Application Guide

How to Apply for Chronic Disease Epidemiologist

at CDC Foundation

🏢 About CDC Foundation

The CDC Foundation is unique as it serves as the independent nonprofit partner to the CDC, bridging public health needs with private sector resources and innovation. Working here means contributing directly to CDC's mission through collaborative projects that have real-world impact on chronic disease prevention and health equity across America.

About This Role

This Chronic Disease Epidemiologist role involves designing evaluation plans and conducting statistical analyses for specific CDC programs like Asthma Prevention and Control, directly influencing how these public health initiatives are measured and improved. You'll be at the intersection of data analysis and program implementation, ensuring grant deliverables and epidemiological insights translate into better community health outcomes.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing asthma surveillance data in SAS to identify disparities, then meeting with program staff from the Community Health Alignment Program to discuss evaluation metrics for an upcoming grant report. You could spend the afternoon consulting with colleagues on statistical methods for a new chronic disease analysis before drafting sections of an evaluation plan for community health worker initiatives.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who CDC Foundation Is Looking For

  • Has an MPH in Epidemiology/Biostatistics plus 2+ years of hands-on experience with SAS/R for epidemiological analysis in public health settings
  • Demonstrates practical experience with program evaluation design and implementation, particularly for community-based health programs
  • Possesses deep knowledge of multivariate linear regression and other statistical methods applicable to chronic disease data from clinical and population sources
  • Can effectively consult with other epidemiologists on methodological choices and clearly communicate analytical limitations to program staff

📝 Tips for Applying to CDC Foundation

1

Quantify your 2+ years of relevant experience with specific examples of epidemiologic analyses using SAS/R, naming the datasets and health topics you worked on

2

Highlight any direct experience with asthma, community health workers, or health equity programs to align with the Office of Community Health Workers and Asthma Prevention programs mentioned

3

Tailor your resume to include keywords like 'program evaluation design,' 'grant reporting,' 'multivariate methods,' and 'CDC collaboration' from the job description

4

If you have prior experience with CDC or federal public health grants, explicitly detail your role in meeting deliverables and reporting requirements

5

Showcase your ability to bridge epidemiological analysis with program implementation by describing projects where your data analysis directly informed public health decisions

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you're specifically drawn to the CDC Foundation's model of public-private partnership and how your skills support collaborative public health work", 'Detail your hands-on experience with SAS/R for chronic disease epidemiology, citing specific projects or analyses relevant to asthma or community health', "Describe your experience with program evaluation from design through implementation, emphasizing how you've ensured methodological rigor in real-world settings", 'Connect your background to the specific programs mentioned (Community Health Workers, Asthma Prevention) and express understanding of their public health impact']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore the CDC Foundation's current projects and partnerships, especially those related to chronic diseases or health equity
  • → Review the CDC's National Asthma Control Program and Office of Community Health Workers to understand their goals and strategies
  • → Investigate how the CDC Foundation differs from CDC in structure and funding, focusing on its role in facilitating public-private collaborations
  • → Look into recent publications or reports from CDC's chronic disease division to understand current priorities and methodological approaches

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through a specific epidemiological analysis you conducted using SAS or R for a chronic disease program, including your choice of statistical methods
2 How would you design an evaluation plan for a community-based asthma prevention program, considering both outcome measures and practical implementation challenges?
3 Describe your experience collaborating with non-epidemiologist program staff to translate data findings into actionable recommendations
4 How have you ensured the quality and appropriateness of data analysis in past grant reporting contexts?
5 What interests you about working at the CDC Foundation specifically, rather than directly at CDC or another public health organization?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic applications that don't mention SAS/R experience, program evaluation, or chronic disease epidemiology specifically
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of the CDC Foundation's unique role as a nonprofit partner to CDC (not confusing it with CDC itself)
  • Overemphasizing academic research without showing how your epidemiological skills have been applied to real-world public health programs and grant deliverables

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to CDC Foundation!

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