CDC Global Health Security Systems Strengthening Fellowship

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia invites applications for a Global Health Security Systems Strengthening Fellowship. This opportunity focuses on strengthening outbreak detection, notification, and response using the 7-1-7 framework under mentor guidance.

You will gain hands-on experience with data analysis, quality improvement, and stakeholder engagement, collaborating with international partners to translate findings into practical public health

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field.
• Pursuing or have received master's degree in a relevant field.
• Knowledge of infectious disease surveillance, outbreak detection and response.
• Experience analyzing, managing, interpreting, and presenting quantitative or mixed-methods public health data.
• Familiarity with tools such as Excel, R, SAS, Stata, Python, Power BI, Tableau, or similar software.

Responsibilities

• Strengthen outbreak detection, notification, and response systems.
• Analyze outbreak timeliness data and explore factors contributing to delays.
• Collaborate with CDC technical teams, country offices, Ministries of Health, and international partners.
• Develop implementation tools, summaries, training materials, and presentations under mentor guidance.
• Synthesize and communicate findings to non-experts and stakeholders.

Skills

Infectious disease surveillance

Outbreak detection

Public health data analysis

Technical writing

Collaboration

Excel

R

SAS

Stata

Python

Power BI

Tableau

Education

Master's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Excel

R

SAS

Stata

Python

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Reference Code

CDC-2026-0134

Application Deadline

11/2/2026 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 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

The CDC Global Health Security Systems Strengthening Fellowship will provide an opportunity to gain hands‑on experience strengthening systems for outbreak detection, notification, and response. Under the guidance of systems‑strengthening experts in CDC’s Division of Global Health Protection, you will participate in research and training activities that use the 7-1-7 framework to understand outbreak response performance, explore operational bottlenecks, and learn about continuous quality improvement approaches.

You will have opportunities to learn from interactions with CDC technical teams, country offices, Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes, and international partners to better understand how countries use outbreak timeliness data to improve public health systems. Through these collaborations, you will learn how findings from outbreak performance assessments can be translated into practical strategies, tools, and approaches that may strengthen connections between detection, notification, and response.

Specific Fellowship Activities May Include

• Gaining experience analyzing outbreak timeliness data and exploring factors that contribute to delays in detection, notification, or response.
• Participating in reviews of outbreak performance data and quality improvement activities.
• Gaining experience contributing to the development of implementation tools, summaries, training materials, and presentations under mentor guidance.
• Learning approaches used to document lessons learned, promising practices, and implementation experiences from country engagements.
• Learning about approaches used to institutionalize continuous quality improvement within national outbreak preparedness and response systems.
• Gaining experience with the synthesis and communication of findings.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor, you will develop skills in data analysis, quality improvement, technical writing, stakeholder engagement, and approaches used to strengthen global health security systems. You will also gain experience interpreting analytical findings and understanding how data may inform public health preparedness and response activities, while strengthening skills in communicating technical information to diverse audiences. The fellowship will provide exposure to collaboration across national and international public health institutions and deepen your understanding of systems‑level approaches used to improve outbreak detection, notification, and response.

Mentor(s)

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

November 2, 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 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, poliovirus requirements (e.g. immunization, testing prior to laboratory access).

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 be currently pursuing or have received a master's degree in the one of the relevant fields.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of infectious disease surveillance, outbreak detection and response, emergency preparedness, or global health security.
• Experience analyzing, managing, interpreting, and presenting quantitative or mixed-methods public health data.
• Familiarity with tools such as Excel, R, SAS, Stata, Python, Power BI, Tableau, or similar software.
• Interest in applying quality improvement methods to strengthen public health systems.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills, including preparing reports, summaries, presentations, guidance, or training materials.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, multitask, meet deadlines, and research independently.
• Experience with public health agencies, Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes, international organizations, or implementing partners.
• Demonstrated interest in global health systems strengthening and outbreak detection, notification, and response.

Point of Contact

Rachel

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design
  • Health Communications
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (4)
• Mathematics and Statistics (2)
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (1)

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.)