Position Title: Junior Service Fellow (multiple positions)
Open Period: February 19, 2013 - March 5, 2013
Position Information: Temporary, Full Time, NTE 89 days
Salary Level: 24.74 per hour
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 improve the quality, safety, efficiency,
and effectiveness of health care for all Americans by examining how people get
access to health care, how much care costs and what happens to patients as a
result of the care they receive.
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 which supports 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 in an effort to broaden the Fellow's
understanding of health services research and the Agency' impact 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 research
activities.
Topics for research
projects include:
- Assisting with the development and conduct of research in support
of the National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports (NHQR/DR),
contributing to NHQR/DR-related projects which could include State Snapshots,
state-level disparities analyses, and topic-specific Fact Sheets.
- Research and analysis utilizing AHRQ's Healthcare Cost and
Utilization Project (HCUP) administrative data and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
data.
- Research and analysis with the
Effective Health Care (EHC) program.
- Conducting literature reviews to identify current methods being
employed by health services researchers for measuring health disparities.
- Utilizing the Pediatric Quality Indicators (PQIs) to conduct
analyses of pediatric quality indicators and identify disparities and other
trends.
- Large data set analysis on preventable
hospitalizations, assisting with the preparation of data, conducting
statistical analysis, reporting results in multiple formats including the
development of maps suitable for web publication, and preparation of
manuscripts based on the analytical work.
- Research leading to the development of journal articles and
statistical briefs relating to current topics in health services research such
as the effect of health information technology on adverse drug
events, patient safety events, and costs; disparities in quality and
access to care; the effect of the economic downturn on issues such as injuries
or the utilization of mental health services by homeless individuals; and the
spillover effects of utilization of healthcare services by Medicare Fee-for-Service
vs. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.
Qualification
Requirements
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 have
a senior level researcher assigned to him/her in order to provide guidance and
direction regarding the assigned research projects as well as the principles
and protocols which guide the conduct of health services research.
Additionally, a curriculum will be established 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, 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/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 he/she possesses the necessary knowledge, skills
and abilities to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities
associated with the fellowship assignment.
Application
Procedures
If interested, applicants
should submit the following documentation:
- Curriculum vitae or resume articulating relevant experience.
- Unofficial transcripts documenting educational experience (official
transcripts will be required if selected for this opportunity).
Application materials should be sent to:
HRInfo@AHRQ.HHS.GOV.
Applications must contain all of the documentation cited above and
be submitted by the closing date in order to be considered.
Questions may be referred to:
Ms. Gina Spann
gina.spann@ahrq.hhs.gov
(301) 427-1217
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 Food and Drug
Administration's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
Management at (301) 796-9400. 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 Web
site at www.ahrq.gov.
AHRQ IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Current as of February 2013
Internet Citation:
AHRQ 2013 Summer Intramural Fellowship Program. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/about/vacancy/summerfellows.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 