FDA Summer Student Internship in Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens

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.CFSAN@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A summer student research opportunity is currently available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Regulatory Science (ORS) located in College Park, Maryland.

The Division of Microbiology at FDA/CFSAN conducts multiple research studies on foodborne bacterial pathogens including Salmonella.

Under the guidance of a mentor, the participant will be involved in the following research activities:

• Receive training in CFSAN and Division of Microbiology (DM) biosafety procedures for handling pathogenic bacterial cultures
• Receive training in DM laboratory methods, including generation and analysis of DNA sequence data from foodborne pathogens Illumina next generation sequencing technologies
• Follow experimental protocols and document findings in a laboratory notebook
• Participate in environmental sampling of surface waters in Pennsylvania
• Communicate with mentors and supervisors daily
• Participate with PI in the preparation of reports for communicating results to CFSAN, FDA, and the scientific community

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 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 two and a half 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 at FDA in the College Park, 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.

The qualified candidate should have completed at least two semesters of college-level coursework in one of the relevant fields.

Candidates who have taken basic courses in biology, microbiology or related biological sciences field are desired.

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Currently pursuing an Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (1 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (45 )