CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
Two research opportunities are currently available with the Division of Viral Diseases (DVD), National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located in Atlanta, Georgia.
DVD is responsible for surveillance of many viruses associated with vaccine preventable and non-vaccine preventable diseases. The availability of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies now makes it possible to routinely obtain full genomic sequence information from clinical samples. As part of implementing Advanced Molecular Detection methodologies for DVD, development of standardized bioinformatics pipelines is key for ensuring timely and accurate analysis of genomic sequencing data for viruses.
To help accomplish this goal, the selected participant will join the DVD NGS Core Bioinformatics Team. Under the guidance of a mentor, opportunities include:
- Evaluating existing bioinformatics protocols for analysis of NGS data from short-read (Illumina) and long-read (PacBio, Oxford Nanopore) platforms, to determine which is most suitable for efficient sequencing of RNA viruses
- Contribute to maintenance, testing and development of an automated NGS bioinformatics pipeline (VPipe) currently utilized by both the Division and external public health scientists for analysis of NGS data
- Optimizing and standardizing bioinformatics protocols, and to develop efficient workflows for generation of whole genome sequences for viruses studied in DVD (i.e., polioviruses, measles virus, rotaviruses, etc.). Particular focus will be spent on development of automated pipelines for analysis of Oxford Nanopore data.
- Participate in the development of solutions for integration of sequencing and epidemiological databases
- Management of NGS data, annotation, and submission of sequence data to public databases (i.e. NCBI)
The results of this research project will provide DVD with optimized standardized bioinformatics workflows for assembly and annotation of genome data for viruses, to support surveillance for vaccine-preventable and other viral diseases. The selected participant will collaborate with subject matter experts and team members who are performing research on various viruses throughout DVD, and will provide bioinformatics support for analysis of data derived from several NGS platforms (e.g., Illumina, PacBio, Oxford Nanopore).
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 13, 2020
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.
Qualifications
The qualified candidate should have received a bachelor's or master's degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing one of the degrees and will reach completion by the start date of the appointment. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.
If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.CDC.NCIRD@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity (CDC-NCIRD-2020-0130) in your email.