Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Resident Postdoctoral Program in Microbiology

The purpose of this program is to conduct a resident postdoctoral fellowship program in microbiology in infectious diseases laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The program offers two-year fellowships to perform research in pathogenic microorganisms. Fellows acquire specific experience in the public health aspects of microbiology, new approaches, methodologies, and knowledge in infectious disease diagnosis, prevention and control. Program goals include increasing the number of scientists trained and experienced in novel and practical applications of microbiology in infectious diseases research. In addition, goals include producing a cadre of infectious disease microbiology-research scientists in public health laboratories; increasing workforce capacity and enhancing the nation's public health laboratory system both domestically and globally. This program supports CDC's mission to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the United States. This program provides fellows research experiences that contribute to responding to and stopping new and emerging health treats, and discovering new ways to protect and improve the public's health through science and advanced technology. This program is in alignment with the following strategies and objectives of the CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID): 1) advance and increase effectiveness of infectious disease laboratory science; 2) develop and apply the science to support and implement new and proven approaches to prevent and control infectious diseases; 3) improve public health laboratory capacity for bioterrorism preparedness and response by developing and validating new tools and tests to aid laboratory detection and identification of new, unknown, emerging, or bioterror disease threats; and 4) support the NCEZID workforce by attracting, maintaining, and developing a highly skilled, motivated and diverse workforce to fulfill the mission of NCEZID.

Eligible applicants must have experience and demonstrated success in administering training programs in public health laboratory/microbiology research or other life sciences.

This program contributes to developing a public health laboratory workforce for the diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diseases in the United States and abroad. The nation's public is the ultimate recipient of benefits from this program.

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. For all other nonprofit grantees, cost will be determined in accordance with HHS Regulations 45 CFR 74 Subpart Q. Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant, or loan.

The program targets individuals who: 1) have received a doctorate degree in a scientific concentration, or will have earned this degree prior to their proposed fellowship start date, and 2) are no more than three years past either receiving their doctorate degree or completing their first post-doctoral residency. Funds awarded through this program are only for non-research activities, including stipends and related support costs for fellows, and for recipient costs to administer the program.

Financial assistance is provided for a 12-month budget period with project periods of up to five years subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the recipient.

A Letter of Intent to apply (LOI) may be requested. The LOI is a preliminary, non-binding indication of an organization's intent to submit an application. The purpose of an LOI is to allow CDC program staff to estimate the number of applicants and plan for the review of submitted applications. If required, instructions for submitting an LOI will be stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Detailed application and submission information is provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). If internet access is not available, or if the online forms cannot be accessed, applicants may call the CDC OGS staff at 770-488-2700 or e-mail OGS ogstims@cdc.gov for assistance. Persons with hearing loss may access CDC telecommunications at TTY 1-888-232-6348.

Applications will be evaluated on the review criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). In general, the review and selection process of complete and responsive applications to the NOFO consists of determination of the technical merit by objective or peer review, and availability of funds. Refer to the NOFO for additional review criteria. The budget is not scored.

Recipients will receive an electronic copy of the Notice of Award (NOA) from CDC OGS. The NOA shall be the only binding, authorizing document between the recipient and CDC. The NOA will be signed by an authorized GMO and emailed to the Recipient Business Officer listed in application and the Program Director. Any applicant awarded funds in response to this NOFO will be subject to the DUNS, SAM Registration, and Federal Funding Accountability And Transparency Act Of 2006 (FFATA) requirements. Unsuccessful applicants will receive notification of these results by e-mail with delivery receipt or by US mail.

Annual renewals within an awarded multi-year project period are conditional. Throughout the project period, CDC's commitment to continuation of awards will be subject to the availability of funds, evidence of satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports), and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.