Research Fellowship in Medical Hyperspectral Imaging at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Connect with ORISE...on the GO!  Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!

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
• One educational or professional recommendation. Your application will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed until one recommendation is submitted.

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

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

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis. 

We are searching for a highly talented and motivated candidate to fill an eight-month research opportunity focusing on the optical performance evaluation of medical devices. As a Fellow in this role, you will engage in cutting-edge scientific research alongside seasoned biophotonics researchers. This opportunity includes presenting your research at scientific conferences and contributing to the publication of peer-reviewed journal articles. The opportunity is available immediately and may be subject to extension based on the availability of funds. This role is particularly suitable for recent master's or Ph.D. graduates who are looking to gain valuable experience in the biomedical field before making a commitment to a long-term career.

Project description

The fellow will be engaged in research on hyperspectral endoscopy. A crucial aspect of this project will entail the development and validation of advanced methods for assessing the accuracy of hyperspectral endoscopes. The opportunity is within the Division of Biomedical Physics at FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), which is located at FDA’s White Oak Research Center near Washington DC (Address: 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993). This opportunity may allow for partial telework. General information about CDRH’s regulatory science program can be found in the following link: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofMedicalProductsandTobacco/CDRH/CDRHOffices/ucm299948.htm

Eligibility

• Due to the educational nature of these programs, participants must fall into one of the following categories:
  • Be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering or math) discipline; or
  • Have received such a degree within five years of the start date of the appointment
• U.S. citizenship is not required. While students with an F-1 visa may be eligible for participation, the student must have stayed in USA for more than 3 years in the past 5 years.

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 8 months, 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 on-site for laboratory research 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 (OPM) 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 Ethics Requirements
If an ORISE Fellow, to include their spouse and minor children, reports what is identified as a Significantly Regulated Organization (SRO) or prohibited investment fund financial interest in any amount, or a relationship with an SRO, except for spousal employment with an SRO, and the individual will not voluntarily divest the financial interest or terminate the relationship, then the individual is not placed at FDA. For additional requirements, see FDA Ethics for Nonemployee Scientists.

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

The qualified candidate should have received a master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields.

Preferred skills:

• The ideal candidate will have: An academic degree in an engineering or science discipline (including but not limited to electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or computer science) at the Master’s, or Doctoral level.
• Experience with image/video processing and analysis.
• Knowledge of test methods for basic optical performance characteristics (resolution, modulation transfer function, noise, etc.).
• Knowledge of statistics for clinical data analysis
• Hands-on experience with medical device testing programming skills (MATLAB, Python, C++, LabVIEW, etc.).
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to research in our highly collaborative team environment.

• Degree: Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Academic Level(s): Graduate Students, Postdoctoral, or Post-Master's.
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (2 )
  • Engineering (5 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (2 )
  • Physics (1 )

I have lived in the United States for at least 36 out of the past 60 months. (36 months do not have to be consecutive.)

I have read the FDA Ethics Requirements.