Health Communication Fellowship
A fellowship opportunity is available within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED), in the Office of the Director (OD) in Atlanta, Georgia.
The division works to promote food safety and to prevent illnesses from foodborne, waterborne, and fungal infections. The selected candidate will collaborate with a team of health communicators to focus on identifying and implementing effective communication and outreach strategies to help inform the public of risks and prevention measures for these infections, with a special focus on food safety.
The primary project involves collaborating with a communication team to evaluate the effectiveness of digital communication of health promotion and disease prevention messages, including analyzing data from web, social media, and traditional media to develop recommendations for future practice. Under the guidance of a mentor, the fellow will participate in opportunities that may include:
- Communication research: Assist with researching consumer knowledge on key food safety topics, identify knowledge gaps, and propose materials needed to address these knowledge gaps.
- Evaluation: Assist with tracking communications data and developing reports that document the reach of communication materials.
- Communication planning, material development and dissemination: Translate scientific research and data into consumer-focused materials, including writing fact sheets, web content and program stories. Assist with planning major communication initiatives.
- Web: Analyze web usage data to develop recommendations for improving communication practices and adding needed content.
- Social media: Support monitoring of social media channels and develop content for their use (messages, photos, video).
- Media: Assist with developing materials for media outreach and evaluating media coverage.
- Partnerships: Assist with partnership activities, identifying opportunities to expand collaborations and to develop new partnerships.
Preferred skills:
- Strong writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills, especially use of plain language principles
- Experience in communication principles, methods, practices and techniques and analytical methods to execute and measure health communication campaigns and outreach efforts.
- Experience in health communication research.
- Experience in public health or translating science-based information for the public.
- Experience in using a range of design software, including Adobe Photoshop.
- Innovative, creative, and a fast learner.
This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and CDC. The initial appointment can be up to one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of CDC contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at CDC in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Participants do not become employees of CDC, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.