CDC Public Health Readiness, Response Analytics, and Surveillance Fellowship

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) hosts a CDC fellowship in the RADSS Branch, Atlanta, GA. Fellows will learn about information management, surveillance, and data integration to inform decision-making in readiness and response for public health emergencies.

Participants will rotate under mentors, enhance communication and coordination skills, and engage with state and local public health partners, contributing to epidemiology and data-driven preparedness efforts.

Qualifications

• Master's or Doctoral degree in a relevant field pursued within the last five years.
• Experience or knowledge in public health readiness and response is preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Learn rotations across RADSS Branch to gain exposure to information management and data capabilities.
• Collaborate with mentors to strengthen readiness and response research.
• Develop skills in information operations, knowledge management, and data use for public health emergencies.

Skills

Public health readiness

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Virtual collaboration

R or Python

Analytical skills

Project coordination

Team collaboration

Education

Master's or Doctoral degree in a relevant field (recent)

Job description

Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Reference Code

CDC-2026-0105

Application Deadline

11/20/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

CDC Office and Location

A fellowship opportunity is available in the Response Analytics, Decision Support, and Surveillance (RADSS) Branch within the Office of Readiness and Response (ORR), 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 fellowship will provide an opportunity to learn about multiple areas of public health readiness and response, with an emphasis on the information, knowledge management, surveillance, and data capabilities that inform decision‑making before, during, and after public health emergencies.

Under the guidance of mentors and subject matter experts, you will participate in learning rotations across the Response Analytics, Decision Support, and Surveillance (RADSS) Branch. Through these experiences, you will gain exposure to systems, processes, and approaches used to strengthen CDC emergency preparedness and response and support state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health partners.

Learning Objectives

Under the guidance of a mentor and subject matter experts, you will learn about public health readiness and response through rotations across the Response Analytics, Decision Support, and Surveillance Branch. You will gain practical experience in:

• Information operations, including how information is collected, analyzed, and communicated to support situational awareness and decision-taking;
• Knowledge management approaches and tools used to organize and make response information accessible;
• CDC’s Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X) and its role in communication with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments; and
• Response Ready Enterprise Data Integration (RREDI) and its role within the 1 CDC Data Platform.

Through these experiences, you will strengthen skills in communication, coordination, data use, and information management for public health emergency preparedness and response.

Mentor(s)

The mentor for this opportunity is Stephen Soroka ([e-mail]), Infrastructure and Services Team Lead, Response Analytics, Decision Support, and Surveillance (RADSS) Branch within the Office of Readiness and Response (ORR). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date

November 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length

The appointment will initially be for one year 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 have received or be currently pursuing a master's or doctoral degree in a relevant field within the past five years.

Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of or experience in public health readiness and response.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of or experience with virtual collaboration and communication platforms.
• Experience coding in R or Python is a plus.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project coordination skills.
• Ability to research collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.

Point of Contact

Rachel

Eligibility Requirements

Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only

Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.

Discipline(s):

• Computer, Information, and Data Sciences
  • Data Science
  • Graphics and Visualization
  • Information Science and Technology
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (2 )
• Mathematics and Statistics (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.)