Meet a Participant

One of the best ways to learn about opportunities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is through the eyes of a past participant.

Katherine “Katie” Wozniak

An extensive scientific journey led Katherine “Katie” Wozniak to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), where she learned aspects of science that branched out from her field. She encourages other scientists to push the envelope with research that may not align with their original expertise.
Alexandria Sparks
Alexandria Sparks is a current fellow of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) Research Participation Program, Organic Analytical Toxicology (OAT) branch. Motivated by her grandfather’s suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Sparks developed a deep-seated desire to help others who were undergoing severe illnesses.
Sumera Jiva
Hear about Sumera Jiva's experience at ORISE in this video profile taken at the APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo in Boston, MA.
Georgya Jones
Hear about Georgya Jones' experience at ORISE in this video profile taken at the APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo in Boston, MA.
Diane Harris
Hear about Diane Harris' experience as a participant and a mentor at ORISE in this video profile taken at the APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo in Boston, MA.
Carly Herbert
Hear about Carly Herbert's experience at ORISE in this video profile taken at the APHA 2022 Annual Meeting and Expo in Boston, MA.
Alora Colvin

Alora Colvin, a researcher with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch (NSMBB) Research Participation Program, has seen first-hand how early diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including cystic fibrosis, is critical to living a healthy life. Her role includes providing technical assistance to the labs whenever questions and problems arise.
Brooke Vollmer

Brooke Vollmer discovered a passion for public safety during her acadmic career. As an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Research Branch, Vollmer is using that passion to improve occupational safety and health.
Mirle Peña

Throughout her fellowship experience, Mirle Peña learned the importance of engineering controls and how to implement them as measures to promote health and safety. She was able to practice her public speaking skills as well as her writing skills through presentations and various scientific training.
Carissa Rocheleau

Carissa Rocheleau, a mentor for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), express how proud it makes her to see her mentees grow into positions that they are passionate in.
Elizabeth Misas

Elizabeth Misas spends her time with the CDC analyzing the DNA sequences of fungi which cause infection in humans. Through her research the scientific community can find greater understanding with how such fungi mutate to resist medication.
Andrea McGowan

Andrea McGowan assists the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to analyze data on childhood nutrition, breastfeeding habits, and the spread of COVID-19 throughout family homes.
Charles Thurlow

Charles Thurlow, Ph.D. in microbiology, assisted in developing a means for generating whole genome sequencing data for the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum, while serving as a fellow within the Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Tuberculosis Prevention Research Participation Program.
Emily Young

Kimberly Castelin, Ph.D., is applying her passion for equity and social justice to advance public health and program evaluation as part of the CDC Research Participation Program.
Kimberly Castelin

Kimberly Castelin, Ph.D., is applying her passion for equity and social justice to advance public health and program evaluation as part of the CDC Research Participation Program.
Jennifer Reimche

Jennifer Reimche, Ph.D., is conducting research on Neisseria gonorrhoeae as part of the ORISE Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Alexandra Palacios

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Research Participation Program, Alexandra Palacios investigates multistate enteric illness outbreaks to identify infection sources and protect public health.
Amy Board

Amy Board, former ORISE research participant and current officer of CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, went from assisting national analyses that identify emerging HIV clusters to using surveillance data to track trends in drug overdose morbidity and mortality in the United States.
Sagar Kumar

While pursuing research with the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sagar Kumar took a closer look at sexually transmitted disease care, treatment, prevention and testing.
Shamaya Whitby

Shamaya Whitby contributes to the fight against HIV/AIDS through her fellowship at the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ricardo Albarran

As a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Evaluation Fellowship, Ricardo Albarran gained experience in the evaluation and assessment of public health programs targeting the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
Tandin Dorji

Tandin Dorji, a participant in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Research Participation Program, uses his statistical expertise to analyze and improve public health program research methods.
Victoria Cabán Figueroa

As a fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Victoria Cabán Figueroa used whole genome sequencing to predict antibiotic resistance of sexually transmitted diseases.
Vishakha Ramakrishnan

Vishakha Ramakrishnan contributed to public health program evaluation and improvement efforts as part of her ORISE fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Satomi Odani

In the Research Participation Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Satomi Odani helped design a survey that measures individuals’ attitudes and behaviors regarding tobacco use.
Hannah Romo

As a fellow with the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hannah Romo, Ph.D., studied mosquito populations and West Nile virus disease transmission.
Emily Hays

Through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Evaluation Fellowship, Emily Hays learned how to collect and evaluate data, assessing the effectiveness and impacts of sexually transmitted diseases prevention programs.
Luis Rodriguez

Former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fellow Luis Rodriguez, Ph.D., has spent more than 30 years studying the vesicular stomatitis virus, an insect-borne virus. He is a scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
Krista Queen, Ph.D.

Krista Queen, Ph.D., a fellow with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, identifies new and emerging viruses.
Suad, Sausan and Alia El Burai Félix

Although Suad, Sausan and Alia El Burai Félix are conducting research in different sectors of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the sisters all share a passion for improving public health standards. Their assignments are sponsored by the CDC Research Participation Programs, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, which is managed by ORAU for the U.S. Department of Energy.

My favorite part is, without question, the people. Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented countless challenges for those working in and with schools. I deeply admire my colleagues’ brilliance and commitment to their work supporting adolescents and school communities, and have learned much from their resilience and creativity during this time. —Emily Young
I would absolutely recommend a STEM-focused internship at a large federal research facility. As I experienced, government research facilities tend to have state-of-the-art equipment, and their research programs often ask questions related to national interests and security.
—Katherine “Katie” Wozniak
The ORISE program provided me the opportunity to have an impact through public health work. I learned from experts in different fields, and I networked and found mentors across CDC. Overall, it was a great experience. —Ricardo Albarran
The practical experience gained during my time at CDC has been invaluable. I appreciated all the opportunities for professional development and enjoyed being in a field that I am passionate about.
—Hannah Romo
Having the experience of doing research at CDC in high-profile infectious diseases prepared me very well to tackle challenges in my work with foreign animal diseases. —Luis Rodriguez
As a Latin woman coming from Mexico, this experience has been so valuable to me. I was able to make connections with the right people, which has propelled me to complete the work I always wanted to do. I was able to find my passion and do research that can positively impact people’s health.
—Mirle Peña
“The opportunities I have been afforded through this program are beyond what I would have experienced in an entry-level position after graduate school. This program has truly helped further train and prepare me for obtaining my career goals.”
—Emily Hays
I thought it seemed like a great opportunity to gain real-life, hands-on experience in the federal government environmen. Our mom always has encouraged us to continue growing personally and professionally; every experience helps in some way to improve and build upon your skills. To me, this opportunity represents a step forward in my future career and has given me more enthusiasm.
—Suad El Burai Félix
Public health is a field that matters to everyone. I relish contributing to humanity with my actions and knowledge of the field, and what better way to do it than through this program? It has provided a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of new knowledge and tasks. —Sausan El Burai Félix
The appointment gives individuals who are fresh out of school an idea of what real-world application of their field looks like. —Tandin Dorji
Being an ORISE participant allowed me to contribute to meaningful projects and gave space for mentorship and growth during a year when we all experienced profound losses and had to cope with enormous, extraordinary stressors.
—Kimberly Castelin
I have been fortunate to have great mentors who have provided me with every opportunity to grow and learn new skills. I feel that this program has helped propel my career into a direction I never could have imagined. —Shamaya Whitby