FDA Postdoctoral Fellowship in Immunology and Nanotoxicology
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.OC.other@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.
Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!
*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.
FDA Office and Location: A fellowship opportunity is currently available in the Division of Biochemical Toxicology, Office of Research, National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Jefferson Laboratories Campus located in Jefferson, Arkansas. Funding for this opportunity will be provided by the Office of Commissioner (OC), Office of Women's Health (OWH).
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participation Programs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are educational and training programs designed to provide students and recent graduates, opportunities to participate in project-specific research and developmental activities at the Office of Women’s Health (OWH). OWH mission is to address issues of women’s health and coordinate efforts to establish and advance a women’s health agenda for FDA.
Research Project: The major focus of this research is to investigate the sex-based differences in the immune response to nanomaterials. This research effort will include conducting in vitro immunotoxicological studies, including various techniques like cell culture, ELISA, Real time RT-PCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy. This research will also include the opportunity to learn different physico-chemical characterization techniques and other approaches or techniques as required.
Learning Objectives: Under the guidance of a mentor, you will receive training on how to design, perform experiments and analyze the experimental data, maintain records of laboratory work, and coordinate the research flow with the project’s collaborators. You will collaborate with FDA investigators at NCTR and product centers. Throughout the project, you will be actively encouraged to present the research at internal and external meetings and publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals.
Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Tariq Fahmi (Tariq.Fahmi@fda.hhs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research, please contact the mentor.
Anticipated Appointment Start Date: 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 have received a doctoral degree in one of the relevant fields (e.g., immunology, toxicology, pharmacology, biochemistry, biology, biomedical engineering, or a related discipline). Degree must have been received within five years of the appointment start date.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience in immunology, toxicology, biochemistry, and biology, with an emphasis on in vitro immunotoxicity assays
- Prior experience and knowledge in nanotechnology is preferred but not required
- Previous graduate experience or familiarity with in vitro immunotoxicity techniques or fields of science
- Demonstrated written and oral communications skills
I am a U.S. citizen, or 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.
ORISE GO
The ORISE GO mobile app helps you stay engaged, connected and informed during your ORISE experience – from application, to offer, through your appointment and even as an ORISE alum!
