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.

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*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

FDA Office and Location: There are two postdoctoral fellowship opportunities available with Dr. Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty and located at FDA's Hemostasis Branch 1 (HB1), Division of Hemostasis (DH), Office of Plasma Protein Therapeutics (OPPT), Office of Therapeutic Products (OTP), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) in White Oak, Maryland. 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: Under the guidance of the mentor, the participant will investigate sex-biased microRNAs (miRNAs) and their regulatory effects on coagulation proteins, particularly ADAMTS13 and von Willebrand Factor (VWF), to understand sex-dependent differences in bleeding disorders such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and von Willebrand Disease (VWD). This research aims to improve FDA-regulated product quality, safety, and efficacy for women's health applications and facilitate development of sex-specific therapeutic strategies.

Learning Objectives: During the postdoctoral fellowship, you will have the opportunity to:

• Develop understanding of sex-biased miRNA regulation in hemostasis and coagulation protein expression
• Learn to apply in-silico prediction tools and bioinformatics approaches to identify miRNA-target gene interactions
• Gain experience in molecular biology techniques including cell culture, transfection, qPCR, Western blot, and ELISA
• Learn to perform luciferase reporter assays for miRNA binding validation
• Develop skills in characterizing protein expression and functional activity in cellular systems
• Understand the application of AAV-mediated gene delivery systems for miRNA studies
• Apply acquired knowledge to support regulatory science and women's health research initiatives

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty (chava.kimchi-sarfaty@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 and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) only.

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 be currently pursuing or have received a doctoral degree in the one of the relevant fields (e.g. molecular and cell biology, pharmacology and drug discovery/development). Degree must have been received within the past five years, or anticipated to be received by 4/30/2026.

Preferred skills:

• Lab skills in common molecular and cell biology techniques are preferred.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Doctoral Degree received within the last 60 months or anticipated to be received by 4/30/2026 12:00:00 AM.
• Discipline(s):
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )

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.