FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Hematology

Organization
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Reference Code
FDA-CBER-2020-0044
How to Apply

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A complete application consists of:      

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, send an email to ORISE.FDA.CBER@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

Application Deadline
10/12/2020 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A research opportunity is available in the Office of Blood Research and Review (OBRR), at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Overall area of research is an assessment of quality of human platelets stored or processed by conventional and novel methods to optimize their use as transfusion products. This particular project is aimed at developing an animal model to monitor contribution of platelets to in vivo hemostasis and to identify which platelet in vitro markers can be used to predict hemostatic efficacy. Transgenic mice, humanized with protein receptors for binding of human platelets to endothelial cells, will be used in intravital experiments to monitor interaction of human platelets with a developing localized clot and to correlate with reduction of bleeding. Cell to cell interactions can be visualized with 2 photon confocal microscopy in live animals with fluorescently labeled platelets, leucocytes and endothelial cells. Additional fluorescently labeled proteins and cells can be infused and detected by microscopy. Additional fluorescently labeled proteins and cells can be infused and detected by microscopy. Specific learning opportunities for the participant include experience in processing and storing human transfusion products such as red cells and platelets, maintaining a transgenic mouse breeding colony, operating a 2 photon confocal microscope, designing and carrying out intravital confocal microscopy experiments and preparing tissue slides for confocal microscopy.     

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: July 1, 2020

This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and FDA. The initial appointment is for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA contingent on the availability of funds. The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. The appointment is full-time at FDA in the Silver Spring, Maryland, area. Participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

Completion of a successful background investigation by the Office of Personnel Management is required for an applicant to be on-boarded at FDA.  OPM can complete a background investigation only for individuals, including non-US Citizens, who have resided in the US for a total of three of the past five years.

FDA requires ORISE participants to read and sign their FDA Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of his/her start date, setting forth the conditions and expectations for his/her educational appointment at the agency.  This agreement covers such topics as the following:

  • Non-employee nature of the ORISE appointment;
  • Prohibition on ORISE Fellows performing inherently governmental functions;
  • Obligation of ORISE Fellows to convey all necessary rights to the FDA regarding intellectual property conceived or first reduced to practice during their fellowship;
  • The fact that research materials and laboratory notebooks are the property of the FDA;
  • ORISE fellow’s obligation to protect and not to further disclose or use non-public information.
Qualifications

The qualified candidate should have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields, or be currently pursuing the degree and will reach completion by the appointment start date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

  • Experience in work with animals (rodents), animal surgery, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry 
  • Clinical lab experience with cell counters and blood cell processing and storage
Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 7/1/2020 11:59:00 PM.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (1 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )