CDC Occupational Safety and Health Engineering Research Fellow

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available with Engineering and Physical Hazard Branch (EPHB), in the Division of Field Studies and Engineering (DFSE), within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is one of the major operation components of the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC works to protect 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.

NIOSH is a multidisciplinary research institute of the federal government that was established in 1970 to conduct research and make recommendations for the prevention of work-related illnesses and injuries. NIOSH is one of the centers of the CDC.

Research Project: The research in the Engineering and Physical Hazard (EPHB) of the Division of Field Studies and Engineering (DFSE) covers the development and evaluation of engineering technologies to reduce workers' exposure to workplace hazards. The research that the participant will contribute to focuses on protecting workers against the hazard of airborne contaminants, e.g., emissions from 3D printing, respirable crystalline silica from various manufacturing and construction activities, and aerosols from general industrial or healthcare applications. 

Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of mentors, the participant will be involved with and learn how to: 

• Evaluate sensor technologies to enhance the real-time assessment of exposure and emission characteristics
• Characterize emissions of airborne contaminants with cutting-edge analytical methods
• Develop and evaluate engineering control solutions to minimize the emissions and exposures
• Collaborate within a research team of diverse backgrounds to achieve research goals
• Engage with professionals and partners to disseminate research findings through publications and presentations

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Chaolong Qi (hif1@cdc.gov) and Duane Hammond (ahz0@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 21, 2024. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for five months, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time or part 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, 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 ORISE.CDC.NIOSH@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 12/31/2025.

Eligibility Requirements

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 12/31/2025 12:00:00 AM.