Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist/Health Scientist

Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau-Office of Epidemiology and Research, Division of Epidemiology (HRSA-MCHB) promotes the health and well-being of women, children and families by providing national leadership in the advancement and use of scientific knowledge to inform Maternal and Child Health (MCH) research.The program has an interdisciplinary science focus that allows researchers to explore the interwoven roles of families, neighborhoods, health care services, and health policies.

HRSA-MCHB is seeking an ORISE Participant to take part in the activities of MCHB and OER. The Participant would be housed under HRSA-MCHB’s Office of Epidemiology and Research (OER), within the Division of Epidemiology (DE). The mission of OER is to: 1) Build data capacity at the national, State and local levels; 2) Strengthen the present and future workforce in MCH epidemiology and research; 3) support applied research to ensure that MCH initiatives are evidence-based and reflect the state-of-the-science; and 4) disseminate information and strengthen the evidence base in MCH. More information about OER is available at: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/researchdata/index.html.

OER plays a central role in MCHB through its support for the performance measure framework and evaluation mechanism by which 59 states and jurisdictions receiving Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V) funds track performance on a wide range of critical MCH issues. Title V is one of the largest federal block grant programs and a key source of support for promoting and improving the health and well-being of the nation’s mothers, children, including children with special health needs, and their families. A three-tiered performance measure framework enables states to demonstrate the impacts of Title V on specific health outcomes within the state and apply this framework in developing a five-year State Action Plan to address their identified MCH priority needs. In an effort to reduce the reporting burden on grantees, OER has a role in pre-populating the state and jurisdictional annual reports for all required National Performance Measures and National Outcome Measures. The ORISE Participant will support the MCHB and OER activities by researching in support for this pre-population process for all 59 states and jurisdictions receiving Title V Block Grant funds.

Research may include: 1. Extraction of publicly available data from multiple sources; 2. Outreach to and communication with multiple Federal data providers to secure non-public data in a timely manner; 3. Interface with Federal staff and contractors to coordinate and support the pre-population of state/jurisdictional-specific data tables; 4. Coordinate quality control processes to ensure that all reported data are accurate and timely; 5. Development of summary reports and presentation of data to stakeholders.

The ORISE participant can expect to gain and/or refine the following skills and competencies:

1) Research, analyses and synthesis of literature on key indicators of maternal, infant, and child health;
2) Gain first-hand exposure to and understanding of major maternal and child health investments supported by the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau;
3) Collect, analyses, process, and help publish performance measurement data for 59 states and jurisdictions receiving Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (Title V) funds;
4) Research, analyses and synthesis of performance measurement and/or evaluation data for other major maternal and child health investments supported by the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau, e.g., Healthy Start;
5) Research and analyses of data from the National Survey of Children’s Health resulting in publishable written products, including a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal;
6) Gain first-hand exposure to and understanding of how a major national survey is designed and implemented on an annual basis;
7) Refine data processing and analyses skills utilizing SAS/SUDAAN or STATA;
8) Refine and expand written and oral communicative skills and competencies.

Appointment Length

This ORISE Appointment is for 12 months and may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the ORISE Participant. The proposed start date is May 31, 2019.

Participant Benefits

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

Health Insurance Supplement. Participants are eligible to purchase health insurance through ORISE.

Relocation Allowance

Training and Travel Allowance

Apply by clicking HERE.