discipline(s):
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (8 )
Affirmation

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.)

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