CDC Fungal Disease Surveillance (Epidemiology Focus) Training Opportunity

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is available in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED) in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) 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.

Research Project:  The Mycotic Diseases Branch’s (MDB) mission is to prevent illness and death from fungal diseases in the United States and around the world. MDB is one of the only public health groups worldwide devoted to fungal diseases. The branch supports state, local, and global partners to enhance surveillance and laboratory capacities, prevent and control fungal disease outbreaks, and educate and inform healthcare providers and the public about protective actions, emerging issues, and new research findings that impact public health. 

MDB’s Epidemiology Team:

• Determines the number of people who get sick from fungal diseases
• Tracks trends and patterns in how fungal diseases affect people
• Promotes education and awareness about fungal diseases
• Develops and evaluates ways to prevent fungal diseases
• Helps prepare healthcare facilities and laboratories in other countries to better detect and treat fungal diseases 

The ORISE participant will train in the Mycotic Diseases Branch with a focus on enhancing surveillance on emerging and resistant fungal pathogens in the United States. The ORISE participant will also have the opportunity to train in partnership engagement with domestic and international partners. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Contribute to CDC’s fungal disease efforts and collaborate with partners (e.g., pharmacy and mycology organizations) to raise awareness of fungal diseases and drug-resistant dermatophytes.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate surveillance tools and strategies for fungal diseases.
• Enhance analytical skills related to fungal skin diseases, translating findings into actionable recommendations for partners.
• Create educational materials to improve awareness of fungal diseases domestically and globally, including consumer-focused resources like fact sheets and web content.
• Analyze and disseminate data through annual reports, scientific publications, and health communication initiatives.
• Plan trainings, conduct literature reviews, and perform descriptive analyses of fungal skin disease data to interpret and share findings 

Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Lynette Benjamin (bil0@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April/May 2025. 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.NCEZID@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.