CDC Multi-plex ELISA and Vaccine Immunogenicity: HPV Serology

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) offers a research participation opportunity with CDC in Atlanta, GA. The selected candidate will contribute to CVDB's HPV serology program, applying M9ELISA-based methods, and work under mentorship to develop lab skills in antigen preparation, sample processing, and data interpretation.

Prerequisites include a master's degree in a relevant field within the last five years, and a willingness to engage in collaborative public health research

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in a relevant field, within the last five years.
• Desirable lab experience beyond undergrad studies.
• Interest areas include HPV immunology, serology, molecular biology, virology or public health laboratory science.

Skills

Laboratory experience

HPV research interest

Education

Master's degree in life sciences or related field

Job description

Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Reference Code

CDC-2026-0025

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.

Application Deadline

9/25/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location

A research participation opportunity is available in the Chronic Viral Diseases Branch (CVDB), Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, 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.

The Chronic Viral Diseases Branch (CVDB) is located within the Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP), National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, Georgia. CVDB conducts research on chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and human papillomavirus (HPV) with the goal of reducing the health burden of these conditions through excellence in population-based epidemiology, laboratory research, and public health education. CVDB’s HPV laboratory program supports molecular genotyping, serology, sequencing-based methods, assay evaluation, and surveillance activities that contribute to monitoring HPV infection, HPV-associated disease, and HPV vaccine impact.

Research Project

A research participation opportunity is available in the Chronic Viral Diseases Branch HPV Immunology Laboratory for a master's-level participant interested in HPV serology, immunology, and public health laboratory science. This project contributes to CVDB's HPV serology program by applying the M9ELISA multiplex virus-like particle IgG assay on the Meso Scale Discovery platform to support HPV vaccine immunogenicity studies, seroepidemiology, and assay quality activities. Under mentor guidance, you will gain experience with antigen preparation concepts, specimen processing workflows, HPV antibody testing, assay controls, laboratory documentation, and data interpretation approaches used in serology research. The project may also include exposure to DNA purification, cell-culture-derived HPV virus-like particle production concepts, specimen tracking systems, and analysis of serology or assay performance data using Excel, R, or related laboratory data systems. This research aligns with CVDB's public health mission by strengthening methods that help characterize immune responses to HPV infection and vaccination and support monitoring of HPV vaccine impact.

Research involving infectious agents or human biological specimens requires completion of CDC Form 0.838 prior to beginning the appointment.

Learning Objectives

• Gain experience in HPV serology concepts, including M9ELISA assay design, virus-like particle antigens, assay controls, and antibody response assessment.
• Learn specimen processing, tracking, storage, and documentation practices used for human biological specimens in public health laboratory research.
• Gain exposure to HPV antigen preparation concepts, including DNA purification, cell culture, and virus-like particle production and purification processes.
• Learn quality management principles for serology research, including SOP use, control review, reproducibility assessment, biosafety practices, and discrepancy review.
• Gain experience interpreting serology results and assay performance data using tools such as Excel, R, or laboratory data systems.
• Develop scientific communication skills through literature summaries, research discussions, and optional presentations of mentored research findings.
• Engage in potential opportunities to co-author posters/presentations/publications depending on contributions.
• Gain experience with collaborating with domestic and international partners.
• Learn how to develop and implement laboratory robotics and automation in compliance with laboratory quality and safety programs.
• Have opportunities to contribute to public health activities outside of the branch such as CDC Museum educational events, volunteering at internal symposia and conferences, helping with outbreak responses, should the opportunities be available.

Mentor(s)

The mentors for this opportunity are Troy Querec ([e-mail]) and Gitika Panicker ([e-mail]). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentors.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

September 28, 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, 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 master's degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years.

Preferred Skills

• To make best use of this advanced laboratory training opportunity, it is desirable that the fellow has laboratory experience outside of an undergraduate classroom.
• Applicant areas of interest may include but are not limited to HPV laboratory research, immunology, serology, molecular biology, virology, public health laboratory science, or infectious disease surveillance.

Point of Contact

Rachel

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 60 month(s).
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Agriculture
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Anatomy
  • Animal Behavior
  • Animal Health and Food Safety
  • Animal Sciences
  • Basic Biomedical Sciences
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biology (General)
  • Biophysics
  • Botany
  • Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Comparative Medicine and Laboratory Animal Medicine
  • Computational Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem Ecology
  • Emergency and Incident Management
  • Entomology
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Food Sciences and Technology
  • Genetics, including Genome Sciences
  • Health Physics
  • Horticulture
  • Immunology
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses
  • Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology
  • Medicine
  • Microbiology
  • Neurosciences
  • Nursing
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Occupational Health
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Physiology
  • Plant Sciences
  • Population and Community Ecology
  • Population Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Structural Biology
  • Toxicology
  • Veterinary Sciences
  • Virology
  • Wildlife Sciences
  • Zoology (General)
• 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.)