FDA Interventional Radiological Imaging and Visualization (IRIS) Fellowship
To submit your application, scroll to the bottom of this opportunity and click APPLY.
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
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.
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*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
FDA Office and Location: A Postdoctoral Fellow opportunity is available immediately with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), located in White Oak, Maryland.
The mission of CDRH is to protect and promote the public health. CDRH assures that patients and providers have timely and continued access to safe, effective, and high-quality medical devices and safe radiation-emitting products. CDRH provides consumers, patients, their caregivers, and providers with understandable and accessible science-based information about the products overseen by CDRH. CDRH facilitates medical device innovation by advancing regulatory science, providing industry with predictable, consistent, transparent, and efficient regulatory pathways, and assuring consumer confidence in devices marketed in the U.S.
Research Project: The IRIS program addresses critical regulatory science challenges in three related and emerging medical technology domains: interventional and autonomous systems, extended reality technologies, and novel imaging validation and evaluation methodologies. This integrated project aims to develop specialized laboratory capabilities and personnel expertise to evaluate autonomous surgical robotics, mixed reality medical applications, and phantom-based alternatives. This project provides extensive learning and development opportunities across three critical areas of medical device regulation: interventional and autonomous systems, extended reality technologies, and clinical validation methodologies. The project offers unique exposure to emerging regulatory science challenges, including developing performance assessment methods for autonomous interventional systems. Participants will learn testing protocols across multiple technologies and create validation approaches using digital twins and anthropomorphic phantoms to reduce clinical trial burden. This comprehensive experience prepares fellows to address the rapid technological advancement in medical devices while ensuring patient safety and regulatory compliance.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will gain hands-on expertise in AI navigation and robotics systems integration, real-time imaging technologies, and performance validation protocols.
- Participants will learn optical and x-ray system calibration, mixed-reality hardware integration, and evaluation methods for extended reality applications.
- Participants will develop advanced skills in imaging and navigation test object fabrication using additive manufacturing, tissue-mimicking material characterization, and multi-modal imaging protocol evaluation.
Mentor: The mentor(s) for this opportunity are Aldo Badano (aldo.badano@fda.hhs.gov) and Nirmal Soni (nimral.soni@fda.hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentors.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: Spring 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.
Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for one year, but may be renewed upon recommendation of FDA and is contingent on the availability of funds.
Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.
Participant Stipend: The participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience.
Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.
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 participant will receive a monthly stipend commensurate with educational level and experience. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. 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 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 be currently pursuing or have received a master's or doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields.
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.)
and
I have read the FDA Ethics Requirements.
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