ATSDR Evidence-Based Research Strategy Fellowship

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend provided

Mentored research experience

Federal public health exposure

Job summary

A research opportunity is available with ATSDR at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. This ORISE program offers mentored training to develop evidence-based public health strategies and a five-year research agenda.

Starting Fall 2026 for one year with possible renewal. U.S. citizens or LPRs only. Stipend details vary; questions may be addressed to [e-mail].

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant field, awarded within 6 months or by 2027-01-01.
• Experience with environmental and epidemiological study design.
• Ability to appraise literature and translate knowledge into research questions.
• Experience conducting systematic/scoping reviews and evidence synthesis.
• Familiarity with research-prioritization frameworks and scoring systems.

Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental scans of ATSDR activities.
• Perform gap analyses to identify unmet research needs.
• Interview subject-matter experts to translate priorities into questions.
• Develop a research-prioritization matrix and draft a five-year agenda.
• Collaborate with mentors and teams to regularly update priorities.

Skills

Epidemiology

Data analysis

Literature reviews

Scientific writing

Team collaboration

Education

Doctoral degree

Tools

R

SPSS

Stata

Job description

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Reference Code: CDC-2026-0058

Application Deadline: 10/30/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location

A research opportunity is currently available with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 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 protects 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. CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish its mission, CDC conducts important science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.

Research Project

This mentored research experience will allow you to participate in evidence-based approaches for shaping scientific priorities within the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Guided by experienced ATSDR scientists, you will explore how public health research needs are identified, evaluated, and aligned with agency goals. You will begin by gaining experience conducting an environmental scan of current research activities, learning how to organize and synthesize information from diverse scientific programs. Under the guidance of a mentor you will perform a structured gap analysis to identify unmet research needs and emerging opportunities. you will also gain experience interviewing subject-matter experts to understand how public health priorities are translated into research questions and strategic planning. Using insights gained throughout the appointment, you will learn to apply evidence-based methods to develop a research-prioritization matrix and collaborate on a draft a five-year research agenda for the ATSDR Office of Science. With mentor guidance, you will also gain experience in recommending approaches for regularly reviewing and updating research priorities in response to evolving challenges. Overall, this project offers a hands‑on training experience in research strategy development and provides you with valuable exposure to how federal public health agencies evaluate and prioritize scientific work to maximize impact.

Learning Objectives

• Develop advanced competency in evaluating scientific portfolios using evidence-based assessment methods.
• Strengthen ability to identify and articulate research gaps, unmet needs, and emerging scientific opportunities.
• Build proficiency in synthesizing qualitative and quantitative data to inform strategic research decision‑making.
• Enhance skill in translating scientific insights into structured, prioritized research recommendations.
• Deepen understanding of research-priority frameworks used within federal public health agencies.
• Strengthen scientific communication capabilities, including preparing clear, analytically grounded technical summaries.
• Expand expertise in research planning concepts such as agenda development, prioritization logic, and strategic alignment.
• Grow professional judgment and critical‑thinking skills needed to support long‑term scientific strategy.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Lina Ballouz ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

Fall 2026. 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 and 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 [e-mail] and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past 6 months or anticipated to be received by January 1, 2027.

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Doctoral degree.
• Knowledge of environmental and epidemiological study design.
• Ability to critically appraise scientific literature and apply knowledge‑translation concepts.
• Experience conducting systematic, scoping, or rapid literature reviews and synthesizing scientific evidence.
• Skill in identifying research gaps, emerging issues, and applying research‑prioritization frameworks.
• Experience developing scoring or ranking systems.
• Proficiency in data analysis using R, SPSS, Stata, and basic descriptive statistics.
• Experience analyzing surveillance, epidemiologic, or environmental health datasets.
• Ability to conduct interviews and synthesize qualitative findings.
• Strong scientific writing skills, including preparing reports and technical summaries.
• Effective organization and timeline management.
• Ability to collaborate within multidisciplinary teams.

Point of Contact

Rachel

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 6 months or anticipated to be received by 1/1/2027 1:46:33 PM.
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.70
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design
  • Health Communications
  • Science Writing
• Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (5 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (1 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (2 )
      • Life Health and Medical Sciences (4 )

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.)