Environmental Epidemiology Fellowship at the Uniformed Services University

Description 

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research conducts research to develop infectious disease countermeasures and to benefit brain health through studies to enhance our understanding of sleep, traumatic brain injury prevention/treatment and psychological resilience. This opportunity supports a collaborative effort between the US Army Center for Environmental Health Research (USACEHR), the U.S. Army Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). This opportunity is part of a tri-service operational toxicology research effort in which The Army participates seeks ways to better understand environmental health risks to deployed military personnel. This project focuses on exposures during disaster management and recovery, areas in which the military is increasingly involved. The Army will provide the laboratory arm of the study, but epidemiological analysis and overall study direction will occur at USUHS in Bethesda.

This opportunity will focus on The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Coast Guard Study and The PHAH and Thyroid Cancer Risk in the DoDSR Cohort Study. As an ORISE participant, you will support each project by providing data management and analyses. Under the guidance of a mentor, you will have a chance to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in providing supporting analyses for collaborators and in providing other manuscripts from these studies. During this opportunity you will learn and conduct extensive literature reviews, draft manuscripts to present results, and maintain precise documentation of all analyses. Your on-site Mentor will work closely with you on all aspects ranging from: analyses, data management, interpreting results, manuscript drafting, publishing and more. In addition, your mentor will develop learning objects to fit your personal career development goals, while providing guidance and education that will prepare you to conduct experiments for publication in scientific journals, doctoral dissertations and presentation to scientific societies. 

Specific learning objectives for this opportunity involve:

This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by WRAIR. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.

An ideal candidate would have a Master of Public Health or be in pursuit of a Doctoral Degree in Epidemiology.

(This opportunity would be excellent for application to a doctoral dissertation in epidemiology)

Preferred skills and qualities:

Excellent statistical analysis and scientific writing skills and a keen understanding of epidemiology and the biostatistical methods used to analyze epidemiologic data.