What are the responsibilities and job description for the CDC Rural Health Evaluation and Capacity Building Fellowship position at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?
*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. 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.
The Office of Rural Health (ORH) leads CDC’s rural public health strategy and coordinates with other agency programs and partners to improve the health and well-being of rural communities throughout the United States. The office is located in the Public Health Infrastructure Center. Successful applicants must be located in or relocate to Atlanta, GA.
Research Project: This opportunity focuses on implementation, evaluation, and organizational learning activities related to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rural Public Health Strategic Plan. Under the guidance of a mentor, participants will engage in training activities that explore rural public health transformation approaches, strategic planning processes, and evaluation methods used to strengthen public health initiatives serving rural communities. The learning experience may include participation in Action Plan implementation activities through the Action Plan Development Team (APDT), evaluation of rural public health initiatives and communication products, and development of educational resources and tools for public health partners. Participants may also gain exposure to collaborative learning approaches through engagement with CDC programs, federal agencies, state public health organizations, and rural public health evaluation communities of practice.
Learning Objectives: Through this mentored learning experience, you will develop knowledge of strategic planning, implementation science, and evaluation approaches used in rural public health initiatives. You will strengthen skills in designing and conducting evaluation activities, interpreting qualitative and quantitative findings, and applying evidence-informed approaches to assess implementation progress and organizational learning. You will also gain experience developing resources, communication materials, and knowledge-sharing approaches intended to strengthen rural public health capacity and evaluation practice. In addition, you will build collaboration and scientific communication skills through participation in multidisciplinary discussions, partnership engagement activities, and learning exchanges focused on rural public health improvement efforts.
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Melanie Ramsey (xma0@cdc.gov). 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 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).
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.