To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.

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.

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*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location:  An opportunity in the data governance team in the Data Policy Branch, within the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology (OPHDST) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

CDC is one of the major operational divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services working  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. OPHDST optimizes timely access, exchange, and integration of public health data, while driving efficiency and consolidation of data and technology systems supported by CDC across all levels of public health and advancing open data and dissemination to inform decision making and action.

Research Project: Joining the Data Policy Branch, the selected participant will train in developing data policy and processes to govern data use, data re-use, and data disclosure. As part of our efforts to modernize our approach to data policy, we identify, scale up, and evaluate data governance models within CDC and with public health partners. This Public Health Data Policy Fellowship will be an excellent opportunity for selected participants interested in acquiring training and experience in the domain of data, with a focus on policy development and implementation.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant's training activities will be in analyzing policies to ensure that they support best scientific practice.  

Learning Objectives: The fellow will participate under the mentorship of CDC staff to learn how to:

1. Research government and non-government best practices for data governance
2. Gain experience by collaborating on writing and editing new data policies for the agency
3. Train in developing education material, to ensure awareness and uptake of data policy and data governance approaches
4. Gain knowledge of the complementary roles of the federal, state, tribal, local, and territorial agencies involved in public health data collection, data privacy, data sharing, and data release.
5. Learn how to apply policy to issues within data advancement, including sensitive emerging policy priorities related to data privacy and dissemination.
6. Gain knowledge in data management processes and principles.
7. Enhance skills in coordinating with other public health researchers to maximize efficiency in developing policy that can be implemented, enforced, and monitored.
8. Gain familiarity with the publication and knowledge dissemination process at a federal public health agency, including scientific clearance.
9. There may be possibilities to train on other science projects related to data policy including artificial intelligence policy, funding policy, technology policy, and data management policy.

This will be a rich learning experience for understanding how data privacy concepts are applied in practice, and to understand how to use evaluation findings to implement change. Our program is committed to ensuring that all programmatic research is informed by the best available science, and that we leverage programmatic insight to shape future scientific agendas.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Grace Mandel (nvm8@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 16, 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.OS@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

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

Preferred skills:

• Interest in the following areas:
  • Data governance
  • Information security and privacy
  • Artificial intelligence policy
  • Data policy
  • Data privacy
• Ability to collaborate with diverse internal and external partners
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Academic Level(s): Graduate Students, Post-Bachelor's, Postdoctoral, or Post-Master's.
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (4 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (2 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (6 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (13 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (30 )
• Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).

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.)