NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship Clinical Standards and Informatics

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

National Institutes of Health (NIH) ODSS is seeking recent postdocs for a STEM learning fellowship in clinical informatics, focusing on standards like FHIR, CDE, and data models. You will work on real-world clinical data, EHRs, and translational science projects under dedicated mentors.

Ideal candidates have MD, PhD, DNP, or related advanced degrees and will be mentored while exploring NIH initiatives. Fellows may be located in Bethesda, MD or remotely, with a monthly stipend and no NIH

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in relevant field completed within the last 60 months.
• U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, or eligible foreign nationals per guidelines.
• Degree must be completed by start date or be completed within the required period.

Responsibilities

• Apply clinical informatics principles to NIH initiatives using standards such as FHIR and CDE.
• Evaluate the landscape of clinical standards to identify interoperability opportunities.
• Develop strategies for research using clinical standards across the clinical research continuum.
• Explore semantic and structural interoperability, data quality, and fitness for use.
• Engage with NIH institutes, federal partners, professional organizations, and patient groups.

Education

Doctoral degree in relevant field

Job description

Organization

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Reference Code

NIH-DPCPSI-ODSS-PDCSI-2026

Description

Clinical Informatics STEM Learning Fellowship at NIH ODSS

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) is seeking recent Postdocs to apply for a STEM learning fellowship focused on developing expertise in clinical informatics under the guidance of dedicated mentors. This fellowship provides an opportunity to explore clinical standards such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources® (FHIR®), Common Data Elements (CDE), and common data models, while engaging in real-world STEM projects involving clinical study data, electronic health records (EHR), and real-world data. Applicants with advanced degrees in medicine, nursing, clinical/biomedical informatics, computer science, public health, or related fields (MD, PhD, DNP, DNS, or equivalent) are encouraged to apply. Ideal candidates will have some background clinical data operations or EHR is preferred, but not required.

What Will I Be Doing?

• Apply clinical informatics principles to explore NIH initiatives related to the use and development of clinical standards, such as FHIR and CDE.
• Evaluate the current landscape of clinical standards to identify opportunities for enhancing interoperability.
• Develop strategies for research utilizing clinical standards across the clinical research continuum and in translational science settings.
• Explore approaches for applying semantic and structural interoperability, assessing data quality, and ensuring fitness for use in standards-based clinical research.
• Participate in strategic initiatives and engage with communities including NIH institutes, centers, federal partners, professional organizations, and patient advocacy groups.

Why Should I Apply?

This STEM learning fellowship offers a unique opportunity to deepen your expertise in clinical informatics and standards-based research. Participants will gain exposure to NIH-wide initiatives, refine their analytical and strategic skills, and engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with experts in the field. Guided by experienced mentors, participants will contribute to impactful projects while gaining insights into how clinical informatics can advance translational science and biomedical research.

Where will I be located?

Fellows are expected to be fully engaged, either in-person or remote. In-person location is Bethesda, MD.

What financial provisions will I receive?

The selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend to help offset living and other expenses during this appointment. Stipend rates are determined by NIH officials and are based on the candidate’s academic and professional background.

• NIH may provide a health insurance supplement to cover the monthly premium costs if you elect the ORAU/ORISE health insurance plan, as necessary.

What is the length of the appointment?

The appointment will initially be for one year and may be renewed annually for up to an additional four years upon recommendation of NIH and is contingent on the availability of funds.

When are selections made?

An initial review of applications will occur on July 1, 2026. Thereafter, applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis throughout the 2026 calendar year, and selections made as projects for participation become available.

What is the Nature of the Appointment?

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 the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Participants do not become employees of NIH, DOE, ORISE, nor ORAU, and there are no employment-related benefits.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate must be 18 years or older at the time of application and should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. The degree must have been received within the last five years of the appointment start date. Current graduate students who are nearing degree completion may apply but must have completed their degrees by the start of the fellowship.

Citizenship Requirements

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

A Completed Application Consists Of

• A complete Zintellect profile.
• A program specific application submitted in Zintellect.
• Transcript(s) – Submit a copy of your most recent official transcript. For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic record printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted to complete the application requirement, if you do not have a copy of your official transcript at the time of application. The transcript or academic record must include the name of the academic institution, name of the student, courses completed/in progress, grades and degree expected/awarded. A copy of your official transcript and/or letter showing proof of your degree may be required prior to starting the appointment. All transcripts must be in English or include an official English translation.
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list.
• One Recommendation - Applicants are required to provide contact information for at least one recommendation in order to submit the application, but up to three are encouraged. You are encouraged to request a recommendation from professionals who can speak to your abilities and potential for success, as well as your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics. Recommendation requests must be sent through the Zintellect application system. Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect. Recommendations submitted via email will not be accepted. Recommendations must be submitted before your application can be reviewed.

All documents submitted must be in English or include an official English translation. All social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth should be removed (blanked out or blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

If you have questions, contact us at [e-mail]. Please include the reference code NIH-DPCPSI-ODSS-PDCSI-2026 for this opportunity in your email.

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences
  • Data Science
  • Human Computer Interaction
  • Scientific Computing and Informatics
• Life Health and Medical Sciences (8 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age

Affirmation

I affirm that I have received my Doctoral degree within the last five years or am currently enrolled in a PhD program. If currently enrolled, I understand that my degree must be received before the appointment start date.

Stipend

$88,000.00 Yearly

Point of Contact

Daphne