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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: A fellowship is available within the Division of Communication Science and Services in the Office of Communications at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located in Atlanta, Georgia. CDC is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven, service organization that protects the public’s health.

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.

The Division of Communication Science and Services at CDC supports the scientific practice of health communication and shares evidence-based knowledge to public health practitioners. We develop and share health communication that is understandable and actionable across various audiences such as the general public, public health practitioners, and healthcare professionals.

Research Project: The Division of Communication Science and Services at CDC supports the scientific practice of health communication and shares evidence-based knowledge to public health practitioners. We develop and share health communication that is understandable and actionable across various audiences such as the general public, public health practitioners, and healthcare professionals.

The participant will collaborate closely with a team of health communicators in the Division of Communication Science and Services on a variety of communication projects and activities, including:

• Supporting a rapid message testing system
• Providing communication science technical assistance to internal communication specialists and other CDC staff
• Supporting both qualitative and quantitative research activities, including collecting and analyzing communication science data
• Developing a risk communication framework
• And assisting with activities for the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media

Learning Objectives: The participant will learn how to:

• Apply communication techniques and best practices to public health programs
• Communicate clearly with internal and external, governmental and non-governmental audiences
• Analyze audience research data, and recommend the most appropriate messages to meet objectives and audience needs
• Select the most effective communication channel to disseminate products and messages

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Laura Pechta (vya9@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research or other fellowship activities, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated appointment start date: April 15, 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: Stipend rates may vary based on numerous factors, including opportunity, location, education, and experience. If you are interviewed, you can inquire about the exact stipend rate at that time and if selected, your appointment offer will include the monthly stipend rate.

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 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.IOD@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 or be currently pursuing a master's degree. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

• Master’s degree in health communication, public health, or related field earned within the past five years
• Ability to quickly collect and analyze different streams of information, including data sets using both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Strong listening, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, in a team setting and virtually using Microsoft Teams
• Experience in applying principles of clear communication, health literacy, and plain language of written content for multiple types of audiences
• Experience in creating content for a variety of communication formats and platforms
• Ability to use software and applications such as Survey Monkey, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and other qualitative and quantitative data analysis software

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (5 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (1 )
  • 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.)