2018 Summer Intramural Fellowship Program

Position Title

Junior Service Fellow (multiple positions)

Open Period

February 12, 2018 to February 26, 2018

Position Information

Temporary, Full Time, Not to Exceed 89 days

Salary Level

$26.94

Duty Location

Rockville, MD

Who May Apply

United States Citizens

Job Summary

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is soliciting applications for time-limited Fellowship opportunities. AHRQ's mission is to produce evidence to make health care safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable and to work with the HHS and other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.

Fellowship Program Description

The AHRQ Intramural Fellowship Program provides opportunities for individuals to work with leading health services researchers in the conduct and support of research on "real life" issues that support the Agency's mission and contributes to improvements in health care. Fellows are also afforded the opportunity to work with administrative protocols, gain access to AHRQ-sponsored data sets, and apply statistical analysis methods to broaden the Fellow’s understanding of health services research and the Agency's effect on the health care system.

Junior fellows are generally involved as part of a team responsible for conducting research and performing research-related activities. At this level, research studies generally have clear and specific objectives and involve investigations having a limited number of variables and self-directed work in planning and carrying out research activities.

Topics for Research Projects Include

Work with staff in the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement on exploring primary care spending rate and associated factors using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and programming in SAS using multiple years of MEPS data to examine primary care spending as a percentage of all personal healthcare spending and explore the related factors.

Work with staff in the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement to assess the impact of Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) Evidence Reports and establish a process to document how past EPC reports have been used and what impact they are having on decision-making and patient outcomes.

Work with staff in the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement to assess the impact of United States Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations on Preventive Services (USPSTF) to help establish a process to document how USPSTF recommendations have been used and what impact they are having on health policy, clinical practice, decision-making and patient outcomes.

Work with staff in the Center for Evidence and Practice Improvement on the E-Care Planning for People Living with Multiple Chronic Conditions and Disabilities to assist with the development of an electronic (e-)care plan.

Work with staff in the Center for Financing, Access, and Cost Trends on the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and quality and cost of health care under Medicaid examining the effect of FQHC on quality and cost of health care.

Work with staff in the Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets on identifying determinants of inpatient costs of opioid-related conditions in U.S. hospitals from 2005–2015.

Work with staff in the Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets on the impact of Markets on Physician and Hospital Quality.

Work with staff in the Center for Delivery, Organization, and Markets on the effect of nursing home market competition on the quality of nursing home care.

Work with staff in the Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations on examining Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service Utilization Patterns and Outcomes.

Work with staff in Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations (OEREP) on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund (PCORTF) which supports a number of research training and education grant programs by supporting the training of researchers in methods used to conduct such research.

Qualification Requirements

Only U.S. citizens or citizens who have gained U.S. citizenship through naturalization may be considered. Applicants who are non-immigrant visa holders or immigrant green card holders (i.e., permanent residents) are ineligible for consideration. Successful applicants should possess an advanced degree (a master's degree or higher level degree) with a concentration in health services research, health policy (e.g., public health, economics, sociology, biostatics, epidemiology, or political science), or a health-related or research field. In addition, applicants should possess and be able to demonstrate a fundamental understanding of research, statistics, and scientific terminology and an ability to communicate information orally and in writing.

Junior Fellows will be assigned a senior-level researcher, who will provide guidance and direction regarding the assigned research projects as well as the principles and protocols that guide the conduct of health services research. Additionally, the senior-level researcher will establish a curriculum for the Fellow to ensure a successful experience with the Agency. The curriculum will include, but is not limited to:

Identification of background materials relevant for research assignments to ensure the Fellow's success;
Attendance at Agency seminars and brown bag lectures and external experiences to clarify the Agency's role in the field of health services research and the broader health care community;
Information regarding the Agency’s programs, vision, and activities to fully understand AHRQ’s research endeavors and goals.

*This Fellowship opportunity does not convey any Federal benefits due to the temporary nature of the appointment and travel and relocation and housing expenses will not be paid.

Evaluation Method

Applicants who meet the qualification requirements described above will be further evaluated by determining the extent to which their work or related experience, education, training, etc., demonstrate that the applicant possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities associated with the Fellowship assignment.

Application Procedures

Applicants should submit the following documentation:

Résumé articulating relevant experience including amount of hours and the month and year the experience was gained; and
Unofficial transcripts documenting educational experience (official transcripts will be required if selected for this opportunity).
Proof of citizenship to include a copy of birth certificate, passport, or naturalization paperwork

Application materials must be sent to: 2018SummerInternship@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Applications must contain all of the documentation cited above and be submitted by the closing date to be considered.

AHRQ provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process, please contact the Office on Civil Rights, Diversity and inclusion (OCRDI), at 301–443–5636. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Additional information regarding the Agency and its activities may be obtained by visiting our website.

AHRQ is an equal opportunity employer.

Page last reviewed February 2018
Page originally created February 2018

Internet Citation: 2018 Summer Intramural Fellowship Program. Content last reviewed February 2018. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/cpi/about/careers/2018-summer-fellowship.html