CDC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Economics and Chronic Disease Modeling at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This research opportunity is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

About the role

The CDC is one of the major operational components of the Department of Health and Human Services. It protects America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and domestic, by conducting critical science and providing health information to combat expensive and dangerous health threats.

Research Project

The fellowship offers training for individuals with a completed master's or doctoral degree to gain experience in economic, epidemiological, and statistical analyses within a public health setting. Fellows will collaborate on multidisciplinary teams across several projects:

• Systematic review of literature on the cost-effectiveness of interventions for preventing and managing diabetes
• Assessment of medical costs associated with diabetes and diabetes-related complications using large datasets from electronic medical records, health insurance claims, or national surveys
• Cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions for preventing and managing diabetes using computer simulation models

Learning Objectives

• Synthesize and translate empirical evidence on the cost-effectiveness of diabetes prevention and control interventions
• Conduct studies on healthcare utilization and costs related to diabetes and complications using datasets such as:
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Virtual Research Data Center
  • National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
  • National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
  • Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
  • Other linked datasets
• Use diabetes computer simulation models to project long-term health and economic outcomes of strategies, interventions, or policies compared to no intervention or status quo

Mentor

The mentor for this opportunity is Ping Zhang (paz2@cdc.gov). Contact the mentor for questions about the research.

Appointment Details

• Start Date: September 1, 2026 (flexible depending on various factors)
• Duration: Initially one year, renewable contingent on funding and recommendation
• Level of Participation: Full-time

Eligibility Requirements

• Currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in a relevant field within the past five years or by September 1, 2026
• Minimum overall GPA: 3.50
• Open to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals (see Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens for valid immigration statuses)

Preferred Skills

• Experience and knowledge of advanced statistics and econometrics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience using large and complex datasets
• Proficiency in statistical software such as SAS or Stata

Stipend

$6,358.00 – $7,658.00 per month

Additional Information

This program is 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). Participants are not employees of CDC, DOE, or the program administrator and do not receive employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required. Participants must comply with Environmental, Safety, and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility, including COVID-19 protocols.