CDC Data Modernization for Public Health Programs Internship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
Eight research opportunities are currently available with the Deputy Director for Non-Infectious Disease (DDNID) within the Office of the Director (OD) 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.
Within CDC there is the Deputy Director for Non-Infectious Disease (DDNID) and we are the central point for four of CDC's National Centers which include NCBDDD, NCCDPHP, NCEH/ATSDR & NCIPC. Our mission is to lead, promote, and facilitate science, policies and programs to reduce the burden of non-infectious diseases, injuries, birth defects, disabilities, and environmental health hazards.
CDC data show that non-infectious diseases are the leading cause of death for Americans across the life span and are disproportionately affecting communities of color. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that many chronic diseases have put people at increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, and we’ve seen existing health disparities become even more stark. CDC's ability to identify and respond to such public health threats is hampered by the lack of discoverability and access to timely, complete data on chronic disease, birth defects, developmental disabilities, environmental pollution, and injuries.
CDC’s non-infectious disease programs within the Deputy Director for Non-Infectious Diseases (DDNID) are working together to modernize the way we do our work by improving CDC’s non-infectious disease data and systems to drive data-driven decision making and achieve greater public health impact. By creating modern, interoperable, and real-time public health data and surveillance systems, CDC’s ability to inform real-time decision making would be enhanced by increased access to timely, local data on pre-existing conditions, social determinants of health, behavioral risk factors, and environmental hazards. Ultimately, CDC would be able to rapidly identify and effectively mitigate emerging threats using trusted data that promote evidence-based behaviors, interventions, and solutions to protect health.
The participant will train with CDC surveillance and informatics staff in the DDNID Office of the Director. The CDC mentor will train the participant in opportunities related to identifying and developing strategic use cases for combining public health evidence, surveillance data, and modernized data science and informatics in order to accelerate public health's ability to address complex, multifaceted challenges such as health equity and environmental justice. The participant will gain experience in predictive analytics and advanced modeling to generate insight from data and experience in translating and disseminating that insight to inform public health actions and decisions. The participant will learn from CDC surveillance and informatics staff as they assess the current state of data and systems within non-infectious disease programs, synthesize future state data and system needs, and develop a strategic blueprint for developing that future state. The participant will train within a multi-disciplinary team setting, engaging in both group and independent activities, and routine and exploratory projects.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 12, 2021; start date is flexible
This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and CDC. The initial appointment can be up to one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at CDC in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Participants do not become employees of CDC, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.
If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.CDC.OD@orau.org. Please include the reference code (CDC-OD-2021-0196) for this opportunity in your email.