HHS BARDA Division of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Countermeasures Fellowship
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A complete application package consists of:
- An application
- Transcript(s) – For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Selected candidate must provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation. Click Here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts.
- A current resume/CV
- One professional or educational recommendation
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
HHS Office and Location: An ORISE fellowship opportunity is available with the Division of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Medical Countermeasures within the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This mentored research training opportunity is located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and may include in-person participation at BARDA offices in Washington, D.C. or Maryland.
The specific opportunities are in BARDA's CBRN Division with the:
- Vaccines Program, which focuses on the advanced development, licensure, and procurement of vaccines for priority threats, including Ebolaviruses, Marburg virus, smallpox, and anthrax, as well as emerging infectious disease threats.
- Antivirals and Antitoxins Program, training opportunity on the advanced development, licensure, and procurement of therapeutics for priority threats, including Ebolaviruses, Marburg virus, smallpox, and anthrax, as well as emerging infectious disease threats. Competitive applicants would demonstrate experience in infectious disease, virology, product testing and evaluation, and/or applications for artificial intelligence, in silico modeling, microphysiological systems, and other new approach methodologies in product development.
- Burn and Blast MCM Program, which focuses on the advanced development leading to FDA clearances and approvals and procurement of products for this priority RadNuc threat. The products developed include novel ultrasound devices, biomarker tests and enabling technologies across five sub-portfolios (Burn injuries, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Hemorrhage control, Thoraco-abdominal injuries and Musculo-skeletal injuries) seen in mass casualties.
Learning Objectives: This opportunity is intended to provide exposure to multidisciplinary collaboration across government, academic, and industry research environments while expanding your understanding of the scientific and public health considerations that support national health security preparedness. Through this mentored research training experience, you will develop knowledge of pandemic influenza preparedness, emerging infectious disease research, and the scientific principles underlying vaccine development and evaluation. You may gain experience applying bioinformatics and computational approaches to genomic surveillance, analysis of influenza sequence data, and interpretation of antigenic and immunologic datasets associated with candidate vaccine research. This opportunity is intended to strengthen your skills in scientific data analysis, interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific communication, and evaluation of scientific literature related to influenza viruses with pandemic potential. You will also gain broader exposure to translational research and public health preparedness activities that contribute to the development of medical countermeasures and pandemic response capabilities.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Felicia Harris (felicia.harris@hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Flexible; the start date will depend on the selection and onboarding process.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year but may be renewed upon recommendation of BARDA and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Place, Level of Participation, & Schedule (Remote): The program supports 100% remote participation, with required travel to Washington, DC and/or vendor sites, as needed. Opportunities for in-person engagement may enhance the fellowship experience. However, remote participation will not preclude an otherwise highly qualified candidate from consideration. Remote fellows will participate on a full-time basis, up to 40 hours per week. A flexible schedule may be available based on program and operational needs. Fellows should be available during the program’s core hours of 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on scheduled participation days. The specific schedule may be established or requested by the assigned Mentor.
As BARDA is an emergency response agency, fellows may also be required to participate on weekends and federal holidays when necessary to maximize training opportunities, gain exposure to emergency response activities, and support program objectives. Such participation will be based on operational and training needs and coordinated by the assigned Mentor.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. You must maintain health insurance coverage throughout your appointment, you will be offered a health insurance stipend to help offset the cost of coverage.
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 HHS. Participants do not become employees of HHS, 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 HHSrpp@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. Postgraduates must have received their degree in an appropriate STEM discipline within five years of the appointment start date or must complete all requirements for such a degree prior to the desired start date.
Preferred skills:
- Strong oral and written skills
- Critical thinking and data analysis
- Independence, self-motivation, and the ability to take initiative
- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
- Discipline(s):
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