CDC NCBDDD Fellowship in Disability Data and Science

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: This fellowship opportunity is available within the Disability and Health Promotion Branch (DHPB) of the Division of Human Development and Disability (DHDD) within the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) 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 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.

NCBDDD seeks to promote the health of babies, children, and adults with disabilities. The work of NCBDDD includes identifying the causes of birth defects and developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all ages with disabilities. DHPB promotes health and well-being among people with disabilities through accessible and inclusive public health data, practice, and partnerships.

Research Project: The participant in this fellowship will train on the application of scientific and technical knowledge in the areas of disability and health.

Learning Objectives: Primarily, the participant’s training effort will be contributions toward:

• Training in disability and health data surveillance through the interactive and public-facing Disability Surveillance and Health Data System (DHDS). The DHDS is an online resource that provides state-level data on adults with disabilities using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The host team is responsible for conducting high-quality, timely, and actionable analyses to support public health policy and initiatives related to disability surveillance. Specific activities may include:
  • Training in project planning and documentation preparation for the DHDS project.
  • Learning to conduct data analyses using analytical software SAS-callable SUDAAN to assess disability data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
  • Training in Data validation, ensuring accuracy and reliability in reporting disability prevalence and trends across six functional disability types.
  • Training with scientific staff in providing support in the interpretation of analytic results and learning to provide evidence-based recommendations to inform policy making and program development.
  • Learning appropriate skills in disseminating annual data to the public and other stakeholders.
  • Training with the team to ensure the timely release of DHDS-related reports, and presenting the findings
  • Training with the team in support of ongoing surveillance efforts by contributing to quality improvement and data enhancement initiatives.
  • This role offers an opportunity for the ORISE fellow to train with scientific staff who are contributing to impactful public health initiatives.  The Fellow will be training alongside a team dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults with disabilities through data-driven insights.
• Secondarily, the participant will also be provided training opportunities in other disability data and science-related activities of the host team including the development, dissemination, and promotion of disability and health resources, tools, and communications materials. This includes the potential for the fellow to train in designing and developing analytic or research projects and presenting scientific findings to internal and/or external audiences.

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Qi Cheng (ycx6@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: October 28, 2024. 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, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

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

Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date, or currently pursuing.

Preferred skills:

Background in epidemiology, biostatistics, data science, or a related field.

• Topical interest in the field of public health disability and learning more about issues that impact people with disabilities and their families
• Enjoy collaborating with internal and external stakeholders and building partnerships at all levels
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present data findings and collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Have a strong desire to learn new skills and apply them in a real-world setting
• Proficiency in SAS and SAS-callable SUDAAN for data analysis. Experience in or interest in survey data analysis and data validation, quality control, and data reporting.
• Ability to interpret data and provide actionable insights that may inform policy and program decisions.
• Ability to train collaboratively within a cross-functional team to meet project goals and deadlines.

Eligibility Requirements

• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.