CDC ATSDR Region 9 Fellowship

Description

A research opportunity is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), located in San Francisco, California. The fellow will likely be expected to travel for up to 10%, across the Pacific Southwest Region for site-related activities and to the ATSDR Atlanta headquarters office for training sessions and/or coordination meetings.

Research Project: You will gain experience with developing public health assessment reports evaluating community exposure pathways to chemical hazards. You will help in developing public health assessments that evaluate community exposure pathways to chemical hazards. You will have the opportunity to obtain experience and build on your academic training through assessment of regional environmental health issues at hazardous waste sites in rural communities and on Tribal lands, such as, but not limited to, Argonaut Mine NPL site, Copper Bluff Mine NPL site, and Lukachukai Mountain Mining District NPL site. You will also assess ATSDR petition sites such as VOC vapor intrusion or groundwater and drinking water concerns in southern California or in Guam.

Through this project, you will have the opportunity to learn ATSDR's approach to conducting environmental public health assessments (details at https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pha-guidance/index.html). In collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of toxicologists, environmental health scientists, and epidemiologists at Region 9 and ATSDR headquarters, you will review the history and demographics of the site and surrounding area and analyze how it affects the risks and perceptions of the site. You will gather, organize, and analyze environmental sampling data; develop data visualizations; conduct exposure pathway analyses; and evaluate the public health implications of potential chemical exposures. You will have the opportunity to participate in community outreach and stakeholder engagement events, conduct site visits, and develop notifications and communications to internal and external partners. You will learn new environmental public health tools and processes, be able to communicate with a variety of scientific and public health professionals and the public, will be able to research independently, and train as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how environmental public health assessments are conducted to evaluate community exposure to chemical hazards.
• Gain experience assessing environmental health concerns at hazardous waste and Superfund (NPL) sites in rural communities and Tribal lands.
• Develop skills in analyzing environmental sampling data, exposure pathways, and potential public health impacts of chemical exposures.
• Learn ATSDR methods and frameworks for conducting environmental public health assessments and risk evaluations.
• Gain experience creating data visualizations and organizing environmental and demographic information to support public health analyses.
• Participate in multidisciplinary collaborations with toxicologists, environmental health scientists, and epidemiologists.
• Gain exposure to community outreach, stakeholder engagement, site visits, and public health communication activities.
• Develop professional skills in scientific communication, independent research, and multidisciplinary teamwork within environmental public health.

Qualifications

• Received or currently pursuing a master's degree in public health, environmental science, or related discipline.
• U.S. citizen only.
• Strong written, verbal, and organizational skills (preferred).

Appointment Details

• Start Date: September 28, 2026 (flexible).
• Length: Initially one year, may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC and contingent on availability of funds.
• Level of Participation: Full time.
• Stipend: Stipend rates vary based on numerous factors; exact rate provided upon interview and in offer letter.
• Location: San Francisco, California.
• Travel: Up to 10% expected.