CDC Synthesis, Translation and Applied Research Fellowship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this opportunity will remain open until filled.
CDC Office and Location: A research opportunity is currently available in the Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) within the National Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.
CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) is at the leading edge of the nation’s efforts to end the devastation of diabetes. The division works with other federal agencies, state health departments, health care providers, and community organizations to identify people with prediabetes, prevent type 2 diabetes, prevent diabetes complications, and improve the health of all people with diabetes. These efforts have helped millions of Americans reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes and prevent or delay serious diabetes complications.
Research Project: The Fellow will be trained to conduct research related to the synthesis and translation of best available evidence for type 2 diabetes prevention and management to support the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services with the goal of:
- Increasing engagement of underserved persons living with prediabetes, at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the National DPP lifestyle change program and DSMES services.
- Increasing enrollment and retention of participants with prediabetes, at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, or diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the National DPP lifestyle change program and DSMES services.
- Improving and supporting implementation of evidence-based lifestyle change program offered by more than 1500 organizations across the country.
Specifically, the Fellow will gain experience on the Synthesis, Translation, and Applied Research (STAR) team. In addition to our synthesis and translation work, the STAR team also serves as a bridge and fosters collaboration between the Surveillance, Epidemiology, Economics, and Statistics Branch and the Program Implementation Branch within DDT. A key objective of the fellowship is to inform recommendations regarding enrollment and retention strategies for CDC's grantees and partners implementing the National DPP and DSMES services.
As part of this training opportunity, the Fellow will contribute to the synthesis, and translation of best available evidence for type 2 diabetes prevention and management particularly:
- Exploring methods and synthesizing knowledge in order to identify translation gaps through comprehensive literature reviews, systematic reviews, and/or analysis of existing datasets.
- Assessing the strength and quality of evidence from research and practice on the effectiveness and public health impact of interventions to improve type 2 diabetes prevention and management.
- Identifying evidence-based research strategies aimed at increasing enrollment and/or retention in the National DPP and DSMES and develop various products to translate this evidence into actionable interventions amenable to real-world implementation.
- When evidence is lacking, design and implement applied research to evaluate innovative interventions incorporating disciplines such as behavioral and social science, behavioral economics, psychology, social anthropology, and human-centered design.
Participant activities may include the following:
- Participate in STAR team activities supporting the synthesis, translation, and implementation of best available evidence for diabetes prevention and management aligned with DDT and STAR Team strategic plans.
- Conduct research and evaluation activities such as analyzing existing datasets, conducting comprehensive literature or systematic reviews, or other synthesis-related projects to identify effective enrollment and retention strategies for the National DPP.
- Learn by participating in project coordination for various funded projects to implement and evaluate innovative solutions to increasing enrollment and retention in the National DPP, including the writing of guidance documents, study methods, various data collection clearance packages, and manuscripts for publication.
- Participate with THEEB leadership and teams to disseminate project results as appropriate, to CDC's grantees and partners
Learning Objectives: At the end of this Fellowship the Fellow will:
- Be able to assess the strength and quality of evidence from research and practice on the effectiveness and public health impact of interventions to improve type 2 diabetes prevention and management
- Be able to identify evidence-based strategies aimed at increasing enrollment and/or retention in the National DPP and DSMES services
- Be able to translate evidence-based strategies into actionable interventions amenable to real-world implementation
- Know how to design and implement applied research to evaluate innovative interventions to prevent and manage diabetes
Mentor(s): The mentor for this opportunity is Krista Proia (isp9@cdc.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: As soon as a qualified candidate is identified. 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: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
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 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.
Questions: Please visit our Program Website. After reading, if you have additional questions about the application process please email ORISE.CDC.NCCDPHP@orau.org and include the reference code for this opportunity.