A complete application consists of:

• An application
• Transcripts – Click here for detailed information about acceptable transcripts
• A current resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Two educational or professional recommendations

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

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

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A research opportunity is available in the Office of Medical Policy (OMP) Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Office of Medical Policy (OMP) Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (OPDP) seeks a research fellow to participate in two projects studying prescription drug promotion: 1) a content analysis of data displays, particularly graphics in prescription drug promotion directed to healthcare professionals, and 2) an environmental scan of disease awareness communications across the media landscape. As part of these projects, there will be a literature review to provide an overview of the scholarly research in the field, help us to identify areas that require further research, and develop specific research questions. This project will impact the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) by enhancing CDER’s knowledge base about factors that affect understanding and communication of prescription drug information. The project will impact external constituents by providing access to research results in areas that have not yet been investigated.

Under the guidance of a mentor the research fellow may be involved in: conducting a literature review and content analysis of data displays in professionally-directed prescription drug promotion; conducting a literature review and environmental scan of media and other appropriate sources to collect disease state communications and mobile healthcare applications; and shadowing OPDP Social Science Team members to gain knowledge of regulation of prescription drug promotion, social science regulatory research methods and application, and OPDP regulatory processes.

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, MD, area. Participants do not become employees of FDA, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits.

The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) mandates a background check be completed for both U.S. Citizens and foreign nationals. Foreign nationals must have resided in the U.S. for at least three (3) of the past five (5) years in order for FDA to be able to complete a background check.

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.

This opportunity is open to individuals with an advanced degree in psychology or health communications. The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree or be currently pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology (social, cognitive, experimental, industrial/organizational, health) or health communications. Degree must have been received within the last five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods and study design
• Ability to plan, design, conduct and evaluate research
• Ability to use scientific and technical reporting standards and techniques to communicate research findings
• Advanced statistical analysis using SPSS
   

• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Communications and Graphics Design (1 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (5 )

I have received a master's or doctoral degree within the last five years, or am currently pursuing a doctoral degree.