The ORISE Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an educational training program from the CDC that places college students, recent graduates, and university faculty in authentic research experiences at CDC facilities. Participants work under the guidance of assigned CDC mentors, contributing to public health and scientific research while developing STEM skills and professional networks.

Financial support includes a stipend and travel allowances for internships and fellowships. Eligible participants are undergraduate students, recent graduates, and faculty from domestic universities pursuing STEM disciplines aligned with CDC research priorities.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Program You can help advance science and health equity Partners in Public Health Education and Research The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Program is an educational and training program designed to provide college students, recent graduates, and university faculty opportunities to connect with the unique resources of the CDC.

With the support of an assigned mentor, participants have authentic research experiences at state-of the-art facilities. These research experiences complement the educational nature of the programs and make participants aware of potential STEM employment opportunities at the sponsoring agency.

Participants will have access to unique research and training opportunities, top scientists and engineers, and state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. Are you ready to jump-start your career with a CDC internship or fellowship in the ORISE Research Participation Program? Get started below!

Learn from and collaborate with CDC scientists and professionals in your field to address the nation’s current challenges and establish long-term relationships and connections Develop critical skills and contribute to mission-related research activities under the guidance of your mentor Receive financial support including a stipend and travel allowances for internships and fellowships Gain a competitive advantage for your future as you apply your education and talent in a variety of settings Because of the educational nature of these programs, participants must fall into one of the following categories: Students must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. pre-college, college or university pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), and must maintain satisfactory progress in academic coursework.

Postgraduates must have received their degree in an appropriate STEM discipline within five years of the appointment start date or must complete all requirements for such a degree prior to the desired start date. Faculty must be full-time faculty from an accredited U.S. pre-college, college or university. Selections are made by the CDC mentor after completion of an eligible application in Zintellect.

More information is available on the Information for Applicants page . Applications will be considered without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or covered veteran’s status. Stipend: Participants receive a monthly stipend to help defray living and other expenses during the appointment.

Stipend rates are determined by CDC and are based on the participant’s educational level. Some mentors may also award relocation, a travel allowance, and/or a health insurance stipend Travel: Depending on your project assignment, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for travel and educational experiences which promote the educational goals of your appointment.

Health Insurance: A health insurance stipend may be provided to cover medical, dental, and vision insurance . Meet the CDC program participants and hear about their educational research, their goals, and their experiences as members of the global ORISE Community! Grace Nabakooza, Ph.

D. , came into her fellowship with the goal of translating research data into valuable insights that directly influence public health and shape health policies in the United States and globally. (Photo Credit: Grace Nabakooza) Christie Kim, MPH, stepped outside of her comfort zone to learn a new discipline of data analytics and data science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

(Photo Credit: Christie Kim) As a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mathematical Statistician Fellowship, Syeda Zahra Ali uses biostatistics to enhance public health interventions and policies, focusing on improving outcomes through rigorous data analysis and research.

Dionne Mitcham, MPH, let her passion for public health and emergency management lead her to a fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leaving her with an invaluable experience and connections. (Photo: Dionne Mitcham) Cynney Walters is a current participant with the PulseNet Reference, Outbreak and Surveillance Team at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Walters is a bioinformatician using genomic data to aid with outbreak investigations. (Photo Credit: Cynney Walters) Victoria Li had many inspirations for her career path, one being her personal experience with Hurricane Katrina. As she got older, conducted research with the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) and participated in Tulane’s AmeriCorps*VISTA program, creating a love for helping underprivileged communities.

(Photo Credit: Victoria Li). Graycie Soto uses data science to study the built environment. (Photo Credit: The Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University) Sara Wolicki uses data science to bridge the gap between public health science and practice.

Adam Vera has a passion for public health, and as a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fellow he is making a difference in his community. (Photo Credit: CDC) As a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Evaluation Fellowship, Ricardo Albarran gained experience in the evaluation and assessment of public health programs targeting the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Alexandria Sparks is a current fellow of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) Research Participation Program, Organic Analytical Toxicology (OAT) branch. Motivated by her grandfather’s suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Sparks developed a deep-seated desire to help others who were undergoing severe illnesses.

Alexandra “Ally” Chase is an applied research and translations fellow for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and assisting with a model to highlight activities to support the community health workers (CHW) workforce.

Alora Colvin, a researcher with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch (NSMBB) Research Participation Program, has seen first-hand how early diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cystic fibrosis, is critical to living a healthy life. Her role includes providing technical assistance to the labs whenever questions and problems arise.

Amy Board, former ORISE research participant and current officer of CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, went from assisting national analyses that identify emerging HIV clusters to using surveillance data to track trends in drug overdose morbidity and mortality in the United States. (Credit: CDC) Brooke Vollmer discovered a passion for public safety during her acadmic career.

As an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Research Branch, Vollmer is using that passion to improve occupational safety and health. (Photo Credit: Brooke Vollmer) As a fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Victoria Cabán Figueroa used whole genome sequencing to predict antibiotic resistance of sexually transmitted diseases.

Kimberly Castelin, Ph. D. , is applying her passion for equity and social justice to advance public health and program evaluation as part of the CDC Research Participation Program.

Tandin Dorji, a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Program, uses his statistical expertise to analyze and improve public health program research methods. (Credit: David Scott) Elizabeth Armstrong-Mensah Elizabeth Armstrong-Mensah continues a passionate career in teaching after three years as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow.

(Photo Credit: Jordyn Irons) With a passion for helping others, Eriko Padron-Regalado is making a difference by focusing on vulnerable communities.

(Photo Credit: Dexter Thompson, CDC NCIRD) Suad, Sausan and Alia El Burai Félix Although Suad, Sausan and Alia El Burai Félix are conducting research in different sectors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the sisters all share a passion for improving public health standards.

Their assignments are sponsored by the CDC Research Participation Programs, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which is managed by ORAU for the U.S. Department of Energy. Through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Evaluation Fellowship, Emily Hays learned how to collect and evaluate data, assessing the effectiveness and impacts of sexually transmitted diseases prevention programs.

(Credit: Saugat Karki/CDC.) Karen Valdez took her academic skills in tick research to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a fellow, studying assays for tick-borne diseases. (Photo Credit: CDC) Katherine “Katie” Wozniak An extensive scientific journey led Katherine “Katie” Wozniak to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where she learned aspects of science that branched out from her field.

She encourages other scientists to push the envelope with research that may not align with their original expertise. (Photo Credit: Katherine Wozniak) While pursuing research with the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sagar Kumar took a closer look at sexually transmitted disease care, treatment, prevention and testing.

(Credit: Ben Barker) Andrea McGowan assists the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to analyze data on childhood nutrition, breastfeeding habits, and the spread of COVID-19 throughout family homes. (Photo credit: Andrea McGowan) Throughout her fellowship experience, Mirle Peña learned the importance of engineering controls and how to implement them as measures to promote health and safety.

She was able to practice her public speaking skills as well as her writing skills through presentations and various scientific training. Elizabeth Misas spends her time with the CDC analyzing the DNA sequences of fungi which cause infection in humans. Through her research the scientific community can find greater understanding with how such fungi mutate to resist medication.

(Photo Credit: Jorge Mario Vasquez) Elizanette “Nette” Lopez is studying how to develop plans for preparing and responding to public health emergencies at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Photo Credit: Elizanette Lopez) In the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Satomi Odani helped design a survey that measures individuals’ attitudes and behaviors regarding tobacco use.

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Research Participation Program, Alexandra Palacios investigates multistate enteric illness outbreaks to identify infection sources and protect public health. Krista Queen, Ph. D.

, a fellow with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, identifies new and emerging viruses. Vishakha Ramakrishnan contributed to public health program evaluation and improvement efforts as part of her ORISE fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jennifer Reimche, Ph.

D. , is conducting research on Neisseria gonorrhoeae as part of the ORISE Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Carissa Rocheleau, a mentor for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), express how proud it makes her to see her mentees grow into positions that they are passionate in.

As a fellow with the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hannah Romo, Ph. D. , studied mosquito populations and West Nile virus disease transmission.

(Credit: Justin Tanner/Colorado State University) Shilpi Jain dressed in an air-tight positive pressure suit to protect her from the high-consequence viruses she is studying through her Centers for Disease Control (CDC) fellowship.

(Photo Credit: Doctor Melissa Brykailo Pearce (DDID/CDC)) Sophia Sukkestad presented her research at the 7 th annual CDC Laboratory Science Symposium in the Epidemiology and Outbreak Responses category and won for her poster presentation. (Photo Credit: Dr. Lilia Ganova-Raeva) Charles Thurlow, Ph. D.

in microbiology, assisted in developing a means for generating whole genome sequencing data for the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum , while serving as a fellow within the Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis Prevention Research Participation Program.

(Credit: Alyssa Debra, ORISE fellow) Shamaya Whitby contributes to the fight against HIV/AIDS through her fellowship at the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Credit: Tyana Singletary) Emily Young, MPH, MSEd, conducted research to advance adolescent health through comprehensive health education in U.S. schools as part of the ORISE Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Photo Credit: Pari Chowdhary, Shapari Photography As a recent participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Health Communication Fellowship, Deanna Amarosa researched the role of equitable health communication in driving effective public health and food safety messaging.

(Photo Credit: Sara Bresee, MPH, CDC) As a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Research Participation Program, Gabrielle Henry-Bevan contributes to advancing public health emergency preparedness and response initiatives. (Photo Credit: West Virginia University) Dr. Rutt started her career at the CDC as an ORISE fellow in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity.

Rutt decided to be a mentor to train the next generation of behavioral scientists. She loves working with her “academic children” and finds it incredibly rewarding to see them grow into successful scientists. Dr. Rutt’s impetus to become a mentor stemmed from her own experiences as a scientist, both positive and negative.

The appointment gives individuals who are fresh out of school an idea of what real-world application of their field looks like. I have been fortunate to have great mentors who have provided me with every opportunity to grow and learn new skills. I feel that this program has helped propel my career into a direction I never could have imagined.

The ORISE program provided me the opportunity to have an impact through public health work. I learned from experts in different fields, and I networked and found mentors across CDC. Overall, it was a great experience.

Being an ORISE participant allowed me to contribute to meaningful projects and gave space for mentorship and growth during a year when we all experienced profound losses and had to cope with enormous, extraordinary stressors. I would absolutely recommend a STEM-focused internship at a large federal research facility.

As I experienced, government research facilities tend to have state-of-the-art equipment, and their research programs often ask questions related to national interests and security. — Katherine “Katie” Wozniak The opportunities I have been afforded through this program are beyond what I would have experienced in an entry-level position after graduate school.

This program has truly helped further train and prepare me for obtaining my career goals. This experience has benefited me in many ways. It has allowed me to interact with leaders within public health and participate in projects and training that I could not get the same training elsewhere.

It has also allowed me to expand on my skill sets and strengthen my public speaking skills, analytical skills and leadership skills, while also stepping out of my comfort zone to find success outside of my box as well!