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HHS Multiple Fellowship Opportunities: Vaccines, HIV, Blood & Tissue

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
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*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

HHS Office and Location: Multiple fellowships about federal policy on infectious disease are available within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The fellowships will either be located at Rockville, Maryland or may be located at Washington, DC.

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. These opportunities reside within the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), which is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH), Office of the Secretary (OS), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Our vision is a world free of infectious diseases. Our mission is to provide strategic leadership and management, while encouraging collaboration, coordination, and innovation among federal agencies and stakeholders to reduce the burden of infectious diseases.

To achieve our mission, OIDP is organized into five divisions:

  • Division of Management and Operations
  • Division of Vaccines
  • Division of HIV/ Hepatitis/ Sexually Transmitted Infections
  • Division of Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability
  • Division of Federal Advisory Committee Management

Research Project: Fellowship opportunities are available within the following divisions: 

  • Division of Vaccines (1 vacancy)
  • Division of HIV/ Hepatitis/ Sexually Transmitted Infections (1 vacancy)
  • Division of Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability (1 vacancy)

Applicants are encouraged to indicate their interest in one or all of the available vacancies; please specify your application towards the targeted division/s. A description of the policy research fellowship for each division is included below: 

National Vaccines Program Office (NVP): NVP is charged to achieve optimal prevention of human infectious diseases through immunization and to achieve optimal prevention against adverse reactions to vaccines.  NVP provides strategic leadership that encourages coordination and collaboration among the many federal agencies and stakeholders to reduce the burden of infectious diseases throughout the lifespan. The mentor for this project is Kimberly Sharpe-Scott (Kimberly.Sharpe-scott@hhs.gov).

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn to:

  • Conduct a literature review of federal agency vaccine plans and policies.
  • Develop or help in the development of a research project with key objectives related to increasing and measuring vaccine confidence and equity among populations disproportionately impacted by vaccine-preventable diseases;
  • Develop a smaller project focused on one of NVP’s priorities on coordination and/or collaboration with federal and external partners, expanding access to vaccination services among populations disproportionately impacted by vaccine-preventable diseases, implementing projects that could address barriers in vaccination coverage and identifying strategies to reduce disparities;
  • Support the efforts of key partners and collaborators, both public and private, to advance the goals, objectives, and strategies outlined in the Vaccine National Strategic Plan;
  • Help with coordinating federal advisory committee activities;
  • Help with NVP programmatic activities and drafting publications, and other duties as assigned.

HIV Policy on Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE): The selected individual will research, document, and evaluate understanding and awareness of the (EHE) initiative and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS). The program engages with federal HIV program staff, HIV service community members, and other stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of program strategies, interventions, communications, and community engagement related to the implementation and execution of EHE, and other HIV-related policies. The mentor for this project is Adeoye Oguntomilade (Adeoye.Oguntomilade@hhs.gov).

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn about:

  • Documenting programmatic public health EHE-related program outcomes that will be used to inform multimillion-dollar fiscal investments and national policy/guidance.
  • Attending high-level policy meetings to gather information and expand public health policy development knowledge.
  • Gaining exposure to policy-related events and learning opportunities.
  • Publishing evaluation results on HIV.gov and contributing to/writing a journal article.
  • Giving or supporting presentations on findings at annual conferences.
  • Other activities as assigned.

Blood and Tissue Safety: Ensuring that safe blood and tissue products are available when they are needed is important to the health and wellbeing of Americans. OIDP coordinates HHS activities related to blood and tissue safety and availability. The chosen candidate will help support the interagency work surrounding this topic in addition to the Advisory Committee for Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability (ACBTSA). The mentor for this project is Jim Berger (James.Berger@hhs.gov).

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will learn about:

  • Scientific and policy research on topics related to blood and tissue collection and utilization, transfusion-transmissible infections in blood donors, and infectious disease markers in potential organ and tissue donors.
  • Scientific and policy research on topics related to tick borne diseases, diagnosis and treatment.
  • Coordinating activities of the Tick Borne Disease Working Group Community Engagement Sessions, meetings and subcommittees.
  • Coordinating activities relating to the Advisory Committee for Blood and Tissue Safety, including biannual meetings and subcommittees.
  • Drafting memos, correspondence, and presentations relating to activities of the office for department and public use and distribution.
  • Other activities as assigned.

Mentor(s): For general questions about the opportunities contact Jomana Musmar (jomana.musmar@hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentors.

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 2024/2025. 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 HHS 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 be currently pursuing or have received a 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 6/16/2025.

Preferred skills:

  • Candidates should have a strong interest in reducing infectious disease and learning about federal policy.
    • National Vaccines Program Office (NVP):
      • Experience in either vaccine preventable disease programs, research or policy is preferable. Experience in program management, health communication, or epidemiological work is desirable.
    • HIV Policy on Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE):
      • An individual who has a strong interest in HIV and in engaging communities.
      • A degree preferably in public health.
    • Blood and Tissue Safety:
      • Degree in public health, with an understanding/interest of blood transfusion and tissue transplant concerns or a background in infectious disease.
      • Knowledge or expressed interest in learning about the regulatory requirements for blood and tissue transplantation, familiarity with blood and tissue organizations, and some transplant interest/experience is desired.
      • Knowledge/interest in understanding of tick borne diseases.
      • Ability to perform on a wide range of different blood and tissue programs.

Eligibility Requirements

 

  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 6/16/2025 12:00:00 AM.