CDC: Advancing Active People, Healthy Nation Through Science - Physical Activity Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located 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 (HHS). 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: As an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) participant at CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO), you will engage in a training experience involving Active People, Healthy Nation (https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/activepeoplehealthynation/index.html), a national initiative to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. You will participate in nationally significant public health initiatives that generate, inform, and advance evidence-based policy, programs, guidance, and practice to increase physical activity across the United States. Alongside multidisciplinary CDC and HHS teams, you will train in advancing physical activity science through research, translation, partnership development, and dissemination activities that support Active People, Healthy Nation. Specifically, you will participate in CDC's efforts promoting activity-friendly community design by helping to identify, evaluate, and communicate evidence-based community-level strategies that improve opportunities for walking, bicycling, transit use, and other forms of everyday physical activity (https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/community-strategies/activity-friendly-routes-to-everyday-destinations.html). 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of mentors, you will: 

• Learn how to support scientific evidence reviews, coordination, and/or communication activities for future updates to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd Edition.  
• Learn how to engage with national partners to support updates to the National Physical Activity Plan. 
• Gain experience authoring or co-authoring peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and conference presentations related to physical activity promotion and community design (e.g. updating the CDC Active People, Healthy Nation’s Strategies for Increasing Physical Activity based on CDC’s Prevention Resources in Action, a rubric of strategies, approaches, and specific policies, programs, and practices to promote physical activity). 
• Build skills in implementation science, evaluation, and/or dissemination research to improve translation of evidence into public health practice. 
• Gain understanding of how to help with policy analysis and evaluation related to community design and physical activity promotion. 
• Learn how to apply quantitative and qualitative analytic methods, including opportunities to use GIS, statistical software (R or Python), and emerging analytic approaches. 
• Understand how to engage with CDC programs, federal agencies, academic institutions, and national organizations to advance evidence-based public health practice. 
• Gain experience participating in interdisciplinary groups and interacting with experts including public health, physical activity, tribal health, urban planning, and epidemiology. 
• Build skills in qualitative methodology.  
• Learn how to analyze data, develop translation products, and contribute to manuscripts on topics related to physical activity.
• Gain experience in the development of infographics, fact sheets, and other messaging materials for policymakers, professionals in various sectors, public health leadership and the public. 
• Build skills at developing and delivering presentations to internal and external audiences. 
• Understand how to engage with team members engaged in other related, ongoing projects to increase physical activity through evidence-based strategies. 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Kristine Day (knd8@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 31, 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.

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 CDCrpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.