FDA -CFSAN Summer Internship

Organization
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Reference Code
FDA-CFSAN-2023-0004
How to Apply

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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
5/13/2023 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time Zone
Description

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

A summer 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 Raleigh, North Carolina.

The goals of this project are to study the complex interactions of human pathogens such as Salmonella and shiga-toxin producing E. coli with produce commodities in the pre-harvest agricultural environment. This work will be conducted at the phytotron facility at North Carolina State University (NCSU). 

Under the guidance of a mentor, the ORISE Participant will assist in the following research activities during the specified period, including:

  • Learn NCSU biosafety procedures for working in a biosafety level 3P phytotron facility
  • Learn advanced aseptic techniques used for the growth of plants in a BSL-3P level greenhouse
  • Learn techniques to inoculate plants with enteric pathogens at varying stages of growth 
  • Learn microbiological and molecular techniques to identify pathogens present on or in plants
  • Assist with data management on all above stated projects as well as other research related activities
  • Follow experimental protocols and document findings in a laboratory notebook
  • Communicate with mentor on a daily basis
  • Assist mentor to prepare reports for communicating results to CFSAN, FDA, and the scientific community

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: May 2023; start date is flexible


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 3 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 Raleigh, North Carolina 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 a bachelor's degree in a life science field. The candidate should have successfully completed 6 hours of microbiology/biology classes.

Preferred skills/ knowledge:

• Accomplished organizational skills
• Prior wet-bench microbiology experience
• An understanding of working within BSL-2 laboratory
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Eligibility Requirements
  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )
Affirmation

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.)