Health Communications Research Opportunity at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Services, Center for Epidemiology & Animal Health (CEAH) Risk Identification and Risk Assessment Unit (RIRA) examines all aspects of environmental factors affecting animal health and veterinary public health, including estimates of the likelihood of a damaging event and the resulting consequences. Multidisciplinary teams of specialists use information from a wide variety of sources to conduct epidemiological, biological, economic, geospatial, and environmental analyses and other assessments of present, future, and emerging threats to animal health. After an animal or veterinary public health risk is identified and the threat assessed, this information is communicated to other health professionals, animal producers, and decision makers for follow-up actions.
The selected participant will collaborate with veterinary medical officers, statisticians, and ecologists specializing in emerging animal health issues to develop and apply social marketing practices, health education models, and mass communication theories. They will have the opportunity to support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of various animal health communication and marketing activities designed to impact animal disease and risk awareness. They will have the opportunity to learn about the assessment, design, and communication of mitigation strategies for zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases in an effort to reduce their impact on animal and public health, international trade, and diagnostic resources.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Support the development and presentation of printed, electronic, and audiovisual materials for technical and lay audiences, scientific journals, and Internet, as well as other mass-media outlets (e.g., Twitter). Prepare presentation materials for target audiences.
- Assist with the review, layout, and design of communication materials.
- Collaborate with APHIS Legislative and Public Affairs (LPA) staff to develop content (e.g., fact sheets, program briefings, questions and answers, program summaries, web pages, tweets, story maps, talking points) for review and clearance by VS leaders.
- Coordinate with LPA on the production of materials and dissemination of information through various media outlets.
The participant will receive a yearly stipend in the range of $50,000 and $70,000 and a health insurance stipend supplement. Relocation expenses are available.
This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens only.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 29, 2018, 4 PM ET
If you have any questions, please send an email to USDA-APHIS@orau.org.