Skip Standard Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z
National Center for Environmental Health
DLS Content
 Home
 DLS Fact Sheets
 Publications
 Biomonitoring
 Cardiovascular Disease
 Diabetes
 Genetics
 Global Nutrition Programs
 Lead
 National Report on Human Exposure
to Environmental Chemicals
 Newborn Screening
 NHANES/Nutrition
 Tobacco / Smoking
 Training and Employment
Navigation Line

National Center for Environmental Health
 NCEH Home
 NCEH en Espaņol
 About NCEH
 Programs
 Publications
 NCEH Topics
Navigation Line

 

Home | About DLS | Programs | DLS Fact Sheets | Contact DLS

 

         

Division of Laboratory Sciences

DLS Post doctoral Research Fellowship Program

The goal of DLS Fellowship program is to prepare scientists for careers in environmental health laboratory sciences. This Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program will recruit and train qualified candidates to support public health initiatives, and provide opportunities for doctoral level scientists to conduct high priority research in analytical chemistry in environmental health laboratories.

A goal of the fellowship is to accomplish CDC's prevention strategy goal of "strengthening local, state, and federal public health infrastructures to support surveillance and implement prevention and control programs."

This is a 2-year program designed for doctoral level (Ph.D. or other appropriate doctoral level degree) scientists with an emphasis on research or development in environmental health laboratory sciences. Fellowships will be awarded to conduct applied research or development in areas relevant to public health including but not limited to:

  • Development, improvement, and application of analytical methods for measuring organic and inorganic toxicants, and their metabolites in physiologic samples collected from humans.
  • Development, improvement, and application of methods in molecular biology and biomarker analysis to support studies of special populations and subgroups which are susceptible to injury from environmental toxicants.
  • Development, improvement, and application of methods for screening for inborn errors of metabolism, nutritional status, or exposure to tobacco smoke.
  • Development and improvement of computer systems for tracking specimens, preparation of reports, data transmission, and laboratory-based disease surveillance.
  • Development of innovative and sustainable analytical methods suitable for use by local and state environmental health programs, in field settings, and for monitoring applications.

All fellows will participate in a 1-week orientation session at CDC/Atlanta to gain an overall understanding of the public health laboratory system and its relation to environmental health surveillance and disease prevention, research, and control. Following this orientation, fellows will be assigned for 1 year to one or more of the specialty laboratories of the DLS, where they will work side by side with an assigned mentor and other DLS scientists on "real-world" analytical problems and/or research related to the environmental health laboratory mission. During this period they will have opportunities to observe, ask questions, participate in decisions, learn about quality assurance, quality control, laboratory certification, and other issues affecting the modern environmental health laboratory.

During the second year of the fellowship assignment, fellows will be placed within state or local public health (host) laboratories. Each fellow will be assigned an official public health laboratory mentor at the host laboratory. The mentor will provide guidance and supervision for the duration of the fellowship. The fellow will participate in research, laboratory management and resolution of specific laboratory related problems, and/or receive advanced environmental health laboratory- related training. This training will be coordinated with the DLS based training and will be customized for each fellow based upon environmental health areas of interest, high priority laboratory personnel needs, and host laboratory capabilities. As appropriate and available, fellows will receive individual training in epidemiology, public health policy, management and other relevant areas. A specific objective-based curriculum will be developed for each fellow focusing on one or two areas such as analytical methods for organic toxicology and assessment of human exposure to PCBs, dioxins, furans, persistent and nonpersistent pesticides, VOCs; analytical methods for inorganic toxicology and assessment of human exposure to toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, uranium, thorium, etc.; methods for biomarkers of organ system injury from environmental toxicants; techniques in molecular biology including DNA analysis; methods for determining inborn errors of metabolism, nutritional status and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; laboratory computer and systems support; and other diagnostic testing methods and instrumentation.

Fellows may be assigned initially to the state or local public health (host) laboratories to work with the staff to identify training priorities. This period would be followed by a specific period of training in one or more of the specialty laboratories of the DLS, where they will work side by side with an assigned mentor and other DLS scientists to solve problems or carry out research required by the host public health laboratory. After the DLS training, fellows would return to the host public health laboratory to complete the project and remain there for the duration of the fellowship.

Additional fellowship curriculum requirements may include: 1. participation in a field investigation or special laboratory assignment to assist in the investigation of a suspected toxicant exposure or disease outbreak; 2. participation in "research in progress" and other seminar series; 3. presentation of research results at local or national meetings; 4. publication of research results in peer-reviewed journals; and/or 5. participation in appropriate management training courses. Additionally, fellows may be provided brief rotations with other state or federal agencies relating to environmental health (e.g.: ATSDR, EPA, NIEHS, FDA).

At the conclusion of the 2 years each fellow will return to DLS to evaluate the program, describe applications of information and technologies in the state or local public health laboratory and discuss areas for continued interaction between DLS and the public health laboratories.

Fellows are expected to conduct research according to the highest scientific and ethical standards, in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies regarding protection of human research subjects, humane care and use of laboratory animals, and laboratory safety.

Publications

All published reports, papers, journal articles, and professional presentations that rely on the research conducted during this fellowship will carry an acknowledgement such as, "This research was supported in part by an appointment to the Environmental Health Fellowship Program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)."

Eligibility

Applicants must have received a Ph.D. or other appropriate doctoral degree or have completed all requirements for such a degree before date of program initiation. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or maintain permanent residency status. Applicants must be able to participate in the orientation session at CDC/Atlanta and start appointment at CDC or the host laboratory by program timeline.

Stipends/Benefits

The annual stipend is $29,500 which may be augmented by the host public health laboratory. Dependency allowances are not authorized from PHS grant funds. Single medical insurance coverage is provided.  Funds to travel to the host public health laboratory are provided. Funding for relocation is not provided. Each fellow will receive the customary leave and holidays of the host laboratory.

Application

All applicants are required to submit one single-sided original and one copy of application materials to the EHLS Fellowship Program Director at APHL Headquarters. Supporting documents required for a complete fellowship application include official transcripts of applicant's undergraduate and/or graduate records, a resume, and three completed reference forms. The deadline for receipt of application is found in the Schedule and Deadlines.

Host laboratories 

Host laboratories are state, local or federal (CDC) public health laboratories available and capable of hosting a training and/or research fellow. The host laboratory and staff must demonstrate ability to provide training and/or research opportunities for the appropriate duration as described in the fellowship program. Host laboratories will be chosen through an application process and be matched with appropriate fellows.

Mentors

Mentors are highly experienced public health laboratorians. Each mentor works at the host laboratory and is responsible for the guidance and academic, technical, and ethical development of the fellow as required in the program. The mentor informs, instructs, and provides an example for each fellow. Mentors are also chosen through an application process.

Evaluation/Selection

The Evaluation/Selection Committee reviews all applications and selects them on a bases of:

  • education and experience
  • plans for participation in the fellowship program
  • letters of recommendation
  • career goals
  • match of applicants' interests with fellowship openings.

The most qualified applicants will be interviewed by the Selection Committee at CDC in Atlanta. Applicants are informed by telephone and letter regarding participation in these interview sessions. Transportation and 1 day's lodging for interview sessions are provided to each interviewee. The Selection Committee selects finalists and alternates following the interview sessions.

Fellow selections are non-discriminatory with respect to race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin.

Assignment

Fellows are given the opportunity to prioritize their preferences for host laboratory placement but are not eligible for assignment at a host laboratory of current/recent employment. The Selection Committee cannot guarantee that each fellow will be assigned to his or her top priority laboratory of choice.

How to Apply

Application kits are available from:
DLS Fellowship Program
APHL
1211 Connecticut Avenue., N.W.
Suite 608
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 822-5227
Fax: (202) 887-5098

A complete application consists of the following items:

For Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship:

  • DLS Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship Application Form
  • Three Letters of Recommendation (completed forms and letters)
  • Areas of research interest
  • Resume
  • Official transcripts of undergraduate/graduate work
  • Two-page narrative of reasons for participation in program and how this training will be used in future work

A complete application must be submitted to qualify for consideration.

About APHL

The Association of Public Health Laboratories is a professional association that links local, state and national health leaders to promote the highest quality laboratory practices.

APHL's mission is "to improve and promote the contributions of public health laboratories in support of the public health objectives of disease prevention and health promotion; and to promote policies, programs, and practices which contribute to improvement in the quality of health and environmental laboratory services."

To fulfill this mission, APHL, in cooperation with CDC, administers the National Laboratory Training Network; develops conferences which encourage laboratory scientists to discuss and debate critical and urgent laboratory issues; collaborate with public and private organizations to advance analytical testing standards; works with federal and state health leaders to enhance electronic exchange of important health information; publishes conference proceedings, training manuals, videotapes, and consensus reports; and provides ongoing international public health laboratory development initiatives.

About NCEH/CDC

The National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) is one of 11 Centers, Institute, and Offices (CIOs) that make up CDC. NCEH's mission is "to provide national leadership, through science and service, to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, birth defects, disability, and death resulting from interactions between people and their environment."

NCEH accomplishes its mission by:

  • Providing national leadership in prevention programs
  • Conducting public health surveillance
  • Appling research
  • Communicating with the scientific and health communities and the public.
  • Disseminating standards, guidelines, and recommendations.
  • Assisting state and local health agencies to increase their capacity for preventing disability and environmental disease

About DLS

The Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) is one of three Divisions in NCEH.

DLS's mission is "to prevent environmental disease by developing and applying laboratory technology and to assist disease prevention programs that need special or unusual laboratory expertise."

About PHPPO

The mission of the Public Health Practice Program Office (PHPPO) is

"to strengthen the public health system by developing human resources, improving the organizations effectiveness of local and state health agencies, conducting research in public health practice, and enhancing CDC's ability to communicate health information.

Return to top

CDC Topics:
In the News
Travelers' Health
Visitor Survey
 
More NCEH Information:
Contact NCEH
Funding
 
Highlighted Resources:
CDC Fact Book 2000/2001
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Subscriptions
Hoaxes and Rumors
 

 

   
 
 Air Pollution and Respiratory Health  Global Health Office
 Asthma  Health Studies
 Division of Laboratory Sciences  Molds in the Environment
 Emergency and Environmental Health Services  Preventing Lead Poisoning in Young Children
 Environmental Hazards and Health Effects  Vessel Sanitation - Sanitary Inspection of International Cruise Ships

NCEH Home| Programs | Publications  | Contact NCEH | Privacy | About NCEH
CDC Home
| CDC Search | CDC Health Topics A-Z

This page last reviewed August 05, 2004

For more information, click here
Contact NCEH