FDA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Microbiology

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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
• Provide a sample of peer reviewed publication by uploading in the writing sample area
• 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.NCTR@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

A postdoctoral fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jefferson Laboratories Campus located in Jefferson, Arkansas.

Research efforts will include participation in multi-disciplinary efforts in a nationally recognized training program in support of the FDA’s mission. The candidate will use a combination of molecular microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics to understand and develop a biomedical model of the microbiome to study drug PK/PD, as well as to develop standardization tools for the microbiome.  S/he will collaborate with FDA investigators at NCTR and with investigators in other FDA centers actively throughout their tenure in the lab. During the project, s/he will be actively encouraged to present the research at internal and external meetings, organize and attend workshops to further their career development, and actively publish research findings in high quality peer-reviewed journals. 

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: April 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 appointment is up to 3 years and will be full-time. 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 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 doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g. Microbiology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Immunology, Pharmacology and Cellular Biology), or be currently pursuing the degree with completion prior to the appointment starting date. Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.

Preferred Skills:

• Candidate should have knowledge in the area of Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Immunology, Toxicology Molecular, medicinal chemistry and Cellular Biology.
• Prior experience on cell culture, NGS sequencing, bioinformatics, anaerobic culture, molecular biology, and microbiology is a plus. 
• Demonstrated written and oral communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability for team work.
• The preference will be given to the candidate who already had experience in handling mice or rat.

Provide a sample of a first author, peer-reviewed publication by uploading in the writing sample area.

• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (3 )
  • Engineering (1 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )

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 plan on receiving my degree prior to the start of the appointment.