CDC Medical Countermeasures Regulatory Preparedness and Response Fellowship

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: A fellowship opportunity is currently available with the Medical Countermeasures Regulatory Support Team (MRT) in the Office of Readiness and Response (ORR) 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.

MRT provides scientific regulatory expertise regarding medical countermeasures (MCMs) such as drugs, biologics, and vaccines that are integral to CDC’s public health preparedness and response activities against high-consequence and emerging infectious threats. Collaborating closely with threat-specific subject matter experts across CDC and interagency partners, MRT ensures appropriate regulatory mechanisms are in place to support timely access to MCMs and their safe and effective use for prevention and/or treatment of serious and life-threatening diseases.

Project Description: This fellowship opportunity provides training and hands-on experience in the scientific and regulatory activities that support MCM preparedness and response. You will learn about the scientific, clinical, regulatory, policy and operational considerations that inform MCM readiness, access, and use. You will gain practical exposure to regulatory science, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the application of scientific, clinical, and regulatory information to support appropriate regulatory mechanisms for MCM access and use  as part of CDC’s public health preparedness and response mission.

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor and MRT staff, you will have the opportunities to:

• Develop an understanding of MRT's role in supporting CDC’s public health emergency preparedness and response mission.
• Learn about MCM planning and regulatory mechanisms that facilitate the availability, access, and appropriate use of MCMs during declared public health emergencies and other public health response situations.
• Gain experience on the technical and scientific regulatory activities regarding MCM preparedness and response.
• Learn and collaborate on the development of regulatory documents, protocols, and data collection forms pertaining to specific MCMs.
• Develop skills in researching, reviewing, synthesizing, and interpreting scientific, regulatory, policy and operational information from multiple sources and applying that information appropriately to MCM preparedness and response activities.
• Participate in identifying and evaluating strategies and tools to enhance the tracking, organization, and management of data as well as current regulatory information, regulations, and guidance supporting MRT activities.
• Gain experience analyzing relevant data and regulatory frameworks and developing insights that can inform and improve access to safe and effective MCMs.
• Gain exposure to interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of regulatory science, public health, communication,  policy, and operations while building knowledge on specific MCMs and the regulatory pathways for their development, availability, and access.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Patricia Yu (pby7@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 1, 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 and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) 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.

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.