FDA Food Chemistry Fellowship

Organization
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Reference Code
FDA-CFSAN-2020-0021
How to Apply

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

Application Deadline
7/24/2020 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

Five research opportunities are 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 project will involve the development of methods for the quantitative determination of chemical constituents, contaminants and adulterants in foods and dietary supplements using chromatography and mass spectrometry (MS)-based techniques (i.e. LC-UV, LC-MS, GC-FID, GC-MS). Under the guidance of a mentor, the selected participant will receive training in the following areas:

  • The development of sample homogenization, digestion and extraction procedures for the analysis of complex foods and dietary supplements
  • The development of chromatographic (e.g. gas chromatography and liquid chromatography) and/or mass spectrometric methods for the characterization of chemical constituents and identification of potential contaminants or adulterants in foods and dietary supplements
  • The operation and customization of chromatography (e.g. gas chromatography and liquid chromatography) and/or mass spectrometry systems
  • Participate and/or organize the validation (single laboratory and multi-laboratory) of analytical methods for the determination of chemical constituents, contaminants and adulterants in foods and dietary supplements
  • Data analysis and preparation of reports and scientific manuscripts

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: August 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 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.
Qualifications

The qualified candidate should be currently pursuing or have received a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred skills:

  • Strong background and interest in analytical chemistry and instrumental analysis
  • Experienced with the latest liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques and application of those techniques to quantitative analysis
  • Training or experience in analytical method development for complex matrices such as foods, dietary supplements and/or cosmetics
  • Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing
Eligibility Requirements
  • Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (4 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (2 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (7 )
    • Physics (1 )