HHS President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Fellowship

Application Deadline

10/9/2026 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

HHS Office and Location: An ORISE fellowship opportunity is available in the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to train on the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) in Rockville, Maryland, in person only.

The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.

ODPHP leads the alignment and coordination of many disease prevention and health promotion activities across the department. ODPHP also supports the PCSFN, a federal advisory committee charged with promoting the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, including the Presidential Fitness Test.

Research Project: The PCSFN is currently focused on three key priorities: 1) promoting and supporting the Presidential Fitness Test, 2) administering the OASH Fitness Challenge, and 3) advancing public activities that further its mission to engage, educate, and empower all Americans to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives through regular physical activity, good nutrition, and mental well-being.

You will be train on all three priority areas, as well as other relevant physical activity initiatives within ODPHP. A primary focus of the fellowship will be conducting research and gaining experience developing reports on evidence-informed strategies to promote and support implementation of the Presidential Fitness Test, with recommendations for both short-term and long-term adoption and sustainability.

You may also train in the following activities:

• Gain experience collaborating with the National Fitness Foundation on initiatives related to health promotion and wellness.
• Build knowledge of national health and wellness efforts through participation in events for the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
• Develop skills in reviewing and collaborating on projects focused on disease prevention and health promotion.
• Learn about program development and implementation through participation in Division of Prevention Science meetings and activities.
• Gain exposure to departmental efforts that support disease prevention, public health, and health promotion initiatives.

Learning Objectives: You will gain experience in a federal health promotion setting while developing knowledge and skills in evidence synthesis, program implementation, and public health communications. Through participation in the PCSFN and ODPHP activities, you will:

• Gain insight into the development, implementation, and evaluation of national physical activity and health promotion initiatives.
• Develop deeper understanding of fitness assessment protocols and fitness education strategies.
• Strengthen skills in preparing technical reports, briefing materials, and other products.
• Enhance collaboration and project management skills by collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and federal partners.
• Increase understanding of the federal public health landscape, including the roles of interagency collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and public-private partnerships in advancing health promotion priorities.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Rachel Fisher (Rachel.Fisher@hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s). 

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: September 14, 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: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience and receive a stipend for healthcare benefits. 

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 HHS. Participants do not become employees of HHS, 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 HHSrpp@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g., physical activity, public health, exercise physiology/kinesiology, health communications). Degree must have been received within the past five years. 

Preferred Skills:

• Strong communication skills, both orally and written, for various audiences in clear and concise formats;
• Be able to act independently as well as with a team;
• Be a self-starter capable of being in a fast-paced environment;
• Willing to learn from a variety of situations and interpersonal dynamics;
• Ability to leverage interpersonal skills to facilitate meetings, manage group dynamics, and foster collaboration;
• Skilled at project management and detail oriented; and
• Have strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical and technical writing skills.

Stipend

$70,623.00 – $102,415.00 Yearly

Point of Contact

Rachel

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 month(s).