CDC Preparedness and Response Evaluation Opportunity

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 39,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a fellowship in the Plans, Exercise, and Evaluation Branch (PXE) within the Office of Readiness and Response in Atlanta, GA. Participants work under mentorship to analyze public health response data and develop evidence-informed briefs and presentations.

The opportunity emphasizes learning the CDC Evaluation Framework, quantitative/qualitative methods, and preparation of AAR/IP materials, with hands-on data analysis and cross-functional

Qualifications

• Pursuing or holding a master's degree in a relevant field.
• Degree must have been received within the past five years or anticipated by 01/01/2027.

Responsibilities

• Assist with qualitative and quantitative data analyses for CDC evaluation projects.
• Interpret data and prepare presentations and briefs under mentor guidance.
• Develop experience with creating evidence-informed evaluation materials and publications.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Qualitative analysis

Data visualization

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Master's degree in relevant field

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Job description

Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Reference Code

CDC-2026-0081

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.

Application Deadline

11/6/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location

A Fellowship opportunity is available in the Plans, Exercise, and Evaluation Branch (PXE), Division of Emergency Operations within the Office of Readiness and Response, 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 Evaluation Team strengthens the CDC’s response capacity by capturing Agency lessons during public health responses and preparedness exercises for its After-Action Report/Improvement Plan (AAR/IP). In an ongoing effort to improve public health preparedness and response, the Evaluation Team collects and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data obtained from a variety of sources. You may have the opportunity to be train in the analysis of qualitative and/or quantitative data sets related to public health responses, interpreting the data, and preparation of presentations and briefs which will occur under the guidance of the assigned mentor.

Learning Objectives

• Gain a deeper understanding of CDC emergency response activities, preparedness principles, and evaluation practices.
• Apply the CDC Evaluation Framework to response evaluations and preparedness exercises.
• Develop experience collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to support CDC After-Action Reports and Improvement Plans (AAR/IPs).
• Build skills in synthesizing qualitative findings and conducting thematic analysis.
• Gain experience with the development of evidence-informed presentations, briefs, evaluation materials, and scientific publications in collaboration with the Evaluation Team.

Mentor(s)

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

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

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).

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 1/1/2027.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods
• Experience of managing and analyzing datasets using various platforms.
• Experience with qualitative data management, including, collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Experience with visualization tools (e.g., Excel, PowerBI, Microsoft Suite of Products)

Point of Contact

Rachel

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 1/1/2027 12:00:00 AM.
• Discipline(s): Communications and Graphics Design, Communications, Science Writing, Life Health and Medical Sciences (51)

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.)